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TeamOC encourages students to “run for something larger than themselves” at OKC Marathon

In an effort to honor the lives lost during the Oklahoma City Bombing, members of TeamOC at Oklahoma Christian University are gearing up for the annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, which will take place April 29.

The event also functions as a fundraiser the for Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Senior Darion Dalton, who will participate in this year’s race, said the event gives him something to work toward by following an exercise routine.

“Over the Christmas break, I was making sure to get up every morning and running three times a week, and then when I got back on campus, I added a fourth day of running,” Dalton said. “My problem right now is that my mile time has gone down, but my endurance has not quite caught up with it. I’ve also been trying to eat better, making sure that I’m drinking enough water and making sure to give my body the proper fuel that it needs.”

Dalton said participating in the Memorial Marathon allows him to make an impact in his community, and he hopes to show the “light of Christ” wherever he goes, whether on campus or running for something larger than himself.

“The bombing was a tragedy and it’s awesome to be a part of something that we as Christians can make a difference,” Dalton said. “If we can do that while running, awesome. As we’re stopping and gasping for air, we’re connecting with other people. And I think it’s important for fitness. Our bodies are the temple of God and it’s important that we’re taking care of ourselves.”

Senior Lyndsy Chave said she trains and keeps friends around to motivate her so she can reach her goal to run the marathon in two hours and fifteen minutes this April.

“I still have a lot of training to do,” Chave said. “I’ve been running off and on since high school. Now that I have to force myself to run a lot more, I’m realizing that I’m not as in shape as I thought I was.”

Chave said it is important for Oklahoma Christian students to participate in events like the Memorial Marathon because it brings unity to Edmond and Oklahoma City.

“It shows that people in Edmond mourn with Oklahoma City and that we still care even though it happened so long ago,” Chave said. “It’s a good way to get OC students into that community to show that we’re not the typical private school students who don’t want to communicate with other people.”

As this will be the fifth time Memorial Marathon Ambassador Blayne Arthur takes to the starting line to participate in the race, she continues to run each year in memory of her mother.

“My mom was killed in the OKC Bombing, so it is a very personal event to my entire family,” Arthur said. “The marathon has become a family event—we have almost 30 family and friends who participate with us. We have t-shirts made every year, and we have dinner together the evening before and share wonderful memories of my mother.”

Arthur said her children run the 5k with her, teaching them about the history of the event while also showing them the importance of volunteerism.

“I believe the best way to deter violence is with compassion and caring,” Arthur said. “The memorial does a tremendous job of highlighting the love and compassion that responded to a horrible act of terrorism. We as a community need to continue to show all generations that violence is never the answer. The marathon brings together tens of thousands of people who are running to remember and support all the efforts of the museum. The marathon is the perfect example of the Oklahoma Standard: people helping, caring, volunteering and going above and beyond to help one another.”

As TeamOC has been a supporter of fitness for the Oklahoma Christian campus for the last ten years, they specifically work to be the largest group supporting the OKC Marathon. Oklahoma employees and students who wish to register for the race through Team OC can register online.

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