All the News That’s Fit

I recently participated in a training camp on Maui and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the training conditions on the island. With the exception of two waterlogged days, we had sunny skies and warm weather for the duration of the three-week camp. With great, hilly roads (including a 10,000 foot climb up Mt. Haleakala!) and nice, flat stretches, all of our cycling needs were addressed. The clear, open water and easy pool access made for fantastic swimming, just as limitless dirt roads winding through cane fields provided for ideal running conditions. While we did have to contend with some angry locals in pick-up trucks, the fear of sharks, the cane monster, and road debris, I couldn’t have imagined a more ideal place to train.

Still, I couldn’t help but be struck by the question of sustainability. With the high number of island inhabitants and visitors, combined with the amenities expected by both groups, I soon realized that almost everything that ends up on Maui comes from the mainland. Although some agricultural products grown on Maui stay on the island, such as the incredible fruit and grass-fed beef, a staggering 80-90% of food comes from the mainland. Likewise, energy is supplied almost entirely by coal plants (the coal coming from the mainland, naturally). With the ideal growing conditions and alternative energy capability from wave, solar and wind power, I was disappointed to find out how much product was being shipped in via sea and air.

When gas prices eventually increase to the point that importing so many goods from the mainland is no longer an option, it will be interesting to see how Hawaiians address sustainability on their island. It seems as though the momentum is starting, as evidenced by the number of home solar panels and the development of a wave-generated energy plant, as well as the significant presence of local food producers. While the future of Hawaii may not directly affect me, it does bring up the question of my role in selecting places to train.

Colorado, Australia, Southern California, Hawaii are all incredible places where I have been fortunate enough to train since I’ve started triathlon. Not surprisingly, these warm, sunny places are well-known sporting hot beds. Just think of the number of times you’ve heard of Boulder or San Diego referred to as a “triathlon Mecca!” Some of the characteristics that make these locations so great for training, however, are also the same traits that make them questionable in terms of sustainability, especially since athletes and non-athletes alike flock in droves to live, play and work in these locations. While sunny skies are great for training (as well as one’s serotonin levels!), for example, the lack of precipitation also means that freshwater is in shorter supply.

Torn between my environmental conscience and my knowledge that training year-round in a place like Vermont just isn’t an option, what am I supposed to do?

The truth is, as long as I am doing triathlon, I will most likely continue to live in these environmentally stressed areas. How do I reconcile my feelings of hypocrisy with this lifestyle choice? I realize that I am not the only one who struggles with this dilemma, as most of us are willing to make small gestures towards sustainability — recycling, buying carbon offsets, eating locally — but have difficulty making major changes in the way we live.

I don’t pretend to have the answers to my dilemma but would like to hear your views and opinions.

Sarah

As we prepare for the holiday season, one of the favorite gifts we give and receive is electronics. Be it a new flat-panel TV, laptop, phone, GSP, game station, or whatever, smiles appear when the wrapping paper comes off. We just can’t get enough of this stuff.
And when we do get a new piece of electronics, we typically throw out last-year’s model to make room – and if you’re responsible you recycle that e-waste. You should feel good about recycling these items because many contain lead, cadmium, PVCs and other toxin substances.
But there are a few issues with the process after you drop that gadget off at the recycling center. Some recyclers don’t always do the ethical thing, as 60 Minutes alleged in a report on e-waste November. A vast amount of e-waste actually ends up in China and other countries where it is disassembled in primitive ways that result in serious consequences for the health of the land, air, water, and people. If you haven’t seen this 60 Minutes report yet, then check it out here.
One way to ensure your e-waste is being recycled ethically and responsibly is to use this national directory, provided by the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of recyclers in the US that have signed up for the Coalition’s program… at least not yet.
Want to get involved ? Click here for more information.

Welcome to the first blog by Sarah Groff, professional triathlete, environmentalist, and now our TriAthlete for a Fit Planet. Starting next week, Sarah will have her own page on afitplanet.com where she’ll share her thoughts about training, racing, and, of course, the environment.
FitPlanet will track Sarah’s travels, and together we’ll calculate her greenhouse gas emissions and choose a fund, or funds, to offset her carbon footprint.
Send Sarah an email if you’d like to receive her blog by email as soon as we post it.
Welcome Sarah!

Bruce Rayner
Chief Green Officer
Athletes for a Fit Planet

7.1.08 Following a recent kids’ triathlon, my parents shared a scene with me that they witnessed involving one young girl and a water cup.

After being handed a drink at an aid station, the youthful racer continued the remainder of the race with her cup in hand, unwilling to toss her waste to the roadside. Upon crossing the finish line, she passed her cup to her mother. After the mom unceremoniously dumped the liquid onto the pavement, the young eco-friendly racer implored her mother to recycle her cup.

While it may not be practical for athletes to have quite this level of ecological zeal while racing (can you imagine carrying all of the waste you produce over the length of an Ironman?!), we all can take action to make less of an environmental impact in our racing, training, and daily lives.

Although I have always tried to apply my strong environmental ethic to my pursuit of sport, I recognize that some aspects of my triathlon life are incompatible with my desire to be green. As an athlete competitive on the ITU World Cup circuit, I have the privilege to travel all over the world to race. I’ve been able to race in places as far-flung as Qatar, South Africa, New Zealand, and China. While certainly an incredible opportunity, the carbon footprint of my travels can’t be neutralized by my emphasis on organic foods or in-town trips on my bike.

Luckily for me, Athletes for a Fit Planet is offsetting the carbon emissions from my travels. That doesn’t mean, however, that I can’t do more to reduce my impact on the earth on a daily basis. Using this blog, I hope to share my adventures (and misadventures, I’m sure!) in racing and training as an aspiring green athlete.

