Grandma's Marathon, Twin Cities In Motion Offer $10,000 Bonus for Marathon Sweep

Only two marathoners - Andrew Musuva, Buzunesh Deba - have done the Minnesota Double in the same calendar year

DULUTH / ST. PAUL, Minn. - (April 20, 2011) - Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc. and Twin Cities In Motion have announced an incentive bonus for any runner winning both of Minnesota's largest marathons in 2011. A $10,000 bonus will be awarded to anyone capturing the Open division titles at this year's Grandma's Marathon (June 18) and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (October 2).

"We are excited to partner with Twin Cities In Motion to offer this doubleheader bonus. Not only will it provide an element of added excitement to both events, but we feel this type of monetary reward is an appropriate way to recognize someone achieving this unique accomplishment," said Grandma's Marathon Executive Director Scott Keenan.

"We are proud to support the sport of running with this incentive. Together, we have 65 years of race experience and we continue to find new and innovative ways to reward professional runners," said Twin Cities In Motion Executive Director Virginia Brophy Achman.

Historically, only one male and one female have earned Grandma's Marathon and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon sweep victories in the same calendar year.

Kenya's Andrew Musuva claimed both titles in 1999 when he won June's Grandma's Marathon in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 21 seconds and completed the sweep at October's Twin Cities Marathon in 2:14:41.

Last year, Ethiopia's Buzunesh Deba became the only female to accomplish the feat with winning times of 2:31:35 and 2:27:23, respectively.

Both races are celebrating milestone events this year - June 18 will be Grandma's Marathon's 35th running and October 2 marks the 30th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a Duluth, Minn.-based non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the annual running of Grandma's Marathon and its supporting events, including the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, William A. Irvin 5K, Whipper Snapper Races for Kids and Essentia Health Fitness and Health Expo.  

The organization also administers the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), which assists with the promotion and development of youth athletics in a five-county region in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The YAF has contributed more than $425,000 to area youth athletic programs with the help of annual fundraising efforts including the Fitger's 5K and Park Point 5-Miler. For more information, go to: www.grandmasmarathon.com 

Twin Cities In Motion, (formerly Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.) is the non-profit organization that organizes running events throughout the year, including the Valentine's Day TC 5K, 100% Irish For A Day TC 5K & TC 10 Mile, Medtronic TC 1 Mile, Twins Territory TC 4K, Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon, the TC 5K, TC 10K & Medtronic TC Family Events, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, Medtronic TC 10 Mile, all related events and Medtronic TC Kids Marathon program, as a community service for the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Visit www.tcmevents.org for more information.

Special thanks to
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director.
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
http://www.runningusa.org