FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Finanger
Executive Director
763-287-3888, Ext. 12
Jackie Liu
Media & Public Relations Manager
763-287-3888, Ext. 13
2003 TWIN CITIES MARATHON REGISTRATION FULL
100 spots available through race entry silent auction
Minneapolis, Minnesota - May 23, 2003 - Twin Cities Marathon (TCM), the
most beautiful urban marathon in America and a top destination for athletes
from around the world has reached its field limit of 8,500 participants for
the 17th consecutive year. Registration for the 22nd running of the TCM
Sunday, October 5 filled in just 23 days. TCM will auction off 100
additional marathon race entries in a silent mail-in auction, which
provides an extended, last chance opportunity for people to register and
donate funds to TCM's selected community partners.
"It's fun to be associated with such a successful event," says Dan
Finanger, TCM Executive Director. "The fact that we fill so quickly year
after year is a testament to TCM being one of the premier marathons of our
time."
Donations raised through this silent auction will contribute to TCM's goal
of raising additional funds for its designated 2003 Community Partners
Program, sponsored by Seagate Technology. The Community Partners are
Assistive Technology of Minnesota, Bolder Options, Second Harvest
Heartland, Team USA Minnesota and the TCM Scholarship Program.
Race Entry Silent Auction Rules and Regulations
The minimum bid is $150 and one bid is allowed per person. Bids must be
accompanied by a check or money order made out to the Twin Cities Marathon,
along with your completed 2003 Marathon entry form. Checks for non-winning
bids will be returned. All bids must be postmarked no later than Friday,
June 13, 2003 and mailed to: Community Partners - Silent Auction, c/o Twin
Cities Marathon, 4050 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 26.2, Minneapolis, MN
55416. The 100 highest bids will be accepted for entry into the 2003 TCM
and winners will be notified as soon as possible after the auction. All
amounts over the $65 registration fee are tax deductible and will benefit
the TCM Community Partners. Accepted bids are not refundable and numbers
are not transferable. For more information, call the TCM office at
763-287-3888, Ext. 10 or visit the TCM website www.twincitiesmarathon.org.
TCM supports troops in Iraq
In addition to holding marathon entries for the silent auction, TCM is
making a number of marathon entries available for those in the armed forces
serving in Iraq who were not able to register before the marathon closed.
Individuals may contact the TCM office for more information at 763-287-3888
or by email at info@twincitiesmarathon.org.
The 2003 Twin Cities Marathon weekend is October 3-5. The three-day
weekend celebration of fitness includes a 5K run/walk, children's fun runs,
pasta dinner, two-day health and fitness expo and a 10-mile race in
addition to the marathon. Twin Cities Marathon continues its 12th
consecutive year as the designated USATF National Masters Championship for
men and women. Major corporate sponsors for the marathon are Cub Foods and
Seagate Technology. The major media sponsors are KARE 11 and Cities 97.
Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that directs the
TCM weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Visit us at www.twincitiesmarathon.org.
2003 TCM Community Partners
Assistive Technology of Minnesota
Assistive Technology of Minnesota (ATMN) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to improving access and assistive technology devices and services
for people with disabilities. ATMN's mission is to provide a statewide,
comprehensive, consumer responsive system of assistive technology for
people with disabilities. To achieve our mission we embrace the following
strategies: Increase awareness throughout Minnesota of assistive technology
devices and services available for people with disabilities; Collaborate
with other providers in the delivery of services and training to enhance
the most effective utilization of assistive technology; Provide resource
and referral information to persons with a disability to access assistive
technology devices and services; Fill a gap in the delivery of services
through innovative programs that meet the assistive technology need of
persons living with a disability; Extend opportunities for disabled persons
by working with national, state and local agencies to benefit people with
disabilities through the provision of assistive technology devices and
services. For more information, www.atmn.org or call 763-479-8239.
Bolder Options
Bolder Options is a year round, short term, one on one mentoring program
that uses running and biking to reach at-risk youth ages 10-15. Youth are
paired with adult mentors and either run or bike together twice a week for
twelve weeks while training to complete three races together. At the heart
of the program is the matching of youth with a suitable mentor. Together,
pairs establish agreed upon distance goals, which progressively increase
participant's stamina, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Making a 12-week
commitment to a youth makes a difference in the life of a mentor as well.
Use your love for running, discipline and patience to help a young person
set goals for running and their future. For more information on how you can
get involved visit www.bolderoptions.org, email volunteer@bolderoptions.org
or call 612-871-8777, ext. 207.
Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest Heartland solicits, warehouses and distributes food and
other grocery products for more than 700 agencies in 61 counties in
Minnesota and western Wisconsin. These agencies, which serve those in
temporary or long-term need, include food shelves, on-site meal providers
and shelters. Second Harvest Heartland also operates a prepared food rescue
program and a community kitchen. Additionally, it provides direct service
to seniors and families through several publicly funded nutrition programs.
Second Harvest Heartland advocates on behalf of hunger relief in Minnesota
and nationally through its affiliation with America's Second Harvest. For
more information visit www.2harvest.org.
Team USA Minnesota
The Team USA Minnesota Distance Training Center is a coordinated effort to
bring local resources together to improve post-collegiate American distance
running and develop future Olympians. It is part of the Team USA Distance
Running Program launched in 2000 by USA Track & Field and Running USA.
Based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Team USA Minnesota
was formed in January 2001 and began selecting athletes in April of that
year. The training center provides coaching, training groups, stipends,
travel assistance, medical care and other support for up to 10 athletes.
The Minnesota training center's major sponsor is LIFE TIME FITNESS. For
more information, as well as profiles of athletes and coaches, visit the
web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.
TCM Scholarship Program
The TCM scholarship program provides a $1,000 scholarship to one female and
one male graduating high school student-athlete planning to go to college.
The student-athlete must be a cross-country and/or track and field runner
and have participated in distances of 800 meters and longer. Eligible
student-athletes must also be students at a high school in the seven-county
Twin Cities metro area. Applications will be available October 2003. For
more information, call 763-287-3888.
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