FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seattle's Hometown Marathon, the Amica Insurance
Seattle Marathon, Makes Itself Greener
May 28, 2009 – Seattle – Can Seattle get any greener?
The Seattle Marathon Association thinks so, and it's hoping to prove it at
the 2009 Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon on November 29. With the early
bird registration deadline approaching on May 31, organizers want
participants to know they'll be running greener races.
Due to the marathon's impressive growth – 2008 saw more than 14,000
individual runners and more than 40,000 people participate in the
Health/Fitness Expo – association members decided it was time to help the
environment by adding green initiatives to this year's popular hometown
marathon.
Participants and spectators can expect to see a strong push for recycling
all throughout the event. For example, recyclable items will be available
along the course, such as recyclable plastic goody bags, and there will be
recycling containers at the Victory Recovery Area.
Green vendors, such as Winning Time chip timing, will also support the
effort. Winning Time, which designs long-lasting, reusable and recyclable
timing chips, recently received recognition from the Environmental
Protection Agency's Wastewise program for its green product.
In addition, the Seattle Marathon Association plans a thorough cleanup
after the event. In fact, all extra shirts, leftover food, shirts left on
the course and space blankets will be donated to local community
organizations.
The Seattle Marathon is looking forward to feedback from participants at
this year's event to implement more ways to improve its green efforts for
next year and beyond.
"We're excited about the new initiatives to make this year's Amica
Insurance Seattle Marathon greener then ever," said John Kokes, board
president of the Seattle Marathon Association.
"What started in 1970 as a running event among friends has grown into a
major Seattle event for some 14,000 athletes and thousands more
spectators," John added. "With this growth came the responsibility to
lessen the negative impact on Seattle's environment. After all, if we're
promoting healthy lifestyles, we also need to promote a healthy, green
Seattle."
The Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon, Marathon Walk, Half Marathon and Half
Marathon Walk will take place Sunday, November 29. All events will start
and end at the historic Seattle Center downtown and will traverse the
streets of the Emerald City, affording sweeping vistas of this important
seaport town. The marathon course is USATF- and AIMS-certified and is a
Boston Marathon qualifier. Early bird registration will end this Sunday,
May 31. Visit www.seattlemarathon.org to find out more about the race and
sign up as a participant.
Amica Mutual Insurance Company, the nation's oldest mutual insurer of
automobiles, was founded in 1907. The company is a national writer of
automobile, homeowners, marine, and personal umbrella liability insurance.
Life coverage is available through Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly
owned subsidiary. Amica employs more than 3,100 people in 39 offices across
the country, including the Seattle Regional Office. Amica has been
providing insurance in Washington since 1945.
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