KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i (Wednesday, October 10) – Race week for the 2019 Vega IRONMAN World Championship continued today in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i and with it, the plethora of activities and events that countdown to the world’s most iconic single-day endurance event taking place on Saturday, Oct. 12. Here is the daily Pau Hana, a Hawaiian phrase meaning “end of the workday,” recapping highlights from the last 24 hours.   Thanks to IRONMAN’s partners, world championship athletes as well as their friends and families will have the opportunity to try out world class products leading up to race day. With nearly a dozen premier partners represented on the island, athletes are encouraged to see the variety of products and amenities available, ranging from nutritional supplements to training materials. In their first year as a title partner at the IRONMAN World Championship, Vega will be front and center for athletes throughout the week. They will have sampling throughout IRONMAN Village, and their “Vegamobile” will be located at different spots for spectators to try out their recovery smoothies. Below are a few other sponsors and the benefits they will be bringing:  

• Addaday will debut their new co-branded IRONMAN massage chair and provide the “Best Seats in Kona”, right across from the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Throughout the week, spectators will have the opportunity to test the chairs and enter a raffle to win a seat in the chair on race day for up to an hour.
• HOKA ONE ONE, in partnership with the IRONMAN merchandise team, will be selling their co-branded IRONMAN KONA MACH 2 shoe along with their Kona inspired Carbon X shoes. They will also have demo runs at their pop-up shop throughout the week to test the all-new Carbon X released earlier this fall.
• Gatorade Endurance will be performing sweat testing all week long at their IRONMAN Village location, and have had mobile hydration stations set up around Kona to help athletes on their training efforts. They will also be presenting sponsor of “IRONMAN: Quest for Kona fueled by Gatorade Endurance”
• GU Energy will be promoting their TerraCycle initiative that collects used single serve nutrition wrappers and send them back to the U.S. for recycling, and in-turn, all proceeds will be donated to the IRONMAN Foundation for their recycling efforts.
• Master Spas will be demonstrating their new swim spa located in the IRONMAN Village. Three-time IRONMAN World Champion Mirinda Carfrae and 2014 IRONMAN World Championship runner-up Ben Hoffman will be making appearances throughout the week.
• Red Bull will host an exclusive branded aid station in The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; providing energy when athletes need it most. The finish line area will feature two members of the Red Bull Wings Team.
• ROKA, the official swim partner of IRONMAN, has been demonstrating their goggles and swimskins all week, and will award the fastest swimmer of each age group with a $50 discount on their products.
• Santini, the official cycling and triathlon apparel, will be providing Italian coffee in expo to anyone who buys Santini gear in the merch store. They will also host a short fashion show during IRONMAN Village stage time.
• Ventum, the official global bike partner of IRONMAN, hosted its Annual Ventum Group Ride in partnership with Vega. The group rolled out early Wednesday morning heading eight miles out to the Kona airport where riders had the option to turn around and head back to the expo or continue their ride down for a pre-race ride down a portion of the IRONMAN World Championship Ventum bike course on Queen Ka’ahumanu..

  IRONMAN `Ohana Hour on IRONMAN Now   IRONMAN `Ohana Hour, a daily update show on IRONMAN Now brings the viewer to the shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i leading into the 2019 Vega IRONMAN World Championship. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on IRONMAN Now Facebook page, hosts Greg Welch, Michael Lovato and Matt Lieto will bring live interviews with professional and age-group triathletes prior the big race on Saturday.   Take a trip out to the The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and see what the athletes will be experiencing on race day or take walk down famous Ali`i Drive showing the race week atmosphere in Kailua-Kona.   Each daily show is available on the IRONMAN Now page for viewers to re-watch any episode throughout the week.   HOKA ONE ONE Women For Tri Athlete Panel   One of IRONMAN’s premier partners, HOKA ONE ONE – the Official Running Shoe of the IRONMAN North America and IRONMAN Europe Series – hosted an athlete panel at noon on Wednesday to celebrate Women Who Fly in conjunction with the Women For Tri initiative, a program of the IRONMAN Foundation. Launched in 2015, Women For Tri works to increase female participation at all levels of triathlon. The initiative seeks to identify and lessen any barriers female athletes may cross when engaging triathlons and encouraging them across all platforms of athletics. Since its inception in 2015, Women For Tri has awarded over $300,000 in grants to triathlon clubs supporting female participation initiatives. Wednesday’s panel included three powerful women from around endurance sports industry: Wendy Yang, President of HOKA ONE ONE; Sika Henry, a two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship finisher and proponent for diversity in triathlon; Julie Moss, IRONMAN Hall of Famer and 1982 IRONMAN World Championship runner-up who famously crawled the final 15 feet of the race after collapsing. Prior to the panel, there was a Women For Tri meet-up from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the IRONMAN Foundation Booth. Athletes gathered, took photos and the first 50 females in attendance received special gifts.   Looking Ahead to Tomorrows Pau Hana   The Vega IRONMAN World Championship’s week of events continued tonight with the induction of the 2019 IRONMAN Hall of Fame class, featuring IRONMAN World Champion’s Tim DeBoom and Michellie Jones, along with IRONMAN contributors Kenneth Gasque and Jan War. Tomorrow, the day kicks off at 7:30 a.m. HST with the Kona Underpants Run, a tradition to help raise money for various local charities. Following that, media are invited to attend the professional athlete press conference at 11:00 a.m., featuring over a dozen of the top professional athletes who will be competing on Saturday. Shortly thereafter, IRONMAN will host a follow up press conference at 2:00 p.m. at the IRONMAN Village that will include some of this year’s incredible athletes and their stories to the start line – mother-daughter duo Beth and Liza James, after two decades of trying, Dai Masui will finally start the IRONMAN World Championship, music manager and Chairman of MusiCares Michael McDonald, double amputee Roderick Sewell, IRONMĀORI co-founder Wayne Skipworth, as well as breast cancer survivor and business executive Lisa Tecklenburg. The Vega IRONMAN World Championship Media Center reopens Thursday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. in King Kamehameha Hotel Ballroom 1. Media can check in until 4 p.m.