In the coming months, I look forward to sharing my perspective, observations, and experiences as a professional triathlete. Any and all comments and questions are welcome!

Stay tuned and happy racing!
Sarah
sarah@afitplanet.com

4.27.08 How did you spend Earth Day? Did you attend a rally? Were you a bit more conscious about what you recycle? Did you change a few light bulbs to compact florescents? Perhaps you rode you bike to work? That’s great – every little bit helps.
What the Planet needs, however, is not one Earth Day a year but 365. And if we are going that far, let’s make it Earth Decade. On second thought, let’s go for Earth Century.
What’s my point? One day is not enough to change habits – a year or a decade is.
So when you fly to that next business meeting or vacation destination, offset your greenhouse gas emissions (atmosfair.org is a good carbon offset site to use but you make your own decision).
The next time you’re in the market for a new car, don’t buy that SUV, buy a hybrid (or electric, or hydrogen, or fuel cell) car.
And when you buy a new home, pass on that 8,000 square foot McMansion, and buy something that requires less energy to heat and cool.
And as an athlete, the next time you are looking for a race or event — be it a triathlon, road race, century ride, open-water swim, charity walk, or whatever — check the race website to see if it has a green plan. If not, email the race director to ask why not, then continue your search for one that does. Starting Monday, April 28, you can also search the FitPlanet EcoRace Directory at www.afitplanet.com/raceinfo.
Race Directors that are putting on sustainable events need your support. Together we can make everyday Earth Day.

I turned 50 a month ago. It was good to be surrounded by friends and family, and the party, presents, and cake were great. But when I look back on the day, I’ll mostly remember the hike I took up a 4,000-foot New Hampshire peak with my chocolate lab Zoe.

The snow was hip deep in places but the trail was passable. A couple of free-heel skiers had been up the trail earlier in the day so we followed their tracks. When we got to the summit the wind was blowing hard and steady from the southwest. It felt good to lean into it and just take in the view – 360 degrees of peaks and valleys, and the clouds moving fast across the afternoon sky. I was 50, I was on the top of a 4,000 footer in late winter with my dog, and I couldn’t have been happier.

As I started to descend, I thought about my 5-year-old daughter. She loves to hike too. When she turns 50 in 2052, will she be able to enjoy what I was experiencing on that day? Would there still be snow in New Hampshire? Will the stands of pine and oak and maple that define this area still be here?

Wrapping your mind around the environmental challenges the world faces can be overwhelming. And the profound impact they’ll likely have on mankind is just too scary to contemplate. But contemplate them we must. And then we must act.

As human beings, that means consuming more wisely. It means using less of just about everything: gasoline, paper, electricity, and plastic. It means reusing, recycling, and composting. It means patronizing companies that have a sincere commitment to environmental responsibility. It means living more consciously.

As an athlete it means choosing to participate in events that are doing the same. That are striving to minimize the impact they have on the environment. That use less gasoline, paper, electricity, and plastic. That reuse, recycle and compost. That align themselves with sponsors and vendors that are doing the same.

I know of very few triathlons or road races in the US that are environmentally responsible. FitPlanet is working with three that are passionate about the cause: Reach the Beach Relay, Tri-Maine, and EndureIT Multisports. Others will get the message when athletes start to demand it.

One man who “gets it” is Mitch Zeisler, executive director of the Charles River Challenge. Mitch is planning this 100% sustainable, non-profit, Olympic-distance triathlon in and around the Charles River in the Cambridge/Boston section of the river. The inaugural race is planned for 2010, but that all depends on the river’s water quality.

Until recently, like most urban rivers in the US, the Charles was unswimmable. In 1995, the EPA gave it a D for water quality. While more or less swimmable today, it still suffers the occasional sewage spill during heavy rains and algae breakouts in the summer. The riverbed sediment remains toxic. The Charles River Challenge is an opportunity to bring attention to the environmental plight of the river. It’s a catalyst for action.

So why wait till 2010 to hold the race? Why not move it up a year to 2009?

Here’s an idea. What if hundreds of triathletes emailed the Charles River Challenge at info@charlesriverchallenge.org? Maybe then the powers-that-be would move a little faster.

You have the power.

There are a lot of terms that people and companies use to describe what they are doing to “help the environment.” Green is one that is used a lot. Sustainability is bandied about as is Eco-Friendly and Eco-Efficiency. And Carbon Footprint and Carbon Neutral are becoming more common too.

We have a vague understanding of what these words mean. One company might use Sustainability to describe their commitment to buy carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions. That’s great, but they might also continue to emit tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every year. Another might use Eco-Friendly to describe a product made from 100% organic cotton or recycled plastic. That’s good too but they most likely will still ship their products around the world in trucks and planes that contribute significantly to greenhouse gasses.

While these companies are doing good things, you could argue that their actions are neither Sustainable nor Green. Athletes for a Fit Planet prefers the term Environmental Responsibility. And when we use this term we mean two very specific things.

First, Environmental Responsibility means taking steps to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost what you consume. This applies to athletes, race directors and organizers, and the companies that support us.

Second, Environmental Responsibility means encouraging others to do the same. So for athletes it might mean asking your local bike shop to adopt a recycling program. For race directors, it might mean asking your sponsors to distribute less paper-based marketing materials at your events. For companies it includes asking your suppliers to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, and then auditing them to make sure they are complying.

If we all become more Environmentally Responsible, we will be on the path toward Sustainability and Green. But we have a long way to go.