Press Release - Grandma's Marathon - 4/4/07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                         Contact: Scott Keenan
                                                  Executive director
                                                  Bob Gustafson
                                                  Public Relations Director
                                                  (218) 727-0947

 New USATF Rule Prohibits Headphones/Music Devices on Sanctioned Courses
              Rule Applies to All Grandma's Marathon Races

(Duluth, Minn.) USA Track & Field (USATF) recently adopted a new rule 
banning the use of headphones and other music devices at all 
USATF-sanctioned running events. USATF, the governing body for 
long-distance running and track & field in the United States, adopted the 
rule (#144.3b) in an effort to increase runner safety.

Previously, USATF guidelines recommended the prohibition of music devices 
for long-distance running events, but such a measure had not been mandatory 
until this year. Now, athletes participating in USATF-sanctioned races, 
such as Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, will be 
subject to the new rule.

"As an organization whose races are sanctioned and certified by USATF, we 
are required to abide by all rules, regulations and guidelines," says Scott 
Keenan, executive director of Grandma’s Marathon. "Establishing the rules 
for our sport is a role of USATF. We support their efforts and will begin 
enforcing this new rule at all of our 2007 races."

The first Grandma's Marathon event to be affected by the headphone ban is 
the Fitger's 5K Run & Walk scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 21. This 
rule will also apply to Grandma's Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half 
Marathon, the William A. Irvin 5K, the Park Point 5-Miler and the new 
Grandma's Minnesota Mile races in Duluth and St. Paul. The new USATF rule 
is printed on entry forms and race packets for all 2007 Grandma's Marathon 
events.

Participants in Grandma's Marathon events are advised to not bring 
headphones or other music devices with them to the racecourse. Athletes 
with these devices will be given the option to surrender them to a race 
official prior to the race. Surrendered devices will be properly packaged 
and mailed back to their rightful owners within two weeks after the race. 
Participants who violate the headphone ban will be disqualified and their 
finishing time will not appear in official race results.

"The best advice we can offer to anyone hoping to avoid any inconvenience 
is simply to not bring headphones with them on race day," adds Keenan.

For more information, please visit www.grandmasmarathon.com.
 
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