ECA will meet you at the starting line!

By Emma Peterson. 

Looking for a way to start your new year on the right foot? Consider joining the ECA’s OKC Memorial Race team!  

Back by popular demand, the ECA will be hosting their Belongship Event at the Oklahoma City (OKC) Memorial Marathon on Sunday, April 26, 2026! This marathon honors the victims of the 1995 bombing and community that came together to support one another in the aftermath. As their websites explains, “The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is about more than running  —  it’s about celebrating life... The Run to Remember brings together runners and spectators from around the world to honor those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Each race begins with 168 seconds of silence in honor of those who were killed. Along the course, runners pass by 168 banners, each representing the name of one of the bombing victims.” 

This is the third year that ECA, a division of the larger FEI Group, will be back at the race. It is the perfect setting for their Belongship Event, as it aligns with FEI’s larger belief that “being physically fit supports mental fitness, and that without a community you’re simply a commodity.” 

There are many different ways that you can participate in this community event and whatever your pace or distance, your ECA family will be with you! Check out the overview of the Belongship Event weekend:  

    Arrival: Attendees can arrive on Friday (4/24/26) or Saturday before lunch (4/25/26). There will be packets to pick up, an expo to explore and a pre-race dinner at 6 p.m. 

    Race day: Sunday (4/26/26) is race day! The gun start is at 6:30 a.m. There are multiple options for distances, including full marathon (26.2), half marathon (13.1) and quarter marathon (6.55). For the quarter marathon in particular, you can either run solo or join a four-person team completing a full marathon together. 

    Celebrate: After everyone’s crossed the finish line, there will be a celebratory group brunch. There will also be a closing ECA dinner on the evening of Sunday (4/26/26), so make sure to stick around! If you’re looking to fill time, check out some of Oklahoma City’s monuments like the Memorial, Museum and Survivor Tree. 

Learn more about the race!