A Fit Planet

Take the Marine Corps Marathon “Green Team” Challenge

Bruce — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:22:37 +0000

This is a test posting…

To promote its commitment to going green, the People’s Marathon is partnering with FitPlanet to give complementary registrations to two runners who are passionate about running green. Just email FitPlanet a 100-word essay explaining why you deserve to be on the Marine Corps Marathon Green Team. All entries must be submitted by midnight Eastern Standard Time Sunday August 15. We’ll announce the winners on August 18.

The winners will be expected to submit weekly blogs about their green training practices, and participate in a press conference at the Marine Corps Marathon Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday, October 30.

Where’s FitPlanet this summer?

Bruce — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:26:00 +0000

It’s been a busy racing season for FitPlanet so far this year and the pace is only quickening. Here’s a list of the races we are supporting in July and August. If you see our booth at the expo or at the race, stop and say hello. We’ll give you a free bumper sticker.
And if you’re interested in volunteering for the FitPlanet Green Team to help us with the recycling effort at the races we support, please contact us at info@afitplanet.com. In addition to a race volunteer shirt, food and comraderie, FitPlanet will give you one of our beautiful organic cotton t-shirts.

July 18: Nautica New York City Triathlon
July 24: Whaling City Triathlon, New Bedford, MA
August 1: Rock n Roll Half Marathon, Chicago, IL
August 7: TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth, ME
August 8: Urban Epic Boston Sprint Triathlon, Boston, MA
August 21: Amica 19.7 Sprint Triathlon Boston, Carver, MA
August 28-29: Cranberry TriFest, Lakeville, MA

SECONDHAND is the way to go? by: Mary Miller

Bruce — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:47:35 +0000

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!!

FitPlanet debuts Pledge of Sustainability for multiday events with the Special Olympics CT Summer Games

Bruce — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:30:46 +0000

This release was sent out to our friends in the media June 4 at 2:30 pm EST…

June 4, 2010 – Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC, a leading provider of environmental services to athletic events, is excited to announce that the Special Olympics Connecticut 2010 Summer Games is the first event to take the Multiday Event Pledge of Sustainability. Details of the Games’ Pledge can be found on the FitPlanet Green Events Calendar.

“Up until now, we have provided event organizers of road races, triathlons, and other mass-participation events with a single-day Pledge of Sustainability so they can publically commit to and communicate their intentions for greening their events,” said Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer, Athletes for a Fit Planet. “The Multiday Pledge expands on our single-day Pledge to include the environmental impact of accommodations, food service, and event transportation that address the complexities of multiday events such as the Special Olympics.”

The Special Olympics Connecticut 2010 Summer Games takes place June 11-13 at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT. The University will provide room and board for over 2,000 athletes over the three-day event. Special Olympics and the university will provide transportation for athletes, family members and spectators between the event venues.

“Special Olympics Connecticut is committed to being environmentally responsible and FitPlanet’s Pledge of Sustainability provides us with a way to formalize and communicate that commitment. Our hope is that more and more individuals will take note and become more aware of what we are trying to accomplish.” said Laurie-Jean Hannon, Vice President of Games & Sports Development.

FitPlanet’s Multiday Pledge of Sustainability includes nine required items in three categories: event operations, accommodation and food services, and transportation. It was created for tournaments, games, camps, stage races and any type of event that last more than one day, according to Rayner.

The Pledge includes a commitment to measure the event’s environmental impact in these three areas and to implement specific initiatives to reduce the waste, carbon and water footprints. Events have the option to do more than the nine required items by adding electives to their Pledge.

The Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games has pledged to the nine required items plus an additional 10 electives.

ABOUT ATHLETES FOR A FIT PLANET
Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC is a leading provider of environmental services to organizers of athletic events, including running, multisport, cycling and walking events. Fit Planet’s Pledge of Sustainability and Green Events Calendar provide a cost-effective way for event organizers to communicate their environmental practices to athletes. The Green Events Calendar is a tool for athletes to help them make informed decisions about the events they participate in. FitPlanet also offers environmentally-responsible companies creative marketing solutions for reaching the athlete community.

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS CONNECTICUT
Since 1969, Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) has been changing attitudes and changing lives through year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. SOCT currently serves 12,514 athletes (with intellectual disabilities) and partners (without intellectual disabilities) from across the state. Athletes and partners compete in 22 different Olympic-type sports thanks to over 100 local coordinators, 900 coaches and 10,000 additional volunteers.

Weblinks
www.afitplanet.com
www.soct.org

Media Contacts
FitPlanet Contact: Bruce Rayner, 508-429-0976 or bruce@afitplanet.com
Special Olympics Connecticut Contact: Laura Gremelsbacker, 203-230-1201 x240 or LauraG@soct.org

Live coverage of the oil spill

Bruce — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:27:38 +0000

Click the link below to see live footage from one of the 12 video cameras BP has placed around the Deepwater Horizon wellhead.
While it’s hard to endure, FitPlanet suggests you take a few moments to watch the worst environmental disaster in American history unfolding and to think about one action you might take to reduce your dependence on oil.

Compelling TV from 5,000 feet under the Gulf of Mexico, courtecy of BP

FitPlanet’s Toby Radcliffe advising Bike Week in the UK

Bruce — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:27:15 +0000

FItPlanet continues to expand its geographic reach as Senior Consultant for Europe Toby Radcliffe is providing Team Green Britain Bike Week with support to help event organisers make their events more sustainable. Team Green Britain Bike week takes place June 19-27. Click here for the Sustainability Guidelines that Toby penned for the event.

In addition to advising local organizers of Bike Week events, Toby works with EDF Energy, the title sponsor of the Birmingham Half Marathon, on a number of projects to help develop a best practice approach to event sustainability. Toby worked with the 2009 Birmingham Marathon to help the race earn gold-level certification to the Council for Responsible Sport standard.

The importance of Reusable Shopping Bags.

Bruce — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:49:02 +0000

I have always wondered about shopping bags– cloth, plastic, paper– which is the best to use and why? Obviously, cloth is the way to go because you can reuse them all the time…but does using cloth REALLY make a difference?? YES! YES! YES!

Switch to reusable cloth shopping bags! When offered the option of paper or plastic bags at the checkout counter, avoid BOTH by bringing your own reusable bag made of organic cotton canvas, hemp, or some other durable, washable fabric. You can find them at your local grocers- we’re lucky these days because everyone is selling them and they are cheap ($.99 to $3) and fashionable.

Plastic bags are petroleum based and can take 500 years or more to decompose. Paper bags not only kill trees, but they require fossil fuels to produce and distribute. Keep both out of our landfills by packing your own bags!!

Ham Run Half Marathon – Minnesota’s first Cup-Free race

Bruce — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:08:08 +0000

It looks like the Cup-Free racing trend is gaining steam.

The latest race to announce it’s going cup-free is the Ham Run Half Marathon in Minnesota. The race is partnering with Colorado-based HydraPouch to eliminate cups from this year’s race.

Each runner in the May 2, 2010 race will be provided with a HydraPouch personal hydrator as part of their race pack, and HydraPouch will provide their rapid-dispensing HydraPour devices at every aid station, allowing runners to fill their HydraPouches or any container of their choice without stopping.

The Ham Run Half Marathon takes place on the picturesque Gunflint Trail, a National Scenic Byway located in the Superior National Forest adjacent to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

“We’ve taken every possible effort to conserve resources and leave no trace, so embracing Cup-Free racing is a natural for us,” said Race Coordinator Sue Prom.

Race Directors: if you want to learn more about Cup-Free racing, join our webcast on April 29. Click here for details and to register.

Where’s FitPlanet in April and May?

Bruce — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:26:47 +0000

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

Event Organizers: Get a 20% Earth Day Discount on the Pledge of Sustainability

Bruce — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:55:22 +0000

Whether you’re just introducing recycling or already a certified green event, race directors across the country are making great strides to be more eco-friendly.
FitPlanet wants to help you communicate your green commitment with a special offer on our Pledge of Sustainability. For one month, from Earth Day, April 22 until May 22, we are offering a 20% discount on the Pledge. That’s only $80 per event!
By Pledging to implement a minimum of nine sustainability practices for your event you get…
• The use of the Pledge of Sustainability logo on your website and in your marketing materials.
• Listing of your event in the Green Events Directory including the specific green initiatives your race is adopting. The FitPlanet website received 100,000 hits in March.
• Access to FitPlanet’s How-To Guide for Greening Events covering all aspects of producing a green race.
• Access to the Green Business Directory that lists dozens of companies that provide environmentally responsible products and services specifically for events like yours.
• A free One-Hour Consultation with FitPlanet on cost-effective strategies for greening your race.
• Participation in the monthly FitPlanet Webcast presenting the latest ideas and innovations for greening your race. Click here to join our upcoming Webcast at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on April 29: Rethinking Hydration at Your Race: Toward Cup-Free and Plastic-Free Racing
Celebrate Earth Day by going green and saving green with FitPlanet’s Pledge of Sustainability.