FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon registration opens to swift start

      28th Annual running of the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon 
                in America set for Sunday, October 4

(Minneapolis, MN) – Online-only registration for the 28th annual Medtronic 
Twin Cities Marathon is off and running at a swift start today.  As of 
11:00 a.m, participants from 44 states and six countries had already 
registered to run Sunday, October 4.  Additionally, 11 corporate teams had 
registered in the Corporate Team Challenge.  The field is open to 11,000 
participants and has filled within a month's time for 22 years.  

"Registration is on track compared to prior years," said Twin Cities 
Marathon, Inc. executive director Virginia Brophy Achman.  "With the 
addition of social media tools, like Facebook and Twitter, we're able to 
engage with our running community even further to get a feel for what 
they're thinking.  We're hearing the excitement and the desire people 
continue to have to stay engaged in their own health and fitness goals and 
to continue to be part of this great fall tradition." 

New this year, one registered runner will win the "Best Seat in the House" 
contest, giving them the chance to receive the same treatment the 
professional athletes receive when they run race weekend.   The Medtronic 
Twin Cities Marathon is host to the 2009 USA Women's and Masters Marathon 
Championship, bringing professional runners from around the world to 
compete for a prize purse of more than $226,000.

For more information and registration, visit mtcmarathon.org.
 
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