Press Release - Twin Cities Marathon - 10/13/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                            Contact: Kristine Smith
                                     Marketing and Public Relations Manager
                                     (763) 287-3888 x 13

       MEDTRONIC TWIN CITIES MARATHON CHEER ZONE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
         AWARDS TO BE CONTRIBUTED TO LOCAL TWIN CITIES CHARITIES

(Minneapolis, Minn.) –Winners of the inaugural Medtronic Twin Cities 
Marathon (MTCM) Cheer Zone Contest were announced this week. Ten official 
groups took part in the first-ever contest. Cheer Zone winners included the 
first place "Ten Mile Party" at Mile 10 (Columbus and East Minnehaha Pkwy), 
second-place "Ghostbusters Zone" at Mile 3 (21st and Penn) and third place 
winners "Total 80's Zone" at Mile 3 (Penn and Lake of the Isles). All three 
winning zones received cash prizes that will be donated, in their names, to 
a non-profit/charity in their neighborhoods.

"The Mexican Fiesta" at Mile 23 (Summit Avenue) took honorable mention. The 
zone was created and executed entirely by kids. As runner Doug Thompson put 
it "The thousands of people who cheered us on, even later in the race, were 
absolutely great.Their enthusiastic energy kept us going all the way!"

An MTCM Cheer Zone Contest will be held again in 2007. The contest 
encourages neighborhood associations, groups and individuals to help 
runners as they travel the 26.2 mile marathon course by creating an 
enthusiastic spectator "zone" with banners, balloons, music and 
decorations. The zones are judged on creativity, enthusiasm, and use of
theme. Watch for updates on next year’s theme and contest categories in 
Spring, 2007.

The 2007 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon weekend will take place October 5 – 
October 7, 2007. The three-day weekend celebration of fitness includes a 5K 
run/walk, children's fun runs, pasta dinner, health and fitness expo and 
Medtronic TC 10 Mile, in addition to the marathon. The race continues its 
16th consecutive year as the designated USATF National Masters 
Championship. Other Major sponsors include Capella University and ING. Twin 
Cities Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that directs race 
weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit 
www.mtcmarathon.org for more information.

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