Media contact:  Janet Blixt, (218) 723-4743, j.blixt@lsc.edu or Gary Kruchowski, (218)733-4679, g.kruchowski@lsc.edu 

LSC's Virtual Campus Offers Grandma's Marathon Course; Olympic Hopeful Katie Koski to Teach 

(Duluth, Minn.) -- Lake Superior College is again offering the chance to train for and run Grandma's Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon for college credit while working with a world-class athlete.

The option to take class as a non-credit course is also available. The course provides race training and nutritional information in addition to history, etiquette and basic skills.   

Native Duluthian Katie Koski will teach the online physical education course. Koski is a champion runner who hopes to qualify for the Beijing Olympics team trials.  She was asked to teach the online course for Lake Superior College because of her experience competing in Grandma's Marathon. "I have run Grandma's eight times finishing 6th, 7th and 10th respectively with a 2:42 best," said Koski. "I feel very connected to the Duluth running community and Grandma's Marathon."

Koski was named to the 2006 World Cup 100k Team based on her performance at the Edmund Fitzgerald Race in 2005. Although she is only thirty-three years old, this is her twentieth year of competitive running.

"The beauty of running for me is its simplicity," explained Koski. "One only needs a decent pair of shoes, a path and a vision even if the vision is simply to get from here to there.  She continued, "I like to compete and do well in races, but more importantly I find beauty in the movement itself and the people running has brought into my life. Running is a great teacher, and I have learned much about myself by lacing up shoes each day and heading down some path." 

Koski's goal is to achieve the Olympic Trails Standard at Grandma's this June. This will enable her to compete in the Women's Olympic Trials in Boston April of 2008. If she runs the standard, sub 2:47, she will begin to prepare for her third U.S. Women's Olympic Trials. 

More than 17,000 runners and 50,000 race fans from around the world are expected to participate in June 15-17, 2007 Grandma's Marathon weekend.  The registration deadline to sign up for the Grandma's Marathon course is March 20, 2007.  For more information visit or contact Christine Torma, (218) 733-2030, c.torma@lsc.edu

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.  With more than 3,800 students enrolled this fall semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota's largest two-year college.  LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry.  LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota