Welcome To TEAM ORTHO, the site where “Everybody Wins”

More then 1500 Runners Participate in the Inaugural Team Ortho Downtown Half

On a beautiful Sunday morning near the Historic Stone Arch in Downtown Minneapolis, 4 different races started within a half hour span. Runners included all ages, shapes, sizes and even many of our four legged friends who participated in the 5K-9, as well as the little ones who were lucky enough to get a ride in Mom or Dad’s stroller. Each of the four races (Half Marathon, 10 Mile, 5K Dash and 5K-9) included a challenging hill section that took runners underneath the Stone Arch Bridge and up "heartbreak" hill back up to West River Road.

"I really enjoyed the race yesterday.  The course was very challenging, and the event was really conveniently located"

-L.A.

Runners were welcomed back to the Depot after each of the races and enjoyed live music and drinks. Within the Depot Shed there were more then 15 Groups/Teams operating out of their own Tent. The Team Tents were part of the first ever Group Competition. THe competition is based on numbers on numbers of participants. 1st Place went to Fairview Sports and Orthopedics, 2nd place to CSM Running Club and 3rd place to Target. Hundreds of people stayed after their race to enjoy the live music and festivities. Pictured here is Team EHFAR(Everything Happens for a Reason).

"Great event, beautiful scenery the entire length of the race. I will definitely participate again next year" - J.S.

"Another great time at a Team Ortho event!!! My friends were very impressed and cannot wait for Monster Dash!" - C.O.

Themed Water Stations lined the course, with the Monster Dash/Half being the highlight. The Southwest Girls Track Team busied themselves in Halloween Costumes that reminded runners of excitement of that race. Other themes included a Polar theme and a St. Patrick's Day theme.

Many of the Downtown Half Participants wore their technical race shirts and orange visors. With the sun rising as the race went on, the visors proved to be invaluable. As part of the Monster Marathon Series, the Downtown Half also played a large role in fulfilling Monster Marathon times. The Monster Marathon Series combines your best Half Marathon time, 10 Mile time and 5K time. The Leader Board for the Series will be announced soon. Monster Dash/Half on October 25th will mark the finale for our Monster Marathon Series and will include both a 5K, 5K-9 and Half Marathon for those attempting to fulfill their required distances.

Half Marathon Results

10 Mile Results

5K Dash and 5K-9 Results

Pictures from the 2008 Downtown Half

Pictures from the 2008 5K-9

"Great job on Sunday's race!  The courses were well marked; water stops were well staffed.  Fun course and the depot area is a great pre-race and post race area.  Nice job of keeping three races going over a similar course. By the way, the course maps were great.  I felt like I had already run the course by looking over the map a few times before I ran the race!" - D.W.

Grab Your Sunscreen and Join over 1500 friends
for the Downtown Half/10 mile/5K/5K-9

Where: The Depot in Minneapolis
When: Sunday, June 1st
Half Marathon - 8:00 AM
10 Mile - 8:00 AM
5k and 5-K9 - 8:20 AM

Learn More and View Race Day Details

Team Discount Codes

View this event on Facebook

Downtown Course Maps:

Half Marathon - 8:00 AM Map

10 Mile - 8:00 AM Map

5k and 5-K9 - 8:20 AM Map

Team Ortho at Eugene Marathon. Voted Water Station of the Year again in 2008

Team Ortho sponsored a water station for the 2008 Eugene Marathon, ½ Marathon and 5K. Together with the Willamette Christian Center, we served more then 6000 runners who participated in the second year of the event. At the Marathon Expo, we gave out Team Ortho sox and other gifts to the 2007 Slocum Center Monster Dash Participants who wore their Race Jacket. We also handed out maps of the 10 Mile Course for the 2008 Monster Dash, and answered questions about the 2008 Monster Dash. This year will feature the Monster 10 Mile, Dash, and 5K-9. In the 5K-9 participants are encouraged to run with their favorite four legged friend. We are proud to affiliate with other Green Races, and are excited about our 2008 Monster Dash on October 25th starting at the Slocum Center near Alton Baker Park. Eugene Marathon Facts:

• Voted one of the Top 10 New Marathons in the US by Runner's World Magazine
• First "Green" Running Event in Lane County
• 15,000 people attended the expo over 2 days
• 55 Expo Vendors including Team Ortho
• 1000 Volunteers including those from Team Ortho

To Register for the the 2008 Slocum Center Monster Dash in Eugene Click here

Team Member Amy Xu qualifies for Hawaii World Championships !

