All the News That’s Fit

I have disproportionately large feet. With a men’s 9-and-a-half shoe size, I should be a giant, but instead I reached a mere 5′ 8″, much to my dismay (and my smaller-footed, 5′ 10″ older sister’s secret delight). My feet are large enough to have earned me the moniker “Sausage” from my friends, due to my tendency to leave large, wet footprints on the kitchen floor.
While I’ve long accepted the size of my feet and realize that they will never get smaller, I do try to avoid having them swell in size. With air travel, fluids can collect and pool in one’s ankles and feet, resulting in what I call the “marshmallow effect.” As I fly quite a bit, most recently travelling to Hungary and Austria to race, I’ve been experimenting with compression and onboard exercises to great affect. My feet will never get smaller, but I can avoid the onset of swelling to keep them from getting any bigger.
Like my actual footprint, my carbon footprint is disproportionately large, due to my frequent air travel. (Carbon Footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide) produced by an individual through the use of services or products.)
This is of great concern to me. Unfortunately, in order to race on the ITU World Cup circuit, I have to travel internationally as currently there is but one US-based ITU race in Des Moines, Iowa. Although most athletes may not travel as much as I do, we all emit greenhouse gases when we travel to races. And while sailing or swimming to Kona might be an option for some, carbon-producing air travel is the only realistic option (and much more conducive to one’s taper).
While my footprint is larger than most, there are ways we all can minimize our carbon footprint. Here are a few suggestions for avoiding that excess environmental “swelling” associated with travel:
– Take the shortest flight path possible. With the rising cost of airfare, many of us are tempted by the cheaper options, which may take us on a less direct, and thus less eco-friendly, trajectory.
– Fly on larger planes when given an option. Per person, smaller planes produce more emissions than larger planes.
– Fly non-stop. Shorter flights produce more greenhouse gases than longer ones per mile. Plus, you are less likely to lose your bike without a connection!
– Drive to a race with a buddy. Driving together is more eco-friendly. Added benefit: a road trip is also a great test for the viability of a new relationship.
– Offset your carbon emissions. After calculating the emissions produced in travel, buy carbon credits to offset your trip. While reducing emissions is the best solution, offsetting helps fund projects that take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and is a great way to mitigate some of the damage.

I wish you all the best in your travelling and racing!

Sarah

Email Sarah at sarah@afitplanet.com

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

6.11.08 – Athletes for a Fit Planet is pleased to announce the sponsorship of up-and-coming professional triathlete Sarah Groff, a member of the USA Triathlon National Team.

Twenty-six-year-old Groff (pictured at left) has been a professional triathlete for the past four years competing at the highest level of the sport. On June 8, she placed 7th in the elite women’s race at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships in Vancouver, Canada. Groff is a committed environmentalist, earning a BA in Environmental Studies (Conservation Biology) from Middlebury College VT in 2004.

“Because of Sarah’s passion for environmental issues and her status as a world-class athlete she is the ideal spokesperson for FitPlanet,” said Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer, Athletes for a Fit Planet. “We are thrilled to have Sarah onboard.”

“I’m excited to be working with FitPlanet,” said Groff. “This is more than a company, it’s a movement. Everyone can and should do their part, but it all starts with education and an understanding of our individual impact on the environment and how we can positively contribute to the bigger picture. Anyone can diagnose the problem; few can offer a solution. Fit Planet is different.”

FitPlanet will offset 100% of Groff’s carbon emissions produced by her busy training and racing travel schedule. Her ITU commitments include one or two races a month around the world in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

“I have to travel a lot and struggle with the carbon footprint I’m creating. I’m sure other athletes have similar qualms,” said Groff.

And launching in July, Groff with have her own webpage on the FitPlanet website that will include regular entries chronicling her racing and training as well as comments on her environmental activities and concerns. FitPlanet will keep track online of Groff’s travels and calculate the greenhouse gas emissions.

“We hope that Sarah’s blog and FitPlanet’s commitment to offsetting her carbon emissions will raise awareness within the athlete community about environmental issues and the importance of our collective responsibility to help curb global warming,” said Rayner.

About Sarah Groff
Sarah is a full time professional triathlete who is committed to the highest level of performance in International Olympic distance competition. In January 2005, after graduating from Middlebury College with a BA as a double major in Environmental Studies (Conservation Biology) and Studio Art, Sarah moved to Boulder, Colorado, to train with coach and former World Champion Siri Lindley. She is a member of the USA Triathlon National Team and has represented the U.S. at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Elite World Championships in 2006, 2007, and most recently in 2008, where she placed 7th in the elite women’s race on June 8. Currently Sarah is ranked 14th, in the 2008 ITU World Cup elite women rankings and ranked as the 2nd American.

Groff is already looking ahead to her post-competition career and plans to become an environmental lawyer. In the meantime, she is excited to work with Athletes for a Fit Planet and educate others about the impact our daily activities have on the global environment. Look for more exciting news from Sarah in the coming weeks and months.

For more information on Sarah Groff click here or contact her agent, Douglas Eldridge, DLE Sports Management Group, at 202- 580-9615 or douglas@dlesports.com.