All the News That’s Fit

March 24, 2008 - Athletes for a Fit Planet LLC is pleased to announce that it is working with three prominent New England race organizations in 2008 to help green their events. These organizations are known for providing their athlete communities with first-class events. Now they are distinguishing themselves by offering first-class environmentally responsible events.

The three race directors are Reach the Beach Relay, Hopkinton, MA, Tri-Maine, Portland, ME, and EndureIT Multisports, Washington, CT. They share a common long-term goal of reducing waste and carbon emissions, as well as working with their communities of athletes and sponsors to promote broader environmental responsibility. However, they have unique challenges that require tailoring their green initiatives.

Reach the Beach Relay, one of the most prestigious long-distance relay road races in the country, is focusing on two environmental initiatives: reducing its carbon footprint and recycling waste.

The logistics challenges of this 24-hour New Hampshire relay race are significant, according to Race Director Richard Mazzola. Three hundred and fifty teams of up to 12 people each — that’s over 4,000 runners — need to be shuttled along the 200-mile course from Franconia Notch in the White Mountains to Hampton Beach on the coast.

Reducing and offsetting carbon dioxide emissions and providing recycling services along the course will require cooperation from the teams and sponsors and coordination with a number of federal, state, and local agencies and organizations, including the National Forest Service. Working with FitPlanet, Mazzola and fellow Race Director Mike Dionne plan to introduce some innovative solutions in 2008 and then build on their successes in 2009.

Tri-Maine, one of Maine’s premier triathlon race organizers, debuted the successful and innovative Zone Urban Epic Olympic distance triathlon in 2007 and, according to Tri-Maine Race Director Will Thomas, has big plans for both growing and greening the race in 2008.

This year’s Zone Urban Epic, which takes place in July in the heart of the City of Portland, has been selected as one of 12 national case studies, or “Seedlings,” by the Council for Responsible Sport, a non-profit organization working to establish comprehensive certification standards for sustainable athletic events. As part of the Seedling program, CRS will work with the Zone Urban Epic and use the findings to refine the standards.

FitPlanet will work with Tri-Maine to develop a long-term environmental plan for the Zone Urban Epic and implement a number of green initiatives in 2008. Many of these initiatives, including recycling and reuse of materials, reducing emissions, and coordinating efforts with sponsors, will be applied to other events Tri-Maine produces.

EndureIT Multisports, based in the heart of Connecticut’s Berkshire Mountains, is implementing its eco-initiative for its full 2008 race series and training camps, with a special focus on the Nutmegman, the only Half-Ironman distance triathlon in the state. Plans include working closely with race sponsors to showcase environmentally sound products and services, according to Race Director Amanda Braverman. This includes providing local organic food for the post-race party, and a commitment to recycling and composting waste. In addition, EndureIT Multisports will be promoting energy conservation for its athletes by encouraging carpooling and the voluntary purchase of carbon offsets.

These three FitPlanet charter members share the belief that a commitment to environmental responsibility requires a long-term view. “You can’t do everything all at once,” said FitPlanet’s Chief Green Officer Bruce Rayner. “Achieving zero-waste-to-landfill or carbon neutrality takes time.”

What’s important, added Rayner, is that these race directors are making environmental responsibility central to their business and are implementing meaningful change. “Their actions today will pay dividends in years to come.”

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.