All the News That’s Fit

I got a Not-So-Happy New Year’s email the other day from a friend of mine, Doug Woodring, who was writing from the beautiful Indonesian island of Lombok. Doug’s a competitive open-water swimmer and event organizer. Here’s a paragraph from his email…

I was out enjoying a New Year’s Day swim in Lombok Straight, which separates the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea between the islands of Lombok and Bali. It’s far from civilization in what should have been beautiful pristine waters. But half way through my swim I hit a flotilla of plastic trash, a rude reminder of our consumerist disposable culture. It really makes you wonder what we are doing to ourselves.

Doug actually knows a thing or two about “what we are doing to ourselves.” In addition to being a water man, he’s the cofounder of Project Kaisei and founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance, two organizations dedicated to research and education about the environmental consequences of throw-away plastics in our waterways and oceans.

They might be out of sight and out mind after we chuck them, but all that plastic doesn’t just disappear. What doesn’t get recycled (only about 10% of the total) either ends up in a landfill or blows around on land or sea. “When it hits the ocean, only about 30% of it floats. The other 70% sinks to the bottom,” says Doug.

How long does it take plastics to biodegrade? Perhaps 1,000 years. On the bottom of the ocean, perhaps much longer as there’s no light – maybe 100,000 years. The sad truth is that no one knows for sure as modern plastics have only been around for about 60 years.

There’s not an ocean on earth that is not impacted. The North Pacific Gyre between California and Hawaii has a huge floating garbage pile weighing over 3 million tons, according to one estimate. Most of the trash came from land – either Asia or North America. There are six other known tropical oceanic gyres in the world. And researchers are finding plastics in marine life everywhere on the planet, from resin trapped inside the bodies of jellyfish and other filter-feeders to flotsam in the guts of whales, sea otters, turtles, and just about every other form of marine life. It’s everywhere.

As awareness grows, countries are starting to take action. Italy just banned the use of disposable plastic bags nationwide. China did the same thing way back in June 2008. We dispose of about 500 billion plastic bags annually worldwide.

As swimmers, triathletes and generally concerned citizens we can make a difference. If you’re a race director, consider using something other than plastic water and sports-drink bottles. If you’re an athlete, carry a reusable stainless bottle and reusable coffee mug. Use reusable bags for shopping. If you must use plastic, make sure you recycle it.

And the next time you’re swimming in open water, stay alert. You don’t know what kind of nasty manmade junk you’ll run into out there.

On October 31, 2010, I will run my eleventh marathon. Growing up, I was not athletic. Indeed, you could say I was whatever the opposite of a high school track star would be, and I used to think that running marathons was something that other people did, people with a little more get up and go.

My brother ran the New York City Marathon every year, but in 1998 he injured his foot. I figured that the family should at least be represented at the event, so I volunteered at the finish line. As I watched the runners come through, I thought “I could do this.” I joined the New York Road Runners Club, and the following November I finished my first marathon.

I ran the race again in 2000, and in 2006 I ran the Marine Corps Marathon instead, just to keep things fresh. I now alternate between the two events.

When I started to train for my first marathon, the NYRR had a great way of making the training seem doable. In addition to their regular race calendar, they scheduled a half marathon for the time in the summer when you should be able to run at least 13 miles. Later, they would have an 18-mile race, and finally a 20-mile training run. The increments between each race are not huge, but they build up to what is a big goal: running 26.2 miles.

People who want to be ‘greener’ can approach that goal the same way. Just as you would not decide one day to run a marathon and expect to be able to go the full distance the next weekend, you can’t decided to be green one morning and wake up the next day generating no pollution and eliminating your carbon footprint.

You start with simple steps. Maybe you replace an incandescent bulb with a compact florescent lamp (CFL) and use less electricity. Don’t even feel you have to change every light bulb in the house – just try one lamp and see how it feels. Once you get used to that, try switching out another, and so on, in the same way you might go for a four mile training run one week, and try running five the next.

You might even discover that some of the things you are doing are already green. With any luck, you will look at some of the suggestions I’ll make over the next few weeks and realize that you are already training “green”, a bit like Moliere’s Bourgeois Gentilhomme who was so excited when he learned that his entire life he had been speaking in something called “prose.”

Maybe you already carpool to races. Or skip the bottled water when there’s a water fountain nearby. Or carry your own reusable bottle. Being green doesn’t mean you have to completely transform your life any more than becoming a marathoner involves a complete change in your personality. But once you make those changes, you’ll be proud of what you have become.

After my first marathon, I realized that if I could run 26.2 miles, anyone could do it with enough training (those with bad backs and injured knees excepted, I suppose). And if I can make my training greener, so can you.

