A few months back i ranted a bit about the Medtronic Global Heroes program which discriminated against over 40 runners or ones with diabtetes more than 15 years for the Minneapolis Marathon.

Who would have guessed, they are dropping these conditions for 2009 according to an email I just received:

Alan,
Thank you for your previous comments regarding the Medtronic Global Heroes program and its guideline related to runners with diabetes. As you know, under that guideline, runners with diabetes older than 40 who were diagnosed with diabetes more than 15 years ago were ineligible to apply.

As promised, Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. and the Medtronic Foundation committed to review and re-evaluate this guideline following the close of the 2008 program applications. We thought you would like to know that we are removing this guideline for the 2009 program.

Of course, runner safety remains the primary concern of both Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. and the Medtronic Foundation. However, our organizations agree with feedback from the Global Hero selection committee that the current application and registration process ensures runner safety without applying the age restrictions.

Future selections will rely on an applicant’s personal running and health history, along with that runner’s physician approval, as the primary determinant, not age or disease longevity.

Again, we thank you for your feedback and interest in this program. We hope you will consider reapplying, or refer others that would enjoy the Global Heroes experience.

i doubt it means much for me as I am for now, retired from running, but felt it was worth sharing with a bit of Hallelujah.

Yep, I truly hate running. still

Did you know... "The honeymoon period is a time when people with type 1 diabetes, shortly after their diagnosis, experience what seems to be a remission of the disease or a restoration of the production of insulin." (from About.com Guide to Diabetes)
See more diabetic facts...