On April 20 Haikou was the site for the inaugural Ironman China.  Haikou City is on Hainan Island, often referred to as the Hawaii of China.  Amy Xu fought the heat and humidity for 140.6 miles and qualified for Ironman World Championships!  The 30th Ironman World Championships will be held in Kona, Hawaii in October 2008.  Congratulation Amy! 

posted 04.24.08

TEAM ORTHO Bike Challenge at the IDS Crystal Court

On Thursday April 17th Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak joined athletes Carrie Tollefson, David Thompson, Kris Swarthout and Matt Haugen for the Team Ortho Bike Challenge, The Hardest One Mile of Your Life!  The Event was held at the Crystal Court in the IDS center in downtown Minneapolis from 8 am to 2 pm.  People competed in pairs on a one mile computerized course.  Times varied between 3:12 and 1:47. The peak wattage generated was 1012 watts (by uber Triathlete David Thompson)!  Crowds gathered to watch the competition and everyone who participated wanted to do it again and bystanders said they wanted to try it at Team Ortho’s next time The Hardest One Mile of Your Life!.   See the results here.  See the photos here.

Visit facebook Event Page to see captioned photos from the event.

For Results Click Here

posted 04.23.08

Ray Gensiger Elected to the Board of Team Ortho Foundation

At the December meeting of the Team Ortho Foundation Board of Directors, Ray Gensiger was unanimously elected as a member of the Board. Ray has been an active member with Team Ortho since 2003, ever since he and his oldest son raced for Team Ortho in a head-to-head friendly competition at the Lifetime Triathlon.

Ray grew up in Long Island and spent the later part of his high school years in Illinois. He attended undergraduate school at Illinois Wesleyan University and went on to obtain his Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University.

Currently, Ray is employed by Fairview Health Services as the Chief Medical Information Officer developing IT for healthcare. His current initiative focuses on using fitness to cater to the health needs of 25-40 year olds.

Ray and his family currently make their home in Lakeville, Minnesota. Outside of being a Team Ortho advocate, Ray is an avid amateur photographer, so keep your eye out for him while out on the course! Welcome to Ray!

posted 03.17.08

Team Ortho at the AAOS Annual Meeting in San Francisco

March 7, 2008- Team Ortho hosted a friendly bike competition at the AAOS Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Every Body raced on a stationery Kuota Bike which was on a mechanical trainer that measured their average wattage and speed on a one mile course. Prizes were awarded overall and by age group.  Greg Cavanagh originally from New Zealand won for the men with a 2:00 time, and Dr. Jenny Boakes from California won for the women, with a time of 2:46. 

Florian Hassler from Germany won his age group with a 2:13 (shown with Amanda Nelson, Biz Casmer and Blair Schlicte) and Dr. William Furrer, 76, a heart transplant patient, 76, won his age group.  Winners received a Team Ortho gym bag.

View Results

View the Photo Gallery






posted 03.20.08

Monster Marathon Series Continues!

The Valentines Day 5K was held Saturday February 16th on a balmy 20 degree day at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. Almost 1000 participants ran in the 23rd Annual Event. This year the Valentines Day 5K also served as the second event in the Inaugural Monster Marathon Series. Signups for the Series will continue through the 100% Irish 5K and 10 Miler on Saturday March 15th. The Team Ortho Tent served as the bag drop for the 2008 Monster Marathon Series Participants. Among them were the Mother-Son combination of Jenny and Bobby Moore. Both Jenny and Bobby are part of the Gear West Tri Team that is participating in Monster Perks. What is Monster Perks? Click Here to find out how your Team can get involved. To Join the Monster Series fun email: erik@teamortho.us

View the Photo Gallery

Here is a list of Team Ortho Monster Marathon Series Teams:

TeamOrtho, Allina, Ameriprise, BestBuy, BostonScientific, Cargill, CDA, Children’sHospital, CSM, EdenPrairie, Edina, EHFAR, Fairview, FITStudios, FredLaw, GearWestTri, GeneralMills, Gerry,Gillette, HCMC, Hennepin, ING, KrollOnTrack, LarsonAllen, Luther, Mayo, Medtronic, MHP, Minnetonka, MorganStanley, NSC, NWA, P2, ParkNicollet, PowerObjects, SCS, Shriners, StarkeyLabs, Target, UHG, UofM, USBank, WatsonWyatt, WellsFargo, Zimmer

View the Valentines Day 5K Results

posted 2.21.08

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