Amateur Radio Operator Volunteer Registration

Volunteer registration will open for the 2026 marathon at the end of 2025.

The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon was organized to be a Run To Remember for those who died, those who survived, and those whose lives were changed forever, in the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in 1995.  It is usually held on the last Sunday of April each year. This year, it will be April 25th and 26th, 2026.

Operations and Duty Stations

This year, 70+ amateur radio operators are needed to cover the entire course with public service communications. We have operators that operate in all of these locations:

Sunday Events

• • at each of the 18 medical tents on the course (36-54)
  • primary net control operators at the Regional Emergency Operations Center (2)
  • water/ice net control operators (2)
  • five water/ice trucks (4)
  • logistics crew navigator (1)
  • net control operators (2)
  • tail-end Charlie following the last runner (1)
  • running in the race
  • other assignments that may be needed

• Saturday Events

  • • operators at the “kids’ corral” at the end of the kids’ race (6-8)
    • operators for one medical tent (3)
    • primary net control operators at the Regional Emergency Operations Center (2)
    • water/ice truck (1)
    • water/ice net control operators (2)
    • other assignments that may be needed

Registration

You can join the OKC Memorial Marathon (OCMM) AUXCOMM group by clicking here to keep up with the current activities, share your pictures and experiences, or get more information there. You can also get added to the email list by emailing [email protected]. Be a part of this exciting amateur radio community event.

Pre-Brief Meeting

A pre-brief meeting will be held for all amateur radio operator volunteers at 7:00 pm local on Monday, April 20th, at the OKC Fire Training Center, 820 N Portland, Oklahoma City, 73107. At this meeting, T-shirts, credential packets (for those in the downtown area), frequency cards, and other necessary information will be distributed.

Daily Schedules

The Saturday race day begins at about 0600 with an on-site check-in, and operators will be released by 1200.  The Saturday races include the 5K Race, Senior Marathon, Kids Marathon, Health & Fitness Expo, and Finish Line Festival.

The Sunday race day usually begins at 0600 with an on-site check-in, and most operators should be released by 1400.  It is an enriching experience to see and assist runners from all over the world. Sunday’s races include the Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Finish Line Festival.

Division Leaders

This year, we added five division leaders to help the med stations with communications issues. Each leader has already committed to coming back next year. Returning operators will be assigned to the same division leader and med tent. Please talk with your division leader to arrange a transfer if you wish to change locations. New operators will be assigned to the division with the most need or to facilitate friends and family groups. 

Equipment

For 2026 we’re working to get all locations operational with a mobile radio. Arrange for battery power to survive the day. No AC power will be available at any location. We have 1/4 wave vertical dipole antennas for each of the medical stations. You can plug in your male SMA, female SMA, BNC, or SO-239 directly to the 40′ of coax at each station. Please visit your designated area and test your radios with the repeaters used. Depending on your assigned location, an HT with an external antenna, spare battery packs, or an external power supply may also work. No experience is necessary. You will be placed with an experienced operator or division leader if you’re new to this activity. Stay flexible and able to adapt to course changes and changes in the weather (hot, cold, rain, hail, wind, etc.). Make sure you follow the marathon communications plan.

Specific Training

This year, we will add a training meeting to help everyone learn the intricacies of a directed net. This meeting will be about a month before the marathon and will teach you proper directed net etiquette or help others practice “over-the-air.”

In addition, we’ll have a short video documenting the med station setups. Our Logistics Chief, Nick, will explain what to expect when you arrive at the site and how to set up the med station properly. He will also cover the tear-down procedure, so your station will be ready for pickup when the big truck arrives.

Odds and Ends

Again this year, there will be a NO WEAPONS policy—open or concealed—for any part of the marathon.

This is the primary fundraiser for the Oklahoma National Memorial and Museum. It usually raises about 1 million dollars annually, with about 25,000 entrants expected in 2025. The amateur radio community contributes over $65,000 in volunteer time and equipment to the museum annually.

As we are officially members of the OCMM operation, we will all have a background check as part of the registration. Please fill out all the boxes as you sign up to expedite the process. Please send any special needs and/or comments to [email protected].

Sign up soon and get in on the fun!

73 de N5HZR — Mark