Press Release - Grandma's Marathon - 2/18/14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
                     Gearing Up for Grandma's 2014

      Pre-race Training Seminar to Feature Olympian Carrie Tollefson

(Duluth, Minn.) If you are training for a race during June's Grandma's 
Marathon weekend, then you won't want to miss the annual Gearing Up for 
Grandma's pre-race seminar on Saturday, March 1. This free event from 9 
a.m. to 11 a.m. at Essentia Health's First Street Building is an 
entertaining and valuable training resource for both first-timers and 
veteran runners.

The seminar's featured speaker is Carrie Tollefson, a member of the 2004 
U.S. Olympic team in the 1500-meters. Tollefson grew up in Dawson, Minn., 
and won 13 Minnesota high school championships in cross country and track. 
While in college at Villanova, she was a 12-time All-American and five-time 
NCAA national champion. She made her marathon debut at the 2013 Twin Cities 
Marathon.

Since 2010, Tollefson has hosted "C Tolle Run" - a weekly webcast about 
running and fitness. The show features training tips, interviews with 
athletes and experts, as well as highlights from races and events. More 
information is available at www.ctollerun.com.

Tollefson has provided television and radio commentary for many racing 
events throughout the nation, including the 2013 New York City Marathon on 
ESPN.

The St. Paul, Minn., resident will be back in Duluth in June for Grandma's 
Marathon weekend and will be a part of the ESPN Radio 560 WEBC broadcast 
team producing live radio and streaming coverage of Grandma's Marathon and 
the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.

Other Gearing Up for Grandma's presenters include:

Ben Nelson, MD - Grandma's Marathon Medical Director and Essentia Health 
Orthopedic/Sports Medicine Physician

Heather Pitschka, RD, CDE - Essentia Health Registered Dietitian, Certified 
Diabetes Educator

Jim and Mary Stukel - Owners of Tortoise and Hare Footwear

Following the individual presentations, a question and answer session will 
be held with all of the presenters. A prize drawing will conclude the 
event, which is presented by Essentia Health and Grandma's Marathon. 

For more information, call (218) 727-0947.

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