Right now on PlayCity, we're running a campaign to locate the
World's Greatest Coach! If you submit a story about a coach who helped
you to grow in abilities or confidence, you could win a $250 EuroSport Gift Certificate for yourself, and a free trip to Washington D.C. for the Coach of the Year Awards for your coach.
A good coach imparts wisdom that can be used after practice as well as during. Photo by James Morton, provided by Coach Kyle
I whipped up a video about a coach who inspires me, even though he was never my
coach personally. It's my friend Kyle Murray, and his story reminds me
that you don't have to be a grown up to be a coach, and that you can
play an important part in developing other athlete's confidence and
skill even if you're just a tiny bit older than they are.
Anytime
you have a skill that you've developed over the years, there will be
others who could benefit from your expertise. Whether you're young or
old, good at writing or running, there's someone out there who could
benefit from a little bit of skill-sharing!
So think about who's been a good mentor for you, and enter them in the Play It Forward Coach of the Year competition. It's a great way to give your mentors and coaches the credit they deserve!
Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Peter Vanderkaay (a.k.a. PVK) thinks water is cool. Very cool. So cool, in fact, that he teamed up with Blue Planet Run to raise awareness about our global water crisis.
Now Peter is swimming several days per week, and he estimates that he will swim 560 miles in training over the next couple of months! But in the midst of his very busy training schedule, Peter found the time to make a video about water sustainability with a few tips on how to ensure safe water access.
So how much do you think you know about clean water? Take the quiz.
And remember to support Peter in his efforts to promote safe water for drinking and sanitation around the world!
If you've been keeping up with the Play City, you already know about the World's water crisis. If you're reading this blog, you will probably never know what it is to be so thirsty that you have to walk miles to the closest river and drink muddy-looking water full of bacteria that could kill you. In fact, although most Americans have perfectly drinkable water coming out of their tap, many still don't want to drink it unless it's been filtered even further.
According to Blue Planet Run, 1.1 billion people in the World do not have access to safe drinking water. Through their program, they can guarantee one person a lifetime of clean water for only $30. So with a little basic math that means that $33 Billion Dollars would eliminate the World's water crisis.
$33 Billion dollars (according to google) also happens to be:
-what Americans spend PER YEAR on getting thin (to no avail, says cnn.com)
-what Americans spent on holiday shopping in 2007
-what the Oil & Gas industry is receiving in handouts from taxpayers over the next 5 years. (Friends of the Earth, foe.org)
-what the new airport in Dubai will cost to build
-what the Food Industry spent in advertising in 2002 (now its more!)
-the Budget that Bush gave the Dept. of Homeland Security for 2005
We have spent over $860 BILLION in war since 2001. (That could have solved the Water Crisis, eliminated World Hunger, and then some!)
It's kind of crazy when you put it in perspective.
Luckily, there are many people that DO care, and are working hard to come up with ways to make it easier to solve the problem like the LifeStraw
(image courtesy of Vestergaard-Frandsen.com)
Created by Vestergaard-Frandsen, "The aptly-named LifeStraw is an invention that could become one of the greatest life-savers in history."(gizmag.com) It is a straw that can filter bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, Enterococcus, Staphylococcu, Aureus and E.Coli. It lasts for a year and costs about $3 to make. 2.2 million people die every year from bacteria-related illnesses associated with no access to clean water. Meanwhile, "the most prolific killer of human beings in developed countries is the automobile, followed by a host of diseases resulting mainly from an indulgent lifestyle." (cnn.com)
Another invention comes from Dean Kamen, who has created a water filter that can turn raw sewage into drinkable water.
Dean Kamen is responsible for the Segway and the stair-climbing wheelchair. Now he has invented two devices, both the size of a household washing machine, that can provide clean water and power to rural villages. Also called The Slingshot, "the water purifier makes 1,000 liters of clean water a day, and we don't care what goes into it. And the power generator makes a kilowatt off of anything that burns." (CNN.com) His water filter uses a vaporization method that claims it can even filter raw sewage. The power generator runs on cow dung. The problem is financing. Kamen has already spent $50 million of his own money developing it, but needs the help of big money to build one in every village that needs it.
We have all the tools & resources, so why is there still a problem?
It is in our hands! We can each do our part to raise awareness and raise funds. One way to do it is through sports. Swim for it, run for it, play for it, get out there and let people know! We can all make a difference. Take example from Peter Vanderkaay, an Olympic swimmer who has a Blue Planet Run Page where you can sponsor him based on how many laps he swims in training.
2004 and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Peter Vanderkaay joined Team Blue earlier this year to help raise money and awareness for global water issues. Team Blue is a project of Blue Planet Run—an organization that addresses the billion people around the world who lack access to clean drinking water and sanitation.
Right now, Peter is training to compete at the National Swimming Championships in July. He estimates that he will swim 560 miles in training during the next few months, and he is using those miles to raise money for Blue Planet Run.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Peter about swimming, life, and his dedication to promoting safe water access. Check out what Peter had to say:
When did you start swimming?
