$10,000 Offered for Local Marathon Sweep

Grandma’s Marathon and the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon are offering $10,000 bonuses to the runners who can win both of Minnesota's largest marathons in 2011.

The bonus will be awarded to the man and/or woman winning the open divisions at this year’s races, both anniversary editions for the two events. Grandma's will celebrate its 35th running on June 18; Twin Cities will host its 30th edition on October 2.

“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,” Virginia Brophy Achman, Executive Director of Twin Cities In Motion, said in a media release.

“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,” Grandma’s Marathon Executive Director Scott Keenan added.

Only one man and one woman have earned Grandma’s and Twin Cities victories in the same calendar year. Kenya’s Andrew Musuva claimed both titles in 1999 when he won Grandma’s in 2:12:21 and completed the sweep at Twin Cities with a 2:14:41.

Last year Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba became the only female to accomplish the feat, winning Grandma's at 2:31:35 and Twin Cities with 2:27:23.