FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rich Fischer
Medtronic, Inc.
763-505-2975
MEDTRONIC TWIN CITIES MARATHON LAUNCHES YOUTH RUNNING PROGRAM
Comprehensive Program Reaches Kids and Families
through Parks, Internet and Schools
MINNEAPOLIS - Aug. 8, 2006 - The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (MTCM)
today announced a youth running program to promote exercise among Minnesota
children and to provide families with resources on how to exercise
together. The Medtronic TC Kids Marathon will serve as the cornerstone of
a shared mission between Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. and Medtronic to
support and inspire healthy lifestyles, especially among children.
The program got off to a running start today with more than 200 children
from the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department taking the first steps in
a six-week "progressive marathon" training program where participants will
run 26 miles one mile at a time. Participants will be invited to run mile
26 at one of the family events during marathon weekend, Sept. 29- Oct. 1.
A similar summer running program was also launched this summer with the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Department.
For families interested in exercising together, an 11-week, downloadable
"Family Training Program" is now available on www.mtcmarathon.org. The
program combines short-distance running and other physical activities to
make running fun and achievable, while building a team between kids and
their parents.
The third component of the initiative is a year-long running program that
will be launched this fall and made available to metro-area elementary
schools. The multi-week program is geared to elementary students and
emphasizes activity, teamwork and goal setting to improve physical fitness.
"Our partnership with Medtronic is allowing us to expand and enhance
programs that get kids running and families exercising together while
having fun," said Virginia Brophy Achman, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
executive director. "The sooner we can instill healthy lifestyles in our
kids, the better health they will have later in life. Of course, a major
contributor to a healthy lifestyle is getting regular exercise."
As part of the reward of training, Brophy Achman invites children and their
families to run together in the Medtronic Family Events, which include a
half-mile, one-mile and 5K run/walk races. Younger children also can take
part in the "Diaper Dash" and "Toddler Trot." All of the events will take
place in St. Paul on the State Capitol grounds on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Registration information is available at www.mtcmarathon.org.
About Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
The 25th Annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will take place
Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2006. The three-day weekend celebration of fitness
includes a 5K run/walk, children's fun runs, pasta dinner, health and
fitness expo and Medtronic TC 10 Mile, in addition to the marathon. Visit
www.twincitiesmarathon.org for more information.
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the
global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health,
and extending life for millions of people around the world.
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