Welcome Teachers, Youth Program Coordinators and Parents:

Medtronic TC Kids Marathon is a successful and unique online running program that offers 12, 8 and 4 week training sessions.

Registration for the current fall cycle is now open.

To be eligible for incentives you must be actively participating by Sept. 5th. Take the first steps to enjoy the spring and summer weather and culminate with us on October 4th. Log on, run your miles and track them with us. 

Pictures from the May 17th event are available: click here for the slideshow.

Get healthy while running a marathon...one mile at a time.

Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.  proudly presents the Medtronic TC Kids Marathon, a unique online running program that is designed to get classrooms and families exercising.

We are committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and physical fitness for kids in grades K-8.  The training programs found on this site are designed to be flexible, fun and rewarding. 

Check out training program options for classrooms, children and families.  Register for a program and become eligible for great incentives.  And mark your calendars for future Medtronic TC Kids Marathon family running events.

Now lace up those running shoes, have some fun, and get healthy!

Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road (as opposed to track and cross country running). These events normally range from 5 km to long distance, such as half marathons and marathons, and may involve large numbers of runners or wheelchair entrants. Road running is part of group of road events known as "road races".

Road running may offer those involved a range of challenges and interests such as dealing with hills, sharp bends, varied surfaces, inclement weather, and involvement in a large group. Aerobic fitness, or the ability of the body to use oxygen, is important to help complete the long distance. Anaerobic fitness, the body's ability to respond when there isn't enough oxygen for the muscle, is helpful when encountering hills and providing energy for a sprint at the finish.

The impact of running on roads puts more stress on the feet, knees and lower back than running on dirt or grass. It can compensate by providing a consistent, level surface. It may put less strain on the Achilles tendon.

Courses

Race courses are usually held on the streets of major cities and towns but they could be on any road. Most road races are either 5 km (3.1 miles), 10 km (6.2 miles), half-marathon (21.097 km, 13.1 miles), or marathon (42.195 km, 26.2 miles), but non-standard distances are also used. The "Round the Bays" run in Auckland, New Zealand is 8.4 km (5.2 miles), the Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, Cape Cod is 7.1 miles long, San Francisco's "Bay to Breakers" is 12 km (7.46 miles); "City to Surf" in Sydney, Australia is 14 km (8.7 miles), Honolulu's "Great Aloha Run" is 8.15 miles (13.12 km), the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida is 15 km (9.3 miles), the "Medtronic TC 10", in Minneapolis/St. Paul is 16.09 km (10 miles) and the "Charleston Distance Run" in Charleston, West Virginia is 15 miles (24.14 km).

Most road race courses have a certificate of course accuracy which confirms that they have been measured with an accuracy of better than 0.1%, i.e. to within 10m for a 10 km race . Measurement is normally done by means of a calibrated bicycle fitted with a Jones Counter. If a world record is set on a race course, the course is independently remeasured to verify that it was the correct length.

Second Annual Medtronic TC Kids Marathon Spring Run Bring in Big Smiles with Kids

Under recently rare, sunny skies and perfect spring temperatures Saturday, May 17, nearly 900 young runners gathered for the second annual Medtronic TC Kids Marathon at Como Park in St. Paul—a program which encourages kids to get interested in fitness by “running one mile at a time.”  Ranging from age three through age14, kids lined up in “chutes” by grade for either the half-mile run or the mile run around the Park Pavilion grounds.

“Watching these kids as they warmed-up and ran this event was powerful,” said Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. race director Brian Mastel.  “Their positive energy and determination to finish what many had worked on all spring was evident in their faces and they all ran a great race!”

Smiles abounded, energetic music played and seasoned  Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. volunteers helped warm up young muscles before-hand, with stretches, toe touches and encouragement.  Marathon mascots Harry and Shelly were on hand to cheer for all, and an assortment of 900 peanut butter/and or jelly sandwiches were distributed to attendees as they sat on the grass for a power lunch after the run.

Sixteen schools and youth groups, including the Minneapolis YWCA, Bolder Options and Saint Paul Park and Recreation participated, as well as many individual families. Said Bolder Options running program coordinator Maria Kustritz: “I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to you and all the staff and volunteers for putting on such a great event Saturday!   All the Bolder Options youth and mentors had a blast and for me it was especially cool to see our kids cheering each other on into the finish and acknowledging their peers' accomplishments and how proud they were of each other.  Events like that, which bring out the best in kids, help remind me why I love my job so much.”

On hand was David Etzwiler, Medtronic Foundation Executive Director.  As he prepared to sound the starting blast he told the crowd, “We, at the Medtronic Foundation, are thrilled to team up with the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon for this program that helps gets kids active and fit….. to see so many of you here today having fun and getting some exercise, that’s what this program is all about.”

For the kids, it was about many things.  “I had fun,” said Olivia (7) from St. Paul, who came out to run the half-mile with her family.  “Finishing was the best part.”  Jeremy (11), who ran the half-mile with the kids from the YWCA of Minneapolis, said “Coming down the hill before the finish line was awesome; it was like running on a mountain.”  And for Carolyn (14) of Meadow Creek School in St. Paul, running has become part of her life.  “I really liked that I had the opportunity to run today,’ she said.  “Running is cool and I run with my school’s track team.”

The next 12-week Medtronic TC Kids Marathon training program gets underway June 25 online at www.mtcmarathon.org.   Families and summer programs can take part and train for the Medtronic TC Family Events, which take place Saturday, October 4 at the State Capitol Grounds in St. Paul.  Look for information under the events tab on the website.