On foot, by bicycle, through water and combinations of the above, distance races such as marathons and ocean races are a global phenomenon. Running and cycling races have become a big business in recent years, due to the opportunity for sponsorship and the brand affinity that comes with it. Races including Tough Mudder, the Boston Marathon and the Tour de France have taken their place among sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the World Cup for the name recognition. But instead of paying to watch, fans are paying (and training) to play.

The Big Sur Marathon Foundation and GU Energy Labs have signed a four-year deal to extend and enhance their nearly two-decade partnership.

With your favorite pair of running shoes laced snugly on your agile feet, you run laps around the outdoor track in the center of the park enjoying a cool breeze, fresh air and the view of lush, green trees. You, like many others, may find that running outdoors is a total pleasure. It’s an escape from the day to day, a time to think, find clarity and enjoy the natural world. For others, running is a purely an athletic pursuit leading them to run 5K races, and even marathons, all across the state. But no matter what end of the spectrum you find yourself on, if you’re a runner you care about the environment. Here are several ideas to help the runner (or walker) in you be green and eco-friendly as you pursue your favorite exercise off the treadmill.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – The 5th annual gazelle girl run is happening in Grand Rapids this weekend, and one thing the organization has always prided themselves on is being environmentally conscious. This year is no different, Chelsea Brehm is here to tell us all about a “green run”.

Environmentalism and sustainability are now essential aspects of brand building, and in an increasingly competitive marketplace, effectively engaging consumers poses many challenges. The expanded retail landscape has altered the way consumers interact with products and services, and standing out from direct competitors and defining oneself as a leader in the category requires an extra level of value strategy. Getting back to basics may help businesses and major brands better communicate their dedication to the circular economy, engaging the consumer through an invitation to participate. Through our partnerships at TerraCycle, we’ve seen several consumer product brands and businesses experience success with in-store recycling collections. Drives Foot Traffic One of the invaluable positives to an in-store recycling promotion is the foot traffic it generates. Though marketing experts like to attribute the burgeoning trend of e-commerce to millennial shopping behavior, the reality is that all generations of consumers find themselves taken with the convenience of shopping online. But brick-and-mortar retailers offer customers what online shopping can’t: the opportunity to physically touch, feel and experience products for themselves. The advantage created by making recycling the reason a customer enters a brick-and-mortar retail store is a two-fold: number one, you get them in the store and, number two, they have something to feel good about before they even buy anything. For example, TerraCycle and GU Energy Labs have recently expanded their successful Performance Nutrition Recycling Program to include all brands of performance nutrition packaging, and have given all GU retailers the opportunity to designate their locations as a public drop-off points for recycling performance nutrition packaging such as energy gel, drink mix and energy chew packets. Creating in-store foot traffic around an empowering behavior like recycling inspires goodwill and positive feelings in the same environment where purchases occur, maximizing profit potential for each retail transaction. Builds Brand Loyalty We know that consumers are now more willing to pay more for sustainable products and services than ever before. But while cost, performance and credibility remain prohibitive factors standing between consumers and “doing the right thing,” creating and strengthening brand loyalty for these eco-conscious companies is essential for driving sales against well-established competitors. This is especially true for specialty brands like Wellness Natural Pet Food, a premium pet food brand available in pet specialty stores. Presented for purchase alongside well-known dog food brands like Purina or Iams, Wellness Natural Pet Food is faced with the tall order of offering the consumer a promise of value exceeding that of other labels. Through TerraCycle, Wellness provides a recycling solution for its difficult-to-recycle product packaging, and retailers designated as public-drop off locations per the program can promote themselves as a collection point, communicating their sustainability commitment to customers. This type of sustainable marketing rewards the consumer by giving them the opportunity to invest in a cause. Emotional and social value benefits are prevalent here, as the activation plays to emotional sensibilities and allows the consumer to make a social statement. In-store recycling collections are a visual, tactile way to engage customers with the product you are trying to sell. Consumers are driven to purchase by a variety of factors, and it’s up to manufacturers and brands to figure out what those are, and market accordingly.

