Earth Day Challenge - Get Running!

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the day we mobilize to help preserve our environment. Remember back in the day when you use to get a little tree at school to plant? Well, I’ll have you know I planted everyone of those little guys; however, I can’t guarantee that they all made it.

Well, since we do not have anyone handing trees out anymore, I wanted to do something to help Mother Nature, just as I am sure you do. Therefore, here is what I’m proposing. I’m calling it the #5KCleanUp Challenge.

DETAILS:

1. PREP - As you are heading out for your weekly run (or walk), grab a garbage bag (my bag of choice is an old grocery bag) and take it with you.
2. PICK - As you come across some trash, pick it up. Maybe do a modified squat while you’re picking it up for a little added benefit.
3. PICTURE - Then, before you recycle or through it away, take a picture of yourself with the trash and do one of two things:
4. POST - Post it to your blog and link to mine (then if you could, leave me a comment with the link) and/or tweet the picture using the hashtag #5KCleanUp (I’ll be monitoring the tag to make sure I get everyone’s picture)

Side Note: I called it the #5KCleanUp Challenge because most of my weekly runs are on average 3 or 4 miles. If your runs are longer so be it!

Is this a glamorous challenge?  Nope.  But it is a gratifying one. 

PRAISE - Even though I know you aren’t going to do this for the glory or the praise (even though I promise to provide some), on Friday, I’ll follow up with a post highlighting everyone who participated and the pictures we received. Just to say thanks!

What’s that you say? You’re run route is already clean…Well then maybe you should consider a different route. Make it a family event, take the kids, show them that we all have a role in keeping our environment clean. The last thing any of us want is to see our kids or pets playing amongst the cigarette butts or old soda cans or whatever else is littering our world.

So there it is, that’s the challenge. I’m throwing down the gauntlet on behalf of Mother Nature. I’m planning to do mine this evening. The route I run from my gym has the potential for some clean up.

Are you in? Let me know!