Gearing Up For Grandma’s Saturday Free At Essentia Health

I read on Facebook the people are starting to train for the half marathon and the full marathon. Some people have done this a million times some just starting this year and have questions. Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Olympian, will host "Gearing Up For Grandma's" to answer questions about a wide array of topics.

Gearing Up for Grandma's pre-race seminar is on Saturday, March 1. This is a free event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Essentia Health’s First Street Building, will be an entertaining and valuable training resource for both first-timers and veteran runners.

The seminar’s featured speaker is Carrie Tollefson, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team in the 1500-meters. Tollefson grew up in Dawson, Minn., and won 13 Minnesota high school championships in cross country and track. While in college at Villanova, she was a 12-time All-American and five-time NCAA national champion. She made her marathon debut at the 2013 Twin Cities Marathon.

Since 2010, Tollefson has hosted “C Tolle Run” – a weekly webcast about running and fitness. The show features training tips, interviews with athletes and experts, as well as highlights from races and events. She is also a member of the broadcast team for ESPN Radio 560 WEBC broadcast team producing live radio and streaming coverage of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Other Gearing Up for Grandma’s presenters include:

Ben Nelson, MD – Grandma’s Marathon Medical Director and Essentia Health Orthopedic/Sports Medicine Physician

Heather Pitschka, RD, CDE – Essentia Health Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator

Jim and Mary Stukel – Owners of Tortoise and Hare Footwear

Following the individual presentations, a question and answer session will be held with all of the presenters. A prize drawing will conclude the event, which is presented by Essentia Health and Grandma's Marathon.

For more information, call (218) 727-0947.