(Duluth, Minn.): Grandma’s Marathon invites runners and other guests to get inspired and be entertained as they listen to this year’s excellent line-up of guests! This is the second year of the Pre-Race Talk Show that will be hosted by Running Legend, Dick Beardsley, and Olympian, Carrie Tollefson. Their talk show guests will include Jordan Hasay and Jeff Galloway.
The presentation will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019, in the Edmund Fitzgerald Hall at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Along with their guest interviews, there will be prize giveaways and a dedicated Q&A time with Dick and Carrie. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Dick Beardsley is known as one of the best marathon runners in U.S. history. Winner of Grandma’s Marathon in 1981 and 1982, Dick held the course record with a time of 2:09:37 for 33 years. His most famous race, however, took place at the 1982 Boston Marathon where he crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 53 seconds, just two seconds behind Alberto Salazar to place second. Dick remains a prominent figure in the running community and travels around the world to share his amazing stories.
Carrie Tollefson is recognized as one of the best runners to come out of Minnesota. She grew up in Dawson, MN, and won 13 Minnesota high school championships in cross country and track. While at Villanova University, she won five NCAA championships individually and was a member of the 1999 NCAA Cross Country Championships team. Carrie joined Team USA Minnesota in 2001 and since then has been a three-time national champion (1500 meters, 3000 meters and 4k cross country). She represented the USA in the Olympic Games after winning the 1500 meters at the Olympic Trials in 2004. She was also a member of three U.S. World teams. In addition to being a professional runner, Carrie is also a television broadcaster and has provided commentary for many racing events throughout the nation.
Jordan Hasay is one of the top distance runners among U.S. women. In 2017, Hasay finished third at the Boston Marathon (2:23:00) to beat the record for fastest marathon debut by an American woman — previously held by Duluth native Kara Goucher (2:25:53). In April 2019, Hasay again finished third at Boston. The 27-year-old will run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon on Saturday, June 22. Her half marathon personal record is 1:07:55.
Jeff Galloway focuses on training plans that have opened up the life-changing experience of finishing a distance event to almost everyone. His methods are proven to reduce aches, pains and injuries. Galloway designed the Run Walk Run Method to help beginners start running as it incorporates strategic walk breaks that allow each runner to control fatigue and eliminate significant running injuries.
Other activities that will take place in the Edmund Fitzgerald Hall on Friday include:
Virtual Racecourse Tours: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The tours will be narrated by two-time Grandma’s Marathon Champion (1989 & 1993), Doug Kurtis.
Lightspeed Lift: 3:00 p.m. Lightspeed Lift will be conducting a demonstration of their body weight support system that helps runners during recovery to gain speed and reduce injury. The demo will be led by Lightspeed Lift owner, Malcom Macaulay, and will include Jordan Hasay.
For more information about the 43rd Annual Grandma’s Marathon Weekend presented by Toyota and Members Cooperative Credit Union, visit grandmasmarathon.com.
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