Racing News

Seven Team USA Minnesota distance runners – Andrew Carlson, Antonio Vega, Jon Peterson, Ben Sathre, Meghan Peyton, Ladia Albertson-Junkans and McKenzie Melander – will participate in the Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5K in downtown Minneapolis on July 17.  A field of over 5,000 will run in the 7:30 p.m. event which is part of the City of Minneapolis’ annual Aquatennial Festival.

The run starts on Hennepin Avenue and 16th Street and finishes at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park along the Minneapolis riverfront.  The evening running event – which will be followed by a post-race party – is held just prior to the Torchlight Parade on the same route.

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Twin Cities In Motion (TCM), the organizers of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, launched a unique racing event called the TC Urban Dash scheduled for August 10, 2013, that will have participants exploring Minneapolis’ North Loop for a distance estimated at between four to six miles.

TCM and GearJunkie, along with FITSOK, have developed the event in which two and four-person teams will weave through the North Loop led by clues to hotspots worth points in the competition. Winning teams will earn free entry into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile contested during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend.

The TC Urban Dash will conclude at North Loop Fest, where participants will be eligible for raffle prizes including two Soleus GPS 2.0 Running Watches valued at $149 each, ten TC Running Company $50 gift certificates, and two head-to-toe Brooks running outfits for men and women each. 

All participants will receive a 3-Pack of NEOPOP FITSOKs, a GU energy gel, a Soleus Dash running watch, entry into the North Loop Fest, a free beer at the Post Race Party, and guaranteed entry into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. Complete details on the event can be found at tcmevents.org.

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The 42^nd running of the Park Point 5-Miler – northern Minnesota’s oldest road race – is set for Friday, July 19. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with youth races for children 14 and under, followed by a two-mile walk at 6:15 p.m., and then the five-mile feature race at 6:30 p.m.

Online pre-registration for is available through Thursday at www.GrandmasMarathon.com or www.YoungAthletesFoundation.com. Those choosing to sign up on race day should visit the pavilion at the end of Park Point between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The pre-registration entry fee is $25 for the five-mile run and two-mile walk and $35 on race day. The youth races are free.

All finishers in the run and walk will receive a commemorative T-shirt, and awards will be presented to the top participants at an award ceremony following the five-mile run. Ribbons will be awarded to youth race participants upon completion of their event.

Participants are encouraged to plan extra travel time to Park Point to ensure they arrive on time for their event. For the safety of race participants, Minnesota Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Net proceeds from the Park Point 5-Miler benefit the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), a Grandma’s Marathon program focused on the promotion and development of youth athletics.