In my advertising days, I wanted new stuff all the time– I’d turn my nose up to “used stuff”– I’d spend the extra money on something brand-spanking new, use it/wear it for MAYBE a year and be onto the next new thing. My old stuff…well, I’d throw it out or store it away (packrat anyone??). When I moved to Boulder in 2006 and since then, I’ve been more conservative with my money- understanding where it went and how it was spent. The new, new, newness of items seemed almost foolish. When I became more aware of the environmental costs of making products…buying new ALL the time wastes so much energy. If knowledge combined with action equals wisdom…I am a wiser consumer…SECONDHAND is the way to go.

Next time you’re in the market for something new, consider secondhand stuff! Remember- if it is new to you, it’s still new! And by buying used merchandise, you are helping reduce the environmental costs associated with the manufacturing and distribution of new products.

Check out your local consignment, thrift, and secondhand retailers to find all kinds of treasures: furniture, housewares, clothing, artwork, jewelry. For those of you into triathlon– THE PROs CLOSET (theproscloset.com) is an awesome resource for used triathlon gear (and it’s quality stuff people).

Make the rounds at community tag sales, or find used items for sale online at places like eBay and craigslist. Better yet- register online at Freecycle and items for free!!

Enjoy your day!! Have fun shopping!!

USA Triathlon announced Monday that it has extended its partnership with Athletes for a Fit Planet through 2010, supporting a commitment to implement programs that preserve natural resources and protect the environment via its GoGreen initiative.

“USA Triathlon is thrilled to be partnered with FitPlanet once again in 2010,” said USAT CEO Skip Gilbert. “Environmentally sound practices are important to our membership, and we continually strive to make our national events as sustainable and green as possible. FitPlanet has been an invaluable resource in reaching these goals, and I encourage all race directors to take the FitPlanet Pledge of Sustainability.”

As a key part of this partnership, USAT has taken FitPlanet’s Pledge of Sustainability for the 2010 Age Group, Elite and Sprint National Championship in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“The fact that the USAT has taken the Pledge of Sustainability is testament to the USAT’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Bruce Rayner, FitPlanet’s Chief Green Officer.

Click here to read the USAT’s press release.

Kangaroos are cute, neat critters, earning them the well-deserved status of being Australia’s national symbol. When I saw my first roo, I remember being pretty giddy at the sight of this hopping marsupial. Even though I’ve since seen hundreds of kangaroos, I can’t help but be a bit thrilled when I startle them grazing during my early morning runs. Despite my appreciation for these animals, however, I am a strong supporter of kangaroo harvesting. While that idea might seem a bit brutal for people who see the animals solely as cute hoppers, they present a terrific alternative to Australia’s cattle and sheep industries.

Unfortunately for kangaroos, but fortunately for humans, they produce virtually no methane. Despite having a diet similar to ruminants, the kangaroo is able to digest its food without releasing methane, a gas with an effect that is 23 times greater than carbon dioxide. Currently, 11% of Australia’s carbon footprint is the result of the sheep and cattle industry. If the country were to switch from beef to roo burgers, however, fewer greenhouse gases would be produced Down Under.

This growing meat industry is also more environmentally friendly than farming cattle and sheep because kangaroos require less feed, are well adapted to drought and do not destroy the root systems of native plants. Of grazing pressures on Australia’s land, at least 63% is the result of the cattle and dairy industry and 28% is the result of the sheep industry. By contrast, kangaroos account for between 1% and 8% of the grazing pressure. In the driest, most fragile inhabited continent on Earth, this grazing pressure has a profound effect on the biodiversity and general health of the ecosystem.

In addition to being more environmentally friendly, kangaroo meat is also low in fat (2%) and high in protein. It is also low in cholesterol and high in conjugated linoleic acid (CJA), which reduces blood pressure. The meat is also pretty tender and tasty, especially good as a ground beef substitute.

While I am eating very little meat these days, I have had the opportunity to cook and eat kangaroo and have enjoyed it. The taste is something between venison and bison. Personally, I can’t understand why Australians don’t eat more kangaroo. In the country with the highest per capita greenhouse gases in the world, replacing beef and lamb with kangaroo could serve as a symbol to jump start Australia’s campaign to reduce emissions.

Learn more at…
BBC: Australians urged to eat kangaroo
BBC: Eat Kangaroo to ‘Save the Planet’
SMH: An industry that’s under the gun
Australian Kangaroo Industry Association
Per capital Green House Gas Emissions

Your Kitchen. Probably my favorite place – even if it’s your kitchen?! If you have me over – that’s probably where we’d congregate and, at some point during the visit, we’d probably talk about food and recipes.

