We loved him in 2007 and 2008, and he is expected to visit us in 2009!

Award-winning fitness educator Tim “T-Bone” Arem's popularity reflects a personal commitment he believes in strongly - sharing health, fitness and entertainment with children and adults of all ages! Tim has portrayed all sorts of characters, from Ronald McDonald to Mac Tonight to a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but he didn't find his life's mission until he became T-Bone.

In the guise of T-Bone, a brightly colored costumed running enthusiast and educator, Tim shares the benefits of children's health and physical fitness. He connects with more than a 100,000 families in running events nationwide, unprecedented in his field.

Tim will promote fitness and encourage kids to take part in the Youth Run by presenting "T-Bone's Healthy Adventure" at several grade schools throughout Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead. Tim will also have a booth at the Marathon Expo on Thursday and put on a fire-up session at the FargoDome prior to the Youth Runs. His visit to Fargo is sponsored by Dakota Clinic/Innovis Health.

"My mission is health and fitness from youth to adulthood," said Tim, a Los Angeles resident who holds a master degree in education. "With so many exciting things in our culture like computers, video games and TV, it's definitely a fun challenge to teach kids about the importance of eating right and staying fit. I really believe the message is getting out there. I'm asked back year after year to more than 40 different races a year."

Tim helped establish Project Magic with magician David Copperfield and has performed with Harry Blackstone Jr. He is celebrated internationally with performing tours of Nepal, Thailand, Canada, Japan, Israel and Ireland. In the United States he has been featured In the Los Angeles Times and on Late Night with David Letterman, ESPN, NBC, and ABC network programs.

"Running excites, inspires and enriches children as it teaches them important life lessons like discipline, coordination, teamwork and self-esteem," says Tim. "The best part of being T-Bone is seeing the children's smiles as they cross the finish line. I feel very fortunate to be playing a role in many families lives through fitness. That is the kind of contribution that makes my job so fulfilling!"

For more on T-Bone, check out www.tbonerun.com.