Runners and spectators urged to bring donations for Second Harvest Heartland
St. Paul, MN – January 19, 2009 – Thousands of hearty people will brave
Minnesota’s cold weather to run in the Securian Frozen 5K and Half
Marathon, January 24th in St. Paul. Two runners in their 80s will be among
the participants – 83-year-old Burt Carlson of Mound, Minn., and
82-year-old Joy Johnson, from San Jose, California.
Carlson recently completed his 301st marathon in Negril, Jamaica. He also
takes part in Ultra Marathons, which include races of 62 miles and the Lake
Nokomis 24 Hour Race in Minneapolis. He has raced in all 50 states and in
nine countries.
Johnson, who was born and raised in Waconia, Minn., finished first in her
division in the New York City Marathon in November. She runs nearly a dozen
races each year and says the Securian Frozen 5K and Half Marathon is one of
her favorites. “It’s cold as the dickens, but it’s so much fun,” she said.
The Securian Frozen 5K and Half Marathon is a keystone event of the St.
Paul Winter Carnival and is being held the opening weekend of the 2009
carnival, which takes place January 22 to February 1st.
The race begins and ends in downtown St. Paul at Securian Center on the
corner of Sixth and Jackson Street. (Half marathon begins at 9:00 a.m.; 5K
begins at 9:15 a.m.)
Securian is encouraging all runners and spectators to bring canned food or
cash donations for Second Harvest Heartland, the Upper Midwest’s largest
hunger-relief organization.
“The Securian Frozen 5K and Half Marathon is a fun, community event, and we
welcome spectators and runners of all ages and abilities to come to St.
Paul and participate,” said Lori Koutsky, manager of the Securian
Foundation. “We also hope that people will bring donations to Second
Harvest Heartland to help the many in our community who are in need.”
Securian Financial Group is a long-time supporter of the Frozen 5K and Half
Marathon and of Second Harvest Heartland. Securian Financial Group
(www.securian.com) helps provide financial security for individuals and
businesses in the form of insurance, retirement plans and investments.
Securian has $708 billion of life insurance in force, $29 billion in assets
under management as of November 30, 2008, and a work force of 3,500
employees nationwide. Securian serves more than 7 million individuals in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
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