Friday, March 14, 2008
Diabetic Runners opinions
Hi,
I'd like to get some opinions on this. Medtronic is the title sponsor of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Every year, through the the Global Heroes program Medtronic sponsors several runners to participate in the marathon and 10 mile run events there. These runners are people who are living with medical devices, people with medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders.
http://www.medtronic.com/globalheroes/
This is all very good, a wonderful thing.
However, one of the criteria for applying for recognition in the Global Heroes program is:
"Runners 40 years and older, who have had diabetes for more than 15 years, are ineligible."
The guidelines for eligibility are described here:
http://www.medtronic.com/globalheroes/guidelines.html
Let me point out a few things.
This applies to both the marathon and the ten mile race.
Everyone participating in either of the events signs a waiver, whether they are part of the Global Heroes program, or registering themselves.
Anyone applying to the Global Heroes program must:
"Have previously run similar distances to the race to which he/she is applying (i.e. a 10 mile race or marathon). No first-time or beginning runners."
"Certify they have consulted with a physician who deems the runner medically fit to participate in the race."
These eligibility criteria apply only to application to the Global Heroes program. A 70 year old with diabetes for 60 years who has never run a mile is free to register and run in the marathon.
These are just the criteria for applying. Selection is not automatic. Only 25 runners will be chosen for 2008.
The total number of runners selected for the Global Heroes program will be about 0.2% of the participants in the marathon and ten mile races.
In my opinion, the requirement that a diabetic runner must be under 40 or have had diabetes for less than 15 years is absurd.
What do you all think?
Thanks,
Jerry
I'd like to get some opinions on this. Medtronic is the title sponsor of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Every year, through the the Global Heroes program Medtronic sponsors several runners to participate in the marathon and 10 mile run events there. These runners are people who are living with medical devices, people with medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain or neurological disorders.
http://www.medtronic.com/globalheroes/
This is all very good, a wonderful thing.
However, one of the criteria for applying for recognition in the Global Heroes program is:
"Runners 40 years and older, who have had diabetes for more than 15 years, are ineligible."
The guidelines for eligibility are described here:
http://www.medtronic.com/globalheroes/guidelines.html
Let me point out a few things.
This applies to both the marathon and the ten mile race.
Everyone participating in either of the events signs a waiver, whether they are part of the Global Heroes program, or registering themselves.
Anyone applying to the Global Heroes program must:
"Have previously run similar distances to the race to which he/she is applying (i.e. a 10 mile race or marathon). No first-time or beginning runners."
"Certify they have consulted with a physician who deems the runner medically fit to participate in the race."
These eligibility criteria apply only to application to the Global Heroes program. A 70 year old with diabetes for 60 years who has never run a mile is free to register and run in the marathon.
These are just the criteria for applying. Selection is not automatic. Only 25 runners will be chosen for 2008.
The total number of runners selected for the Global Heroes program will be about 0.2% of the participants in the marathon and ten mile races.
In my opinion, the requirement that a diabetic runner must be under 40 or have had diabetes for less than 15 years is absurd.
What do you all think?
Thanks,
Jerry
Thursday, March 6, 2008
2007 Summary/2008 Plans
*** Goals I posted for 2007 were:
* General goals:
1. Have fun
Done.
2. Become a sub-20 5K runner
Not even close. I ran very few 5K races (four!) and didn't do well in any of them.
3. Run a marathon in a state I haven't yet
Done. Massachusetts.
4. Score in 10 of the ARR Grand Prix races
Failed, and the winner in my age group only ran 7 of the Grand Prix races. It's possible I could have won just by running more races.
5. Have more encounters with Roads Scholars
Failed.
*** Specific Events I had planned for 2007 (ran them all):
Rock 'N' Roll Arizona Marathon as a pace group leader.
Three marathons/ultras in three weeks in February:
Desert Classic Marathon 2/4/07
Pemberton Trail 50K 2/10/07
Lost Dutchman Marathon 2/18/07
Gold level Marathon Maniac status.
Relay Del Sol, 12 person, 187 mile relay through the desert around Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.
Relay for Life, overnight fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society.
Boston Marathon
Big Sur Marathon Relay
Another Grand Canyon Double Cross
*** Achievements in 2007:
Ran one marathon relay and one multi-day 187 mile relay.
5 5Ks.
1 10K.
1 15K.
1 10 mile race.
2 half marathons
7 marathons.
2 50K ultra marathons.
Qualified for Boston, with no excuses.
Set a marathon PR.
Ran two of my three fastest and three of my seven fastest marathons so far.
Set two 50K PRs.
Ran my 40th lifetime marathon.
Raised over $1000 for the American Diabetes Association.
