Need Added Inspiration? Attend Gearing Up For Grandma’s 2014 Featuring Carrie Tollefson

Registration is open, the weather is warmer and it’s time to think about Grandmas Marathon Weekend! Have you started training yet?  If not, and need inspiration, or if you have and are looking for valuable information then you'll want to attend the annual Gearing Up for Grandma’s pre-race seminar.This free event is Saturday, March, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Essentia Health’s First Street Building and it’s 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.  She has also 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.