American Troops Set to Run the Tulsa Run in Iraq

Major Rick Poplin planned to run in the 30th annual Tulsa Run and was training as he had done for the past several years. But this year Major Poplin was unable to complete the mission - he was sent to Iraq before the Tulsa Run, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 25.

Determined to run with his family, he, along with Colonel Scott Rooks and Lieutenant Colonel Tim Coulon, launched a plan to engage other service men and women to run the Tulsa Run in Iraq. The Tulsa Run organizers embraced the opportunity. Not only could they feel closer to the military overseas, but they also could help support our Oklahoma troops. For this year’s run, Tulsa runners, volunteers, and spectators will be able to purchase back tags for a small donation that will go back to the troops through Operation Homefront. The tag can bear the name of any service member - from past wars or current deployments - the donor chooses.

Operation Homefront, a statewide initiative, provides monetary assistance to families of deployed Oklahoma National Guard members who have encountered unforeseen financial hardship related to a deployment. The back tags will generate a minimum of $10,000 in contributions to Operation Homefront.

The Tulsa Run began in 1978 with a challenging and scenic course running through downtown Tulsa and the scenic River Parks. Thirty years later, this Tulsa tradition is still going strong and each passing year only adds to its interesting history, with this year’s finish line at the newly opened Cesar Pelli-designed arena, the BOK Center.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor is one of two Tulsa Run Celebrity Runners this year. Taylor has used her “celebrity status” to work with a team of students who trained with her this year for the 15K Run, and she has challenged the 4,000 City of Tulsa employees to run with her this year.