Think about it – the kitchen is where the action takes place, right? Not only is it a place to hang out but it also provides sustenance and supports our daily need, to feed our bodies, and fulfill our cravings for… chocolate.

Have you ever thought about your kitchen as “eco-friendly”? Eating green, energy-efficient food prep, cleaning habits, using equipment made from sustainable materials, avoiding harmful chemicals in the products you use? I love this topic so I am sure you’ll see it pop up every now and again… and this particular blog is all about wasting not and wanting not.

I grew up listening to my mom reminding me to “know what I want when I go to the fridge.” Or giving useful advice like “turn the lights out when you are done using the kitchen.” And the old favorite, “eat everything on your plate or else you will not get dessert.”

My poor mom. I’d just roll my eyes, let out a huff and…do what I was told. She was right and still is right.

“Wasting” starts outside of the kitchen in the supermarkets. Have you ever stopped to notice the excessive packaging supermarket shelves? Unbelievable. What can we do?

Tip 1: When grocery shopping, take your own, cloth bags (or even used plastic bags) or buy one in the checkout line. Most grocery stores sell cloth bags.

Tip 2: If you don’t have access to a farmers market which is great way to get fresh food and support local farmers – and have to shop the local grocery store, then buy mainly fresh, unwrapped produce.

Tip 3. Buy in bulk- but not too much! If you are regularly throwing food away cut back on the quantity. It’s better to shop more often and buy less fresh food.

Tip 4: Reuse. Reuse. Reuse. …what you can, that is. Like old glass jars or bottles, grocery bags, and packaging you can’t avoid. And of course, eat leftovers.

Tip 5. Compost any uncooked organic waste (including cardboard and paper), and don’t fret if you don’t have a garden on which to spread your yummy compost. Even in big cities, many local farmers markets and organizations will gladly accept your compost.

Mary Miller is a pro-triathlete, eco-athlete and a Friend of FitPlanet. Look for her green tips, recipes, and musings in the months to come blog on the News page of the FitPlanet website. Share your ideas and thoughts on green livings with Mary at info@afitplanet.com .

Hello world and Happy New Year!!!

It’s a brand new year and brand new chance to start making healthier decisions.

2009 was my first year with A Fit Planet and (truthfully) my first year thinking on a daily basis about being more aware of the environment and how I can reduce my carbon footprint. I started blogging about “our” part and simple steps to being more Green. I’ve learned so much and I am excited to keep learning and growing in knowledge and wisdom in this area…and hopefully YOU can too!

I have to admit when it came to travel- all I think about is my carbon footprint in regards to my mileage. But the act of actually “traveling green” are the actions we take as individuals moment by moment- while getting from point A to point B.

Recently, I made the BIG flight over to Australia. A 40+ hours of day of driving, waiting, flying, waiting, flying, scrambling, flying, etc. — 5 plane changes, and long layovers suddenly created a perfect opportunity to watch and notice how “green” or how wasteful we humans are while traveling. It also provided a great challenge to see how “green” I could be while I traveled.

Mary’s Green Tip of the Week: Traveling Green:

- Book flights with airlines that recycle the waste created when serving food and beverages to passengers. I traveled with Air New Zealand and upon entering the airplane, they gave us plastic cups to reuse while on the aircraft. They also announced that they recycle as much as possible. British Airways, has a very strong environmental agenda. Southwest Airlines recycles all cabin waste, and was the first to offer electronic ticketing systemwide.

- Packing. I tend to over pack. I always do! BUT the one thing I’ve started to do is to pack everything I think I need, once that’s complete- I repack the necessities and limit the “frilly” and the “I wants”. A rule of thumb- pack then half it and pack again.

- Most airports have recycling bins- USE THEM! Even if you are in a rush- it doesn’t take much time nor effort to separate what’s trash and what’s recyclable.

- Pack snacks, lunch/dinner ahead of time! That saves YOU a bit of dosh to spend on that thing you’ve always wanted. And chances are- you’ll like what you’ve packed over what any chain restaurant/Hudson’s Book Shop could sell you.

- Everyone loves to buy things at the airport. Well, if you do…I challenge you to read the labels and investigate their environmental claims. Select products with genuine eco-friendly features, such as:

Non-toxic and natural contents
Made from recycled materials
Minimum packaging
Produced locally
Energy- or water-efficient

- Sigg it up. It’s good for you AND for the planet!! http://www.sigg.com

- Public Transportation. Get to know it and support it. Wherever you are, whenever you can.

There you have it, people. This month’s tip on Traveling Green. Have a wonderful day and Happy 2010!!

