Atayne 360 - February 2009

We are proud to announce our sponsorship of RunTerra, the nation's first series of green races.  In true Atayne fashion, we will be getting our hands dirty and our shirts sweaty as we conduct our first trash run of 2009 at the Gaithersburg 8K on March 29.

Think you have the skills to be a trash runner?  Send an email to events@atayne.com if you would like to join the team.  There are both running and non-running volunteer positions. All team members will receive a complimentary Atayne top.  The team will be capped at 20 people on a first come basis.

If trash running is not your thing, we hope you support this great event and come out and run.  All runners will get free entry into the Go Green America Expo in Gaithersburg.

Gaithersburg, MD not in your back yard?  Make sure you frequently check RunTerra's schedule.  Currently, races are in development for CA and NY.

Here's a startling fact: 80% of the environmental impact of apparel comes from consumer care (washing and drying).  If you own an Atayne top, which we hope you do, don't wash it after every workout.  Rinse it off in the shower and hang to dry.  The anti-odor properties of Cocona should have you smelling fresh for 3 to 4 workouts.

We are looking for one brave soul to break the record of 8 consecutive workouts without throwing it in the washer.  If you want to give it a go, share your stories with us at adventure@atayne.com.  One lucky person will receive a complimentary Atayne top for taking part in our little experiment.

No, that is not a typo.  We are asking for a blob.  We have submitted our garment take back program to Idea Blob for a chance to win $10,000 to bring it to life.  Here's our idea:  collect fully worn garments and use the existing materials to make new products such as tote bags and backpacks. 

Why would we want to make stuff out of old apparel?  Here's how we look at it. An estimated 85% of all clothing ends up in a landfill.  NYC alone accounts for 386 million pounds of textile waste annually.  While in a landfill, much of this waste breaks down into dangerous chemicals that leech into our ground water. Let's close the loop for the health of our planet and ourselves.

If you like our idea, please visit our blob, give us your vote, and share with your friends.  With enough votes, this year's discarded race top could be next year's race bag!

Last month we introduced you to our little athlete friend Kennedy.  (Don't forget if you use the code kennedyscord before the end of February when you purchase an Atayne item, we will donate 10% of the sale to Kennedy's Cord Foundation.)

From the response we got, it seems like everyone is a fan of Kennedy and the idea that an athlete is any person with the determination and commitment to live and love an active lifestyle.  So this month we decided to stay on this theme.  Atayne community, meet J Mac.

You may have come across J Mac (a.k.a. Jason McElwain) a couple years ago.  Jason was diagnosed with autism at a very young age and did not speak until he was 5 years old.  As he grew, he developed a passion for basketball and served as the manager of Greece Athena High School basketball team in Rochester, NY.

During the division title game on February 15, 2006, Coach Jim Johnson called on J Mac to take the floor.  Upon taking the court in front of a packed house and roaring crowd, J Mac tossed up a couple bricks (for lack of a better word).  And then...something magical happened.  Want to see how the story ends?  Check out this video.

We've been holding this photo back for a while but felt now was the time to share. Like many of you, we at Camp Atayne are continually trying to cut back on our spending.  But this is not something very new for us.  Life on the race expo circuit as entrepreneurs can be tough on a tight travel budget.  We do not enjoy the luxury of 4 star hotels or restaurants.  Instead, we go for the dog-friendliness of the Red Roof Inn and the affordability of the Waffle House.  Atayne's own Jeremy and Mike enjoyed a meal at the Waffle House in Grove City, OH.

Upon exploring their website, we discovered they have a list of celebrities who have been seen eating at the Waffle House.  If anyone can get Jeremy and Mike on that list, they will get a $100 Atayne gift certificate.  Just email us at adventure@atayne.com.

The spring event season is fast approaching.  If you are in the area, we hope you stop by and visit us at: