All the News That’s Fit

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.

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.

The Marine Corps Marathon and FitPlanet are pleased to announce that Allison Lassoe, of Shefield Massachusetts, and Christopher Stephens, of New York City, have been selected for the Marine Corps Marathon Green Team.

The two were chosen based on their commitments to training and racing green from among the entrants in the Green Team Challenge. As members of the MCM Green Team, Lassoe and Stephens will blog on the FitPlanet Green Team page about their training. Also, they will participate in a Green Team press conference at the Marine Corps Marathon Expo on Friday, October 29.

For being selected to the Green Team, Allison and Christopher will receive a free entry in the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, a pair of Brooks Green Silence, a performance racing shoe made from recycled and other earth-friendly components as well as a Nathan Hydration Pak that they will wear during the Marine Corps Marathon. Brining your own bottle helps conserve water and reduce waste.

In addition, the carbon emissions from their travel to and from the race will be offset by NativeEnergy, a recognized leader in offering services that reduce carbon emissions. Other prizes include a tote made from MCM recycled banners by Prior Life and other items from MCM sponsors such as Dasani.

Our hope is that Allison’s and Christopher’s blogging will inspire and motivate other runners to consider the environment as they train for and run the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon.

FitPlanet Joins MCM Offering Two Free Entries to 2010 MCM as the Green Team

Here’s the press release the Marine Corps Marathon issued on Monday, August 2…
QUANTICO, VA (August 2, 2010) – The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) and Athletes for a FitPlanet announced today the first-ever MCM Green Team Challenge. Runners are invited to enter the challenge to win the opportunity to run the 35th MCM to become the MCM Green Team.

Together, the MCM and FitPlanet are encouraging runners to share the responsibility and commitment to the environment by running green. Runners can submit a green plan by entering the contest through www.marinemarathon.com. All entries must detail a green plan for the most sustainable practices during training and participation at the 35th MCM on Oct. 31, 2010 in Arlington, VA.

The contest will be held from Aug. 2 to Aug. 15, 2010. A team of eco-judges will evaluate each green plan and chose two winners who best demonstrate how they can implement the most sustainable practices while participating in the MCM. Winners will be announced on the MCM and FitPlanet websites on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The winning “green” plan will be posted on the FitPlanet Green Team webpage blog where each 2010 MCM Green Team winner will detail their overall MCM green experiences.

The two winners will each receive a pair of Brooks Green Silence running shoes, a performance shoe made from recycled and other earth-friendly components. Other prizes include a tote made from MCM recycled finish-line banners by Prior Life and several other items from sponsors such as Dasani.

Together, MCM and FitPlanet aim to implement environmental practices to conserve natural resources and reduce waste, as well as set a good example for the participants, fans and communities where MCM events are held.

“The ultimate goal of this promotion is to increase awareness and demonstrate how runners can positively support event environmental initiatives through planned sustainable efforts,” said Marc Goldman, MCM Sponsorship/Marketing Manager.

The Green Team Challenge is an extension of the MCM’s environmental outreach that was awarded by the Council for Responsible Sport in 2009. MCM received silver-level certification becoming the largest event to date to earn this distinction.