I started swimming when I was 7 years old. I never dreamed that I would be swimming at age 25 professionally or at the Olympics. I never had that goal when I was younger. Growing up, I had a love for the sciences and either wanted to be a doctor or a medical researcher. I still really do love science, so who knows where my career may lead outside of the pool.
What sparked your interest in global water issues?
Growing up in Michigan, my family spent a lot of time outdoors on the lakes in the summers. Being a swimmer, I've always had an affinity to the water and as I grew up, I became more aware of the issues surrounding clean water. I'd love to make sure that people have the same opportunities to enjoy water that I have had. I feel that if there is any way I can help, I need to get involved.
How did you get involved with Blue Planet Run?
After the Olympics in Beijing, I knew I wanted to further commit myself to raising awareness about the world’s water crisis. I did some research and came across Blue Planet Run, who combine two of my passions: clean water and exercise. They have helped further my understanding on the breadth of the crisis and have intensified my passion to make an impact.
Where have you traveled to since joining Team Blue?
So far I have traveled to Chicago and the surrounding areas since joining Team Blue. Because of my training schedule, it has been tough for me to get involved as much as I would like. As I travel to different swim meets and events across the country I make sure to share Blue Planet Run’s message, especially by sharing my BPR trading cards with fans.
Do you play any other water sports?
I don't play anything else competitively but I enjoy almost everything in the water. Surfing, sailing, and kayaking are some of my favorite things to do besides swimming.
Anything else we should know?
Right now I live and train in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I got a degree in Biology from the University of Michigan. London is in my sights, but I’m very focused on U.S. National Championships, which are in Indianapolis from July 7 -11. If I qualify, I will be in Rome in late July. Both events are going to be nationally televised, so I hope all of my fans and supporters of Team Blue will get a chance to watch. I really look forward to spreading the importance of water sustainability on a national and international stage!
Peter is encouraging others to swim for clean water. Check out Peter's Team Blue page to see how you can get involved!
It's another beautiful sunny day here in the Windy City, and my mind can't help but wander towards thoughts of beach days by the water, chillin' in my swimsuit with a thermos of ice-cold lemonade and a good book in hand.
[Right: Okay, so Chicago beaches don't look exactly like this in the summer, but I can dream a little, right?]
Beach time is also the time of year when magazine covers start sporting titles like, "Last-minute tips to achieve a beach-ready body!" or "How to get in bikini shape." Lately, pop-culture seems preoccupied with Melissa Joan Hart's recent weight loss, and the fact that she's featured on the cover of People magazine wearing a purple bikini. I'm not sure whether that's supposed to serve as inspiration or gossip, but I guess it sells.
They say she did it through diet and exercise. They say that any woman can do it. The magazines show pictures of slender women cranking out push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, and stretches. Then they display hefty slices of "carb conscious" chocolate cake, dripping with carb-free caramel glaze.
Frankly, I don't care how much weight Melissa Joan Hart lost this year. And I don't care to see any more magazines drawing on the assumption that the primary reason for exercise is to look good in a bikini.
Sure, I'll admit that lots of people exercise because they want to slim down. The prospect of possibly looking like a photoshopped supermodel is a huge motivating factor for many. But there are so many more reasons to play sports—health, community involvement, outdoor recreation, self-confidence, and developing better physical coordination, to name a few. I find it insulting that so many "exercise" related articles targeted at women seem to focus on weight loss as THE driving force behind adopting an active lifestyle.
Plus, there's nothing wrong with being a little bigger than average. In this culture, too many women and girls view weight gain as a personal failure. It doesn't have to be that way.
I hate it when magazines poke fun at cellulite, and I hate watching ads that seek to make women feel ashamed of their bodies for the purpose of selling a product. In a culture plagued by eating disorders and body image issues, we don't need any more media messages implying that women and girls need to change their physical appearance. I'd rather see articles that tell women to exercise because it's fun and healthy—not because their bodies aren't good enough.
[Sidenote: That's not to say that men don't also feel pressured to maintain a rock-solid "beach body." Men definitely see their fair share of articles pushing purely aesthetic weight loss and muscle gain. However, today I'm talking primarily about ads and articles targeted at female consumers. Guys- feel free to jump into the conversation.]
Some women and men of size are proud of their bodies, and they continue to play sports for reasons other than expected weight loss. These athletes totally rock; they are actively shifting attitudes around body image and exercise. Size-Positive fitness programs are popping up around the country. These programs do not encourage participants to lose weight, but instead focus on improving health. In my humble opinion, a health-centered approach to exercise is much better than a bikini-centered approach.
Let's celebrate our diverse bodies (both women and men), and take sports back from the weight-loss mania currently infiltrating magazine racks nationwide. And while we're at it, let's rescue our chocolate cake, too.
Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer 
It's another beautiful sunny day here in the Windy City, and my mind can't help but wander towards thoughts of beach days by the water, chillin' in my swimsuit with a thermos of ice-cold lemonade and a good book in hand.
