Running for a friend, Tinker colonel finishes memorial marathon

Published April 29, 2010
By John Stuart
John Stuart

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A special flag rippled in the strong Oklahoma breeze as marathoners trotted past. Made of standard fabric and bearing a single name, its message was the boost that Marcia Walker needed to finish her first ever marathon.

It was April 25 on a sunny morning in the Sooner State, and Walker had been training four months for this day.

With tired legs and spirits that needed a lift, Walker looked up at that rippling flag at mile 22 of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. It only took a moment to glance, but the words on it would carry her the next four miles to the finish.

On the flag read the name Robert Chipman, one of the 168 people who died in the bombing on April 19, 1995, and one for whom the marathon is dedicated.

Chipman, a retired major from Tinker, worked for the State of Oklahoma in the water resources complex adjacent to the Alfred P. Murrah federal building. He was also a family friend of Walker. A friend who is missed.

Seeing Chipman's name of the banner reminded her why she was running.

"Just seeing his name really encouraged me," Walker said. "Seeing that reminded me again of the whole purpose of the run and what the marathon was about."

Her fallen comrade was a large impetus for Walker's decision to do the marathon. To honor him and the others who died that day. It had been in the back of her mind to do a marathon for some time. The Oklahoma City race was the clear choice.

"I've been running for about five or six years," said the colonel, who is the senior individual mobilization augmentee to the 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing commander. "I always knew if I did a marathon this would be the one I wanted to do. I wanted to do it because what the purpose of the run is, to remember the people we lost and celebrate life."

Walker crossed the finish line just one minute slower than her target time of four hours. She'd essentially met her goal and placed third in her age group to boot. Her husband, Steve, was there to greet her as were a handful of other friends.

It was the culmination of a months-long training process and the encouragement of others.

"When I could see the finish I remember saying 'I can see it,'" Walker said. "Then it becomes a focus. I tried to enjoy the crowd noise and at that point I was just focused on finishing."

It hadn't been easy. The last four miles were a formidable foe.

But there were numerous strangers to encourage her -- lining the course that weaves through north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and around Lake Hefner. There were also a few close friends cheering her on. One was Lt. Col. Julie Wende.

"She was standing around mile 23 and had a sign for me," Walker said of the sign that simply read GO COLONEL MARCIA. "It was so encouraging to see that and get that extra boost to keep me going."

Then there was Terry from Woodward. That's all Walker knows about him, but the stranger proved pivotal for meeting her target time. They fell into step about mile 24 and finished it out to the end.

"He said 'hey we have a shot at making four hours so let's go for it. We need to do this together,'" Walker said. "We just became running buddies. My legs were getting pretty tired. I knew I could do it, I just really had to work hard. The extra encouragement kept me going."

Long-time Okies, Walker and her family were around to experience the aftermath of the bombing. They understood the effects it had on families and friends through the loss of their own friend.

"It is personal, and to know that all those people had friends and family and loved ones, and that even 15 years later we still miss them," Walker said. "It made me want to do the marathon in honor of (Major Chipman) and all the others."

Walker had a low-key and yet fitting celebration to earmark her marathon accomplishment.

"I went home and took a nap," she said with a laugh. Her mantra of "up and over," muttered on the tough spots had carried her through the 26.2 miles, as had the encouragement of others.

She's not sure whether more marathons will be in her future, though she's open to the thought. But Walker is certain about one thing.

"This marathon is so special because of why it's held, for the 168 people who perished that day," she said.