Los Angeles, CA-based Live Earth has tapped FitPlanet to help green the first annual Dow Live Earth Run for Water, taking place around the world on April 18, 2010.

The event will be the largest global water initiative in history aimed at solving the world water crisis. The campaign focuses on the sources and impact of the water crisis locally, nationally and internationally and suggests actions individuals can take to effectively address the issue:
- Conserve water
- Host or run/walk a Dow Live Earth 6k race on April 18, 2010
- Give money to provide clean drinking water where the problem is most critical
- Speak up by signing the UN petition making water a basic human right.

Each of the global events include a 6K run/walk and “water village” to help educate and inform participants about the critical water issues many communities around the world face. Many of the events will also include concerts.

The 6K distance represents the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water.

FitPlanet is supporting Run for Water events in North and South America including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis, New York City, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Sau Paulo, and Washington DC.

We encourage you to support the cause. Please click here to find a 6K Run for Water near you.

The campaign will integrate 6K Community Run/Walks (the average distance women and children walk for water in many third world countries) with concerts, online resources, and hands-on interactive experiences in countries across the globe — helping to create a tipping point to combat this crisis.

Athletes, please register for the 6 K run/walk on April 18th nearest you. Every step counts to solve the water crisis.

If there’s no event listed in your community, get involved by throwing your own “Friends of Live Earth” event on April 18th- we already have over 30 “Friends of Live Earth” events registered worldwide.

Here’s some ideas for a local event”
· Host a local run/walk
· Promote the run in schools, get local youth involved
· Show a movie (there are a lot of good ones out there: FLOW, Blue Gold, Tapped Out)
· Organize the clean-up of a local stream or pond
· Develop a local water & sanitation project

Click here for more information. If you have any questions or need more information about this event please e-mail us at: ngo@liveearth.org

Big news for two FitPlanet athletes in November.
Sarah Groff, professional triathlete, environmentalist, and Friend-of-FitPlanet, took 7th place in a time of 4:09:34 at this year’s Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater Florida, November 15.
Sarah was in the lead pack of elite women out of the water. The women’s winner was Julie Dibens of Great Britain, who came in just under four hours, setting a course record and breaking the 4-hour barrier.
And congratulations to Toby Radcliffe, FitPlanet’s Senior Consultant, Europe, who finished 27th overall at Ironman Arizona, November 22 in a time of 9:12:44.
Toby’s other recent accomplishment was working with the EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon, Birmingham England, to earn certification to the Council for Responsible Sport standard. Congratulations Toby!
For details on both Sarah and Toby visit the Ironman website. And for information on the EDF Energy Birmingham Half’s ReSport certification Click here.

More from Matt Hill, half of the Run for One Planet duo. Stephanie Tait and Matt, two intrepid Canadian, ran 11,000 miles across Canada and around the US to raise awareness and funds for environmental education.

It’s Sunday, August 16th, the day after my Mom’s 81st birthday! Happy Birthday to the youngest 81 year old on the Planet!

I sit here typing in a little coffee shack in Penticton BC called, “Smith & Company.” I’ve re-fueled here many times over the last 3 years at this locals spot in Ironman City Canada. As you know, I’ve completed 7 Ironman Canada’s and when Steph and I were beginning to plan the Run for One Planet tour waaaaaay back in January 2007, we spent an afternoon here madly typing our wish list of the most desired team and the tour’s first quarterly goals.

It’s amazing as I reflect back how many things came true as a result of us spending time that cold winter day planning our newly hatched tour to inspire people to be better stewards for our Planet. I remember like it was yesterday, going back and forth with “let’s contact that person and wouldn’t it be amazing to put this together.” We picked most of our team and many sponsors on that day even if “they” didn’t know it at the time.

Luckily Steph and I had ebullient enthusiasm and endless energy reserves, as little did we know what we were embarking on and just how much sacrifice it was going to take in order to pull this tour off.

We were never afraid of hard work and knew it would be a winding, twisting journey. It is a gift now to be writing a book to share with the world about the Run for One Planet Tour.

We had our very first Board of Directors meeting this week filled with members of our original R41P team plus new members, fresh with energy, ideas and inspiration. We are very much looking forward to these next four months as we create the Legacy vision & mission.

So long from Ironman City Canada and the wee coffee shop known as S&Co that helped Steph & me get clear on our biggest dream and who, how, and when we were going to make it happen.

Please contact me, Matt Hill, if your company, or someone you know is looking for a presentation from two road warriors. We are available starting in September. We will be working with a few speakers bureaus to reach out to community and corporate folks to share our message and some stories from the always entertaining, ever-changing Run For One Planet highway of dreams. Matt Hill