All the News That’s Fit

It looks like the Cup-Free racing trend is gaining steam.

The latest race to announce it’s going cup-free is the Ham Run Half Marathon in Minnesota. The race is partnering with Colorado-based HydraPouch to eliminate cups from this year’s race.

Each runner in the May 2, 2010 race will be provided with a HydraPouch personal hydrator as part of their race pack, and HydraPouch will provide their rapid-dispensing HydraPour devices at every aid station, allowing runners to fill their HydraPouches or any container of their choice without stopping.

The Ham Run Half Marathon takes place on the picturesque Gunflint Trail, a National Scenic Byway located in the Superior National Forest adjacent to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

“We’ve taken every possible effort to conserve resources and leave no trace, so embracing Cup-Free racing is a natural for us,” said Race Coordinator Sue Prom.

Race Directors: if you want to learn more about Cup-Free racing, join our webcast on April 29. Click here for details and to register.

The season is upon us and we are busy preparing to support races across the country in their greeening efforts. If you’re at any of these races, please stop by our expo booth and say hello – we’ll give you a free FitPlanet bumper sticker.

FitPlanet’s schedule…
Sunday April 18 – NYC Dow Live Earth Run for Water - including a concert by John Legend and the Roots.
Sunday April 25 – Big Sur International Marathon
Sunday May 2 - Cox Rhode Races in Providence, RI
Sunday May 16 – Marine Corps Historic Half in Fredericksburg, VA

Whether you’re just introducing recycling or already a certified green event, race directors across the country are making great strides to be more eco-friendly.
FitPlanet wants to help you communicate your green commitment with a special offer on our Pledge of Sustainability. For one month, from Earth Day, April 22 until May 22, we are offering a 20% discount on the Pledge. That’s only $80 per event!
By Pledging to implement a minimum of nine sustainability practices for your event you get…
• The use of the Pledge of Sustainability logo on your website and in your marketing materials.
• Listing of your event in the Green Events Directory including the specific green initiatives your race is adopting. The FitPlanet website received 100,000 hits in March.
• Access to FitPlanet’s How-To Guide for Greening Events covering all aspects of producing a green race.
• Access to the Green Business Directory that lists dozens of companies that provide environmentally responsible products and services specifically for events like yours.
• A free One-Hour Consultation with FitPlanet on cost-effective strategies for greening your race.
• Participation in the monthly FitPlanet Webcast presenting the latest ideas and innovations for greening your race. Click here to join our upcoming Webcast at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on April 29: Rethinking Hydration at Your Race: Toward Cup-Free and Plastic-Free Racing
Celebrate Earth Day by going green and saving green with FitPlanet’s Pledge of Sustainability.

FitPlanet is one of two environmental consulting firms working with the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, a global event taking place on April 18 in cities and towns around the world. The mission: to raise awareness and financial support about the plight of millions who lack clean water.
The run distance is 6K, which symbolizes the distance a villager has to walk every day to get water if there is no potable water in their community.
FitPlanet encourages you to get out and participate, either run or walk. Many of the runs will have music and a festival.