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... David Crosby, member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is diabetic (from Diabetes Health Magazine)
See more diabetic facts...
June 18th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Yes! Hallelujah and Amen! I’m glad that is finally straightened out.
I’m a little concerned about your hatred for running, though, Alan.
I am going to put together a team, twelve diabetic runners, for the 2009 Relay Del Sol.
http://www.ragnarrelay.com/delsol/
I was hoping I could count on you to run with us.
Before you say it’s not for you, check out the mileage chart:
http://www.ragnarrelay.com/delsol/runnerchart.php
It’s not that hard. In particular, runner 8 has three easy legs of 4 miles or less.
Best wishes as always,
Jerry
June 18th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
For you Jerry, I will run this event. I just meant I was not eager to do marathons likely ever and maybe not even halves.
I like biking.
I like hiking.
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:47 am
Jerry and Alan, even though I am not diabetic, I have been a member of Team D for the past four years and would welcome the opportunity to be part of this team if you need a member to complete the team. Let me know.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Hi, Jose,
I was hoping to make it a team of diabetic runners, but if recruiting turns out to be difficult, I would like to contact you. Please send me your contact info at
jpnairn gmail com
If you want to help even if we don’t need you as a runner, we will also need to supply three volunteers to work shifts along the race course, and it’s always good to have drivers who don’t have to worry about running, and vice versa.
Please let me know if you’re interested in helping in either of these ways.
For more info about the race, see:
http://www.ragnarrelay.com/delsol/index.php
The race is February 27th and 28th, 2009. Early registration ends and the registration fee goes up at the end of September.
I will begin trying to confirm runners in August and register the team before the fee goes up.
Cheers, all.