GU Energy Labs has announced a new packaging sleeve for Gu Energy Chews. The sleeve now carries a stack of eight individual Energy Chews that each deliver 20 calories. "Now easier to open, eat on the go, and share with friends, GU Energy Chews contain sodium to replenish electrolytes, complex and simple carbohydrates for fast and lasting energy, and branched-chain amino acids to help prevent mental fatigue and reduce muscle damage," the company said.  The company said the new double-serving package fulfils the wishes of athletes who asked for a compact way to carry more fuel. Gu Energy Labs will continue to offer Energy Chews in single-serving pouches for athletes that prefer the smaller serving size. Flavors include strawberry, blueberry pomegranate, orange, and watermelon. Like all Gu Energy Labs packaging, the new Energy Chews sleeves can be recycled with Terracycle.

GU Energy Labs releases a new packaging sleeve for GU Energy Chews. This convenient sleeve gives athletes a new way to carry a double serving of portable energy that fits easily in a jersey pocket or hydration vest. The new sleeves hold a stack of eight individual Energy Chews that each deliver 20 calories. Created for daily training and competition, GU Energy Chews help sustain the energy demands of long-duration activities. Now easier to open,eat on the go, and share with friends, GU Energy Chews contain sodium to replenish electrolytes, complex and simple carbohydrates for fast and lasting energy, and branched-chain amino acids to help prevent mental fatigue and reduce muscle damage. GU Energy Labs aims to create portable, convenient, and effective ways to deliver the functional nutrients that are essential to improved athletic performance. The new double-serving sleeve responds to the needs of discerning athletes who asked for a compact way to carry more fuel. GU Energy Labs will continue to offer Energy Chews in single-serving pouches for athletes that prefer the smaller serving size. Like all GU Energy Labs packaging, the new Energy Chews sleeves can be recycled with TerraCycle.

GU Energy Labs releases a new packaging sleeve for GU Energy Chews. This convenient sleeve gives athletes a new way to carry a double serving of portable energy that fits easily in a jersey pocket or hydration vest. The new sleeves hold a stack of eight individual Energy Chews that each deliver 20 calories. Created for daily training and competition, GU Energy Chews help sustain the energy demands of long-duration activities. Now easier to open,eat on the go, and share with friends, GU Energy Chews contain sodium to replenish electrolytes, complex and simple carbohydrates for fast and lasting energy, and branched-chain amino acids to help prevent mental fatigue and reduce muscle damage. GU Energy Labs aims to create portable, convenient, and effective ways to deliver the functional nutrients that are essential to improved athletic performance. The new double-serving sleeve responds to the needs of discerning athletes who asked for a compact way to carry more fuel.  GU Energy Labs will continue to offer Energy Chews in single-serving pouches for athletes that prefer the smaller serving size. Flavors include strawberry, blueberry pomegranate, orange, and watermelon. Like all GU Energy Labs packaging, the new Energy Chews sleeves can be recycled with Terracycle.

We live in a world of packaging. Unless you buy every single food item in bulk, never buy pre-made snacks or meals, and never grab a snack on a whim at a nearby bodega, there’s a very good chance you have a decent amount of packaging in your house. While some things, like cardboard cereal boxes, Tetrapacks, and glass bottles, are a bit easier to sort, there are other items like chip bags, juice pouches, and bar wrappers that don’t seem to belong in any particular recycling bin. With this problem in mind, TerraCycle was born. This innovative recycling program allows consumers to send in material they can’t recycle on their own and allow TerraCycle to take care of it. While TerraCycle has programs that require consumers to purchase special boxes where they can send waste in, the company also partners with different brands and companies to offer free recycling programs. Pretty much what this entails is TerraCycle sending a packing box or envelope to your home, you filling it up with the waste from a particular brand, sending it back for free, and subsequently feeling good about helping bring down the amount of trash that ends up in landfills. Then TerraCycle finds better uses for the material. Pretty good deal for all! Want to participate? Check out these 12 brands that have partnered with TerraCycle to get started. Happy recycling!