Posted: July 9, 2004

Triathlon: Stage Is Set For 2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon

Event to be Held Saturday, July 17, in Minneapolis/St. Paul; Will Deliver Largest Prize Purse in Triathlon History, Same-Day National Television Coverage

The 2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon, a Minneapolis Aquatennial-sanctioned event, will start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2004.

NBC will broadcast the event nationally from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CST).

The 2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon features a stunning course, beginning and ending at Minneapolis' Lake Nokomis and traveling throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul Parkway system on two courses:
The Short Distance Course - includes a .4-mile swim, 15-mile bike race and a 3-mile run.
The Olympic Distance Course - includes a 1.5 K swim, 40 K bike race and a 10 K run.

Combined, a field of more than 40 of the world's best female and male professional triathletes will battle for the event's record prize purse of $500,000. The first through fifth place finishers will receive $250,000, $50,000, $35,000, $25,000, and $20,000 respectively. Overall, cash awards will be made to the top 12 male and female finishers.

The 2004 Triathlon will feature the "Equalizer" a unique timing structure that allows professional women and men to compete on equal ground. Based on past Life Time Fitness Triathlon course results, as well as the outcomes from a number of world and American Olympic-distance events, the Equalizer allows pro women to start ahead of pro men by a predetermined amount of time, resulting in a new and innovative competition format, and a dramatic "battle-of-the-sexes" race to finish.

In addition to the professionals, more than 2,500+ amateur athletes are expected to participate in the event from 40+ states, along with thousands of spectators.

The 2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon is a part of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, a ten-day premier Twin Cities civic celebration that upholds a 65-year community tradition and hosts more than 800,000 visitors.

2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon Schedule of Events: Saturday, July 17, 2004

Professional Olympic Distance Triathletes:
  8:00 a.m.	Women's start
~8:10 a.m.- 8:15 a.m. Men's start
~8:20 a.m. 	First female exits water
~8:22 a.m.	First female on bike
~8:33 a.m.	First male exits water
~8:41 a.m.	Lead pro at West River Road & Franklin
~8:56 a.m.	Lead pro at Minnehaha Pkwy & Cedar
~9:04 a.m.	Lead pro at Minnehaha Pkwy & 50th (heading north)
~9:09 a.m.	Lead pro at Lake Harriet Pkwy & Wm Berry Rd
~9:14 a.m.	Lead pro at W 50th & Minnehaha (heading south)
~9:24 a.m.	Lead pro into t-area
~9:26 a.m.	Lead pro starts run
~9:44 a.m.	Lead pro completes 1st lap of run
~10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Winner crosses finish line
Amateur Olympic Distance Triathletes:
~8:30 a.m.	Relays, Elite amateur, Clydesdale, Athena start
~8:40 a.m.	Amateurs time trial start- one person every three seconds
~8:40 a.m.	First wave starts swim
~9:48 a.m.	Last wave starts swim
~10:45 a.m.	Last wave triathlete out of the water
~10:50 a.m.	Last wave triathlete on bike course
~11:15 a.m.	Last wave cyclist at West River Rd & Franklin Ave.
~11:35 a.m.	Last wave cyclist at Minnehaha Pkwy & Cedar (heading west)
~11:50 a.m.	Last wave cyclist at Lake Harriet Pkwy & Wm Berry Rd
~12:00 p.m.	Last wave cyclist at W. 50th heading to finish
~12:15 p.m.	Last wave cyclist finishes bicycle
~12:20 p.m.	Last wave cyclist begins run
~12:45 p.m.	Last wave cyclist finishes 1st lap of run
~1:10 p.m.	Last wave cyclist finishes long course
Amateur Olympic Distance Triathletes:
~10:03 AM	First wave starts swim
~10:12 AM	First wave triathlete finishes swim
~10:14 AM	First wave triathlete begins bicycle
~10:31 AM	First wave triathlete at West River Rd & Franklin Ave
~10:40 AM	Last wave begins swim
~10:49 AM	First wave triathlete finishes bicycle
~10:51 AM	First wave triathlete begins run
~10:55 AM	Last wave triathlete finishes swim
~10:58 AM	Last wave triathlete begins bicycle
~11:08 AM	First wave triathlete finishes short course
~11:20 AM	Last wave triathlete at West River Rd & Franklin Ave
~11:50 AM	Last wave triathlete finishes bicycle
~11:55 AM	Last wave triathlete begins run
~12:30 PM	Last wave triathletes finishes short course
  1:00 PM	NBC Sports national broadcast of the 2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon begins
  2:00 PM	Awards ceremony and check to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities

Life Time Fitness is proud to recognize the 2004 Life Time Fitness Triathlon sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Honda
Platinum Sponsors:	Life Fitness, Polar
Gold Sponsors: Cargill, Lean Source, Nike Phillips, Power Ade
Silver Sponsors: Alliant Credit Union, American Express, BMW, GNC, Piper Jaffray, Pontiac/GMS, Snickers Marathon Energy Bar

About Life Time Fitness, Inc.
Life Time Fitness (NYSE:LTM) operates distinctive and large sports, athletic, fitness and family recreation centers. As of June 5, 2004, the Company operated 35 centers in eight states, including Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. The Company also provides consumers with nutritional products and supplements, the award-winning healthy lifestyle magazine, Experience Life, world-class athletic events, full-service spas, cafés, personal training consultation, health and nutrition education, and corporate wellness programs. Life Time Fitness is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota (www.lifetimefitness.com).

Life Time Fitness Triathlon race results (unofficial) will be posted to www.lifetimefitness.com and www.sommersports.com, as quickly as possible following the event. Official results will be available on July 27th on the same sites.