Atayne 360 - April 2010
Barefoot Running is in...
But bare-a$$ed running, cycling, hiking, or climbing probably has awhile to go before becoming the cultural norm. So, we decided to move the Atayne line in a new direction, below the waist.
Our most loyal friends probably already know that we were recently awarded a grant to finish the development of our men's and women's shorts and women's fitness skirt. Now it is time to put pen to paper, or in the terms of our industry, put thread to fabric. But as we start on our journey to develop the best athletic and outdoor shorts on the market, we want your help.
We are looking for 20 active and adventurous souls (10 guys & 10 gals) to serve as volunteer product developers. Over the next 6 to 8 months the volunteers will give their thoughts and opinions on the design, fit, and functionality of the shorts. We are looking for people to help us put these shorts through the dirt, mud, and rocks. We want them tested on the roads, trails, mountains, and cliffs. And like the United States Postal Service, we want your adventures delivered through the rain, snow, sleet, and sun.
Interested in joining in on the fun? Apply to be part of the team at this link. But don't delay; applications must be received no later than Saturday, May 1, 2010.
Monthly Enviro Tip
We have mixed feelings about Earth Day. While we love the intent, we think that dedicating only one day a year to appreciate our environment is just not enough. So this year, we encourage everyone to take steps to make Earth Day a part of their every day through an Earth Day Resolution. You can start simple or go all in. We just ask that you take a step in the right direction. Here are some of our favorite potential resolutions:
- I will go vegetarian once a week (or add a day, if doing so already)
- I will kick the bottled water habit, and buy a reusable drinking vessel (and remember to take it when traveling to save yourself the outrageous prices at transportation hubs.)
- I will walk, run, or bike (or otherwise use human power) for all errands under 1 mile/ 1.6 km
Those are just a start, and we know there are many more creative ideas. Join our Virtual Earth Day Resolution Rally and share your resolution on the event wall of our Facebook page. Everyone who submits a resolution by April 30, 2010 will be entered into a drawing to win a free entry into the race of his or her choice at this year's Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival.
18,000+ Pounds of Trash and Counting...
We are not talking about trash being dumped in a new landfill. We are talking about the amount of trash collected so far by Pick Up America. A crew of recent college grads conjured the crazy scheme of walking across the country picking up trash along the way. They recently started their journey at Assateague Island, MD and have made their way through Baltimore. The goal is to make it to San Francisco by next year while leaving a path to a cleaner future in their wake.One of the founding members Jeff Chen describes the journey: "Life is good and exhausting. The work is rewarding but bittersweet. Why is there so much trash? Bottle after bottle after can, plastic bags, diapers, raw materials, more plastic bags, and dead things. It ain't pretty, and I'm sure there's plenty more trash ahead of us too. No matter how you see it, it's purely a reflection of our disposable culture."
If you want to find out more and follow this great journey, check out their website and fan them on Facebook. Even better, join them for a mile, a day, a week, or a month when they pass through your town.
*Photo Courtesy of Amy Dewan
What happens to plastic bottles when they are discarded?
That is a tough question and the answer can get very complicated. So, we tossed it over to our Scientist in Residence, Kelsey. She breaks it down in a simple way we can all understand. To find out the answer, check out this month's Science Made Simple as Kelsey tells the story of three plastic bottles: Lucky, Dumpy, and Litterbug.
Atayne at Play
Most of us know that Chicago is home to the the Cubbies and the White Sox, deep-dish pizza, and the Sears Tower (renamed the Willis Tower a year ago). Now the Windy City can claim to be home to yet another famous thing, or we should say person. According to Chicago Athlete Magazine, Chicago is home to the First Lady of Trash, Paige T. This is something we are pretty proud of, as Paige is the founder of our very first chapter of the Trash Runners.
In the News and On Our Fridge
It's a Little Known Fact
Congratulations to Daniel C. who knew that the best way to get a high intensity workout while trash running is through a trashlek. And while the term is pronounced trash•lick, we do not in anyway encourage people to lick trash (our lawyer told us we had to write that).
Anyway, on to April's question. Actually, we should say questions, as it's a two-parter. We recently moved the Atayne headquarters to what town in Maine? Name three other people, places, or things that call the same town home? Feel free to dig into the depths of history.
Until next Month, Keep it Clean!
The Atayners
