BOLDEST MANKATO MARATHON STORY TO RECEIVE LIFE-TIME BIB

MANKATO, Minn. ― The Mankato Marathon, presented by Mayo Clinic Health System,  is looking for bold stories and is offering free race registrations for life for the boldest story. Participants of past Mankato Marathon races or the upcoming 2014 races can submit video stories detailing overcoming a hardship to run a race, an inspiring story of why they started running, or a touching story about why they are running or have ran a Mankato Marathon race.

Anyone who submits a story that meets the criteria of the contest (found at www.mankatomarathon.com) will be qualified for a chance to win a free race registration of their choice for the 2014 Mankato Marathon races, a Mankato Marathon merchandise item valued at up to $20 or a free 2014 Mankato Marathon Commemorative Print.

A Mankato Marathon merchandise item valued up to $20 will be awarded to any video with over 1,000 views. Top five finalists will receive a free race entry to a 2014 Mankato Marathon race of their choice and a 2014 Mankato Marathon Commemorative Print. The overall winner will receive all the prizes above in addition to a life-time bib which allows them to run any Mankato Marathon race for free for their entire lifetime.

Deadline to submit a video is August 29, 2014. The top five Boldest Stories will be chosen by committee and the winning video will be chosen from those top five videos through social media. The video with the most “likes” or “shares” will win.

The winning video will be announced at the 2014 Scheels and Under Armour Sport and Health Expo on Saturday, October 18. The top five videos will also be featured at the expo and in the post-race area of the Mankato Marathon on Sunday, October 19.

YouTube links of video submissions can be sent to Paige Schuette at pschuette@visitmankatomn.com.  For more information on the Bold Story Contest or the 2014 Mankato Marathon visit www.mankatomarathon.com.

About The 2014 Mankato Marathon:

On October 18-19 2014 Visit Mankato and Final Stretch will host the fifth annual Mankato Marathon. This accredited race is a qualifying event for the prestigious Boston Marathon and is projected to have a fifth year attendance of 5,000 runners. The event will continually grow to have significant economic impact in the community and already has incredible local sponsorship, with Mayo Clinic Health System leading a long list of area businesses. There are many ways to get involved as a business, runner, volunteer or spectator. For more information on the 2014 Mankato Marathon go to www.mankatomarathon.com or call 507.385.6660.

About Visit Mankato:

Visit Mankato, LLC, the local Convention & Visitors Bureau, is a Limited Liability Corporationof Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. Visit Mankato leads the development of the visitor economy in Mankato by actively promoting Mankato as a premier destination for conventions, tournaments and tourism. These activities bring a steady flow of visitors and business activity to Mankato that benefits local residents and future visitors. The work of Visit Mankato helps strengthen the hospitality industry which provides jobs, a diverse tax base and amenities for everyone to enjoy. www.visitmankatomn.com

UMC 3rd Annual Pi Run

Alpha Lambda Delta at the University of Minnesota Crookston is hosting the third annual Pi Run on Saturday, April 20, 2013. The run will include a new route along with a new distance for runners. A 10K has been added to the traditional children’s Fun Run and the Pi Run, a race of 5 km (3.1 miles), a distance roughly equal to Pi. Registration is $20 for adults and $5 for students. For a registration form, visit www.theirrationalrace.com or call 218-281-8432 with questions. All runners and walkers are encouraged to participate.

The schedule for the morning begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration in the Carnegie building at Ash Street and 2^nd Avenue in Crookston followed by the Fun Run at 9:30 and the Pi Run and 10K at 10 a.m. Awards will be presented to the top three overall female and male finishers. All children participating in the Fun Run will receive a finisher’s medal. Early registration guarantees 5K and 10K runners a shirt.

The race route will follow a similar one to the 2012 Ox Cart Run hosted by the Crookston Running Club starting and ending at the Carnegie building.

All proceeds from the race will benefit the Polk County Historical Society Carnegie Library Restoration Project Fund. The goal of the library renovation is to possibly turn the Carnegie building into an arts and cultural center for the community and region. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1984 and the Lake Agassiz Regional Library of Crookston, built that same year, stands adjacent to it. The Polk County Historical Society is spearheading the effort to restore this historic building.
Major sponsors for the Pi Run include Herc-u-lift Inc and HB Sound & Light. Anyone interested in contributing to the project should contact Brian Dingmann at 218-281-8249

Explore MN Challenge

Anderson Race Management and Explore Minnesota Tourism, the travel promotion office of the State of Minnesota, announced today the launch of the new statewide running series, the "Explore Minnesota Challenge." This series of more than 25 races in locations around the state of Minnesota encourages runners and walkers to participate in eight of the events, including at least one in each of four different areas of the state.

"This new race series includes a variety of great events around our state," said Anderson Race Management owner Mary Anderson. "We are thrilled to partner with Explore Minnesota on the Explore Minnesota Challenge as we work to bring walkers and runners out to enjoy the unique offerings of each of the wonderful regions of this state."

Participants will be awarded an Explore Minnesota Challenge lapel pin representing the region where they completed a race. A special Explore Minnesota Challenge medal will be awarded to those who complete a total of eight events, including one in each of the four designated areas.

Participants who register for the series will also receive membership in the Minnesota Distance Running Association.

"Minnesotans are known for their active lifestyles," said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism. "Partnering with Anderson Race Management on this race series is a great way to promote Minnesota as a destination for runners and walkers. The series is an innovative way to let people know about the fun events Minnesota communities offer year-round."

Registration for the series starts today and is open to the first 500 participants. The first event that will be available to challengers is the Securian Winter Run, January 28, 2012. For a complete list of participating Challenge events and to register for the Explore Minnesota Challenge, visit andersonraces.com.