FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristine Smith
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
(763) 287-3888 x 13
Twin Cities Marathon, Inc., Gov. Pawlenty Launch Interactive
Medtronic TC Kids Marathon Year-round program provides online
training resources for elementary classrooms and families
MINNEAPOLIS - (Feb. 23, 2007) - Governor Tim Pawlenty and elementary
students from Minnehaha Academy put on their running shoes Friday to help
launch the Medtronic TC Kids Marathon. The governor and students took some
of the first steps of the new online youth running program, which was
developed to promote exercise among Minnesota children by combining
flexible training programs and incentives with a series of youth running
events.
Governor Pawlenty was also at the school to announce a new Healthy
Minnesota Fit Workplace initiative (a program designed to promote and
recognize healthy workplace environments across Minnesota) and unveil a
program designed to reduce childhood obesity in Minnesota by 50 percent by
2012.
Designed for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade, the
running program is accessed by visiting www.MTCMarathon.org and
clicking on Medtronic TC Kids Marathon. The new site provides tools and
resources for teachers, coaches and parents to create 12-week, eight-week
or four-week training programs.
Medtronic TC Kids Marathon emphasizes activity, teamwork and goal setting
to improve physical fitness. The program combines short-distance running
and other physical activities to help make fitness fun and achievable.
Teachers and parents can track kids' progress online, research fun running
games and access seasonal running tips for varied levels of experience.
To allow schools and families to celebrate their training success, the
program includes a new youth running event to be held May 19, 2007 at Como
Park in St. Paul. This event provides a spring-time complement to the
Medtronic TC Family Events that occur during marathon weekend in October.
Registration information for all youth running events is available on the
website.
The program is free, can be started at any time and includes incentives to
get running and stay on course, including a pedometer for every registered
participant to help track progress. Teachers whose classrooms complete the
12-week program and participate in a Medtronic TC Kids Marathon youth
running event are eligible for a $400 athletic equipment gift certificate
for their school.
"Our partnership with Medtronic allows to us expand and enhance programs
that get kids running and families exercising together while having fun,"
said Virginia Brophy Achman, Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. executive director.
"The sooner we can instill the importance of a healthy lifestyle in our
kids, the better health they will have later in life. We're excited to
offer this new, interactive program to help teach children about fun and
healthy activities they can do both at school and at home."
The 26th Annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will take place
October 5-7, 2007. The three-day weekend celebration of fitness includes
the Medtronic TC Family Events & TC 5K, pasta dinner, health and fitness
expo and Medtronic TC 10 Mile (USA Men's Championship), in addition to the
marathon. Visit www.MTCMarathon.org for
more information.
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