All the News That’s Fit

FitPlanet tips it’s hat to De Soto for the announcement of its GreenGoma wetsuit. This is a significant step forward in the evolution of triathlon wetsuits. But perhaps the real meaning of the announcement is that it will raise awareness within the triathlon community about the materials we use to enjoy our sport. So much of what we wear is petroleum based. This has to change.

Here’s the De Soto release from January 3, 2012…

De Soto becomes the first triathlon company to offer an alternative to petroleum-based wetsuits.

And here’s some additional information about ‘green’ surfing wetsuits from Patagonia. Another innovative company.

FitPlanet is excited to be participating in the U.S. EPA’s FREE live webinar:
Creating Winning Recycling Programs at Sporting Events
This Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 1-2:30 East Coast US time.

It’s part of the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Web Academy Series.

Click here Register

Here’s a brief descriptor…
Carrying out a routine recycling program at a stadium or other sporting venue can be challenging enough. Creating a winning recycling program at a temporary, large, multi-venue, community-wide sporting event can test even the most experienced sustainability professionals.

This webinar will provide basic principles for setting up a multifaceted program beyond the venue site such as “spill over” public space, pedestrian areas, event hotels, team restaurants and even outdoor event spaces such as streets or plazas. Real world case studies will be presented by panelists with experience in planning and executing recycling and waste management programs at such events.

Moderator: Briana Bill, Greening Coordinator, U.S. EPA – Chicago

Speakers:
Jacob Hassan, Community Recycling Coordinator in the US EPA
Chicago’s Materials Management program

Mark Root, Strategic Account Executive, Coca-Cola Recycling

Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer with Athletes for a Fit Planet

Laura Moreno, Environmental Scientist in U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Pollution Prevention and Solid Waste program

FitPlanet hopes you can join us for the webinar and we encourage you to invite others to join as well!

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.

I am very excited to be part of the MCM Green Team Challenge. Although I am always trying to be “green” sometimes the excitement of a marathon takes me out of my best green routine. For the 2010 Marine Corp Marathon I am ready to go for a “Green PR”.

My personal environmental initiatives involve bicycling for transportation as much as possible. Even though I live in a rural part of the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts I can go for a week without driving my car. I do all the easy green things like recycle and use compact florescent light blubs. I had an energy audit of my house, which inspired me to get a more energy efficient refrigerator cutting my energy use by a third. I also hang my clothes outside to dry all year long and I carry a reusable water bottle to fill up when needed.

Recently I donated all my marathon metals to Medals4Mettle. It was harder than I thought to part with them, but it felt good to know they were going to people who have struggles that they overcome on a daily basis and don’t get medals. When a race has a shoe recycling program I make a point of bringing in my old shoes. Again these are simple things runners can think about doing.

When I train I never drive my car to run or to bike. I have run over 37 marathons and that has upped my carbon footprint. Although I would love to run in more places I have tried to limit the number of plane trips I take to marathons. To travel to the MCM I will be biking, taking trains, or other public transportation.

When running I always carry a hydration pack, and supplement with some water cups on the course. But for MCM I will only be using a hydration pack and refilling as needed.

As I mentioned I have run 37 marathons to date and have more planned before the end of October. I ran my first marathon in 2002, but in the past two years I have run a marathon a month, with the goal of having a Boston Qualifying time as often as possible, I think I have run 21 qualifying races. I am also trying to run marathons I have not run before. Luckily there are a lot of great choices within driving distance.

I have found that only running three days a week and cross training three days has made me a stronger runner and less prone to injuries. I follow the FIRST Train Plan. Also getting to bike three days a week allows me to run errands on my bike while getting in a workout.

I am a proud member of the Marathon Maniacs and have enjoyed being part of a great running community. Running a marathon is a great achievement and the Marine Corp Marathon, being the “People’s Marathon,” is certainly a marathon highlight for anyone.

I am proud to be representing all runners who strive to be green in life and in races and having the MCM focus on green running will make it an even better experience for everyone (and the planet).

Thinking about being “green” is like thinking about running a marathon, you should not think “how am I going to stop global warming?” the same way you don’t think “how can I run 26.2 miles?”

You start training to run a marathon by getting out of the house for a 10 minute walk and you start being more environmentally active by using one compact florescent light blub. When you realize the first step doable then focus on the second step and one day you are leaving less of a carbon footprint and crossing under the finish banner.

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!!

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

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.

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

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.