Marathon Director Reflects On Race, Says It's Great For First Timers

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It takes 5,000 volunteers to put on the Twin Cities Marathon.

Executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said they are very appreciative of all the help.

"To have this kind of support is amazing," Brophy Achman said.

She was on on WCCO Radio's News and Views program with Roshini Rajkumar. She said this marathon is known for being good for first timers.

"It's beautiful, the crowds are great," she said.

About 30 percent of the runners are first time people. And many of them are older.

"They get out of college, start a career, and then later in life get back into it," she said.

It was a first-time marathoner from North Carolina won the 33rd annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Tyler Pennel crossed the finish line Sunday in two hours, 13 minutes, 33 seconds. He is from Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Twenty-eight-year-old Esther Erb of Richmond, Virginia, won the women's division in 2:34:01.