Ran only 21 races in 2007, after running over 30 in each of the previous 3 years:
2007: 20
2006: 34
2005: 32
2004: 39
2003: 16
2002: 29
2001: 8
2000: 8
1999: 11
1998: 4
1997: 1
Ran more race mileage than I have in any previous year:
2007: 320 +
2006: 290 +
2005: 275 +
2004: 315 +
2003: 130 +
2002: 265 +
2001: 115 +
2000: 145 +
1999: 160 +
1998: 64.8
1997: 3.1
*** Goals for 2008:
1. Have fun.
2. Become a sub-20 5K runner.
3. Run a marathon in a state I haven't yet.
4. Score in 10 of the ARR Grand Prix races.
5. Have more encounters with Roads Scholars.
6. Log over 2000 miles.
http://yes.diabeticrunner.com/
7. Run a 50 mile ultra.
8. Run a double, two marathons in two days, becoming an Iridium level, 4 star marathon maniac.
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/
9. Set a new marathon PR.
*** Events already run 2008:
1/13/08 Rock 'N' Roll AZ Marathon as a pace group leader for a 4:15 marathon
1/20/08 Carlsbad Marathon
2/9/08 Sedona Marathon
2/29-3/01/08 Relay Del Sol 182 mile 12 runner relay
.
* General goals:
1. Have fun
Done.
2. Become a sub-20 5K runner
Not even close. I ran very few 5K races (four!) and didn't do well in any of them.
3. Run a marathon in a state I haven't yet
Done. Massachusetts.
4. Score in 10 of the ARR Grand Prix races
Failed, and the winner in my age group only ran 7 of the Grand Prix races. It's possible I could have won just by running more races.
5. Have more encounters with Roads Scholars
Failed.
*** Specific Events I had planned for 2007 (ran them all):
Rock 'N' Roll Arizona Marathon as a pace group leader.
Three marathons/ultras in three weeks in February:
Desert Classic Marathon 2/4/07
Pemberton Trail 50K 2/10/07
Lost Dutchman Marathon 2/18/07
Gold level Marathon Maniac status.
Relay Del Sol, 12 person, 187 mile relay through the desert around Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.
Relay for Life, overnight fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society.
Boston Marathon
Big Sur Marathon Relay
Another Grand Canyon Double Cross
*** Achievements in 2007:
Ran one marathon relay and one multi-day 187 mile relay.
5 5Ks.
1 10K.
1 15K.
1 10 mile race.
2 half marathons
7 marathons.
2 50K ultra marathons.
Qualified for Boston, with no excuses.
Set a marathon PR.
Ran two of my three fastest and three of my seven fastest marathons so far.
Set two 50K PRs.
Ran my 40th lifetime marathon.
Raised over $1000 for the American Diabetes Association.
Ran only 21 races in 2007, after running over 30 in each of the previous 3 years:
2007: 20
2006: 34
2005: 32
2004: 39
2003: 16
2002: 29
2001: 8
2000: 8
1999: 11
1998: 4
1997: 1
Ran more race mileage than I have in any previous year:
2007: 320 +
2006: 290 +
2005: 275 +
2004: 315 +
2003: 130 +
2002: 265 +
2001: 115 +
2000: 145 +
1999: 160 +
1998: 64.8
1997: 3.1
*** Goals for 2008:
1. Have fun.
2. Become a sub-20 5K runner.
3. Run a marathon in a state I haven't yet.
4. Score in 10 of the ARR Grand Prix races.
5. Have more encounters with Roads Scholars.
6. Log over 2000 miles.
http://yes.diabeticrunner.com/
7. Run a 50 mile ultra.
8. Run a double, two marathons in two days, becoming an Iridium level, 4 star marathon maniac.
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/
9. Set a new marathon PR.
*** Events already run 2008:
1/13/08 Rock 'N' Roll AZ Marathon as a pace group leader for a 4:15 marathon
1/20/08 Carlsbad Marathon
2/9/08 Sedona Marathon
2/29-3/01/08 Relay Del Sol 182 mile 12 runner relay
.
Old Posts
I'm going to start this blog by linking to older things I've already written and put on the web.
Deciding to Run Boston and Qualifying
Training for Boston
Boston and the Boston Marathon
Unplug Your Ears
Scott vs Dean
Yesterday's Rain
How many marathons have I run?
2007 Summary/2008 Plans
Plans for 2007
Summary of 2006
Deciding to Run Boston and Qualifying
Training for Boston
Boston and the Boston Marathon
Unplug Your Ears
Scott vs Dean
Yesterday's Rain
How many marathons have I run?
2007 Summary/2008 Plans
Plans for 2007
Summary of 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
