Clean Currents takes the lead in the Carl Dolan Memorial Race!

This past weekend, the Clean Currents Energize Responsibly team headed to the Carl Dolan Memorial Bike Race in Columbia, MD. This annual event is organized by DC Velo, the bike team we are proud to sponsor. I have never attended a competitive bike race before, so I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that the races were in a Columbia office park, and I was a little skeptical about how energizing or inspiring this could be.

When we pulled into the parking lot around 8 AM, I was totally blown away by the energy. The junior races had already started and Ryan, one of DC Velo's elite riders was giving an animated live commentary. (He did this all day before racing himself). It was amazing to see the camaraderie between the DC Velo riders as well as their competitors from other teams. There were racers of many levels and our very own Kristin Schulz had a great time in her first race! Stuart from DC Velo generously lent her his racing bike, which she later found out, was worth more than her car.

Racers stopped by the Clean Currents tent after competing to grab a packet of wind powered Michele's Granola and a bottle of B'More Organics for their recovery snack and to take the pledge to Energize Responsibly.

It's hard to capture the feeling of the race day, but it reminded me of what I feel like when I finish a long run. That euphoric runner's high was in the air the whole time.  All in all, it was the kind of day that inspired Energize Responsibly: a group of people outside, being active and doing what they love. And it was fantastic to see participants learn about Maryland's poor air quality and commit to doing something to clean up the air by taking our pledge.

Join those who have already taken the pledge today!

Also, check out DC Velo in the Energize Responsibly video

Insider account from DC Velo rider, DJ Brew:

Carl Dolan has been a race that I had always wanted to win even before I was on DC Velo.  Obviously because we were hosting the race, and because of how commandingly we won the race last year, we were the team being watched and the team to beat.  It also didn't help that I had just won the day before, so the pressure was definitely on. It was great having [new racers] Baremore, Mittlestadt, and Greg Wood.  We don't race with these guys often, but they can roll!

Our strategy was pretty much the same as Chantilly.  We wanted to be smart and conservative.  We knew none of the other teams wanted a field sprint because they didn't have a Bozak or a Brew in their lineup.  If a breakaway went it had to have one of us in it, and we were only going to work with it if there was two of us in it. 

The race started exactly how you would've expected it to.  People tried to attack and would either be brought back because of the wind, or because Sommers, Stein, Baremore, Jason, or Ryan were on the front bringing it back.  We were definitely being smart about where we made our efforts in the early part of the race.  At some point Ben Fredrick from Kelly and Jose Escobar from Harley had attacked and got a pretty good gap.  I saw Ryan signal, and without hesitation I jumped across to the move and saw that no one had come with me.  Knowing that Fredrick and Escobar are two strong guys I decided to see what we could make happen in this little move, so immediately the 3 of us started to rotate and the gap started growing. 

I was a little conflicted because we had said in our meeting that we wouldn't work in a break that only had one of us in it, but on the other hand, I also knew I was feeling good and that I thought the 3 of us could stay away the whole time, and I knew that I could take the two of those guys in a sprint.  I decided to keep working and taking measured efforts on the front, that is until my race radio (my wife) said "Ryan said sit on."  I immediately stopped taking pulls.  My two breakaway companions realized what was happening and both tried to attack me but weren't able to get away. 

With 5 laps to go, Meidhof had bridged up to our group, with 3 chasers behind him and the field closing in behind them.  With 4 laps to go, the whole field was back together and we had a brand new race.  There was a flurry of attacks happening off the front and I just surfed wheels to make sure I still had legs left for the field sprint that I knew was coming.

Now here is where it's confirmed that I race with some of the best riders in all of MABRA.  At some point coming into one lap to go, I hear Ryan and ask Jason, "Should I go?" and Jason says "No, get in front of me and we're going to win this thing!"  For me, when you know you have guys that believe in you like that, how can you lose?

Ryan comes past me with Jason and Bozak on his wheel and I hop on to the back.  Sommers and Baremore and Stein are already at the front and we start ramping it up.  A couple guys were trying to fight their way into our leadout, and Bozak obliged because he knew it would only work to our advantage.  Ryan had taken a huge pull before the last corner, and Jason took over the front.  Again, he put in such a monster effort on the downhill that no one was able to come around.  Jason pulled until the hill leading to the finish and those guys that snuck into our leadout were left on the front.

As soon as they hesitated, Bozak went around them at 500m to go and opened his sprint with me on his wheel.  I sat on until 350m to go and opened my sprint.  It was the perfect leadout because we were able to carry so much speed into the hill that as soon as I started my sprint I could already feel that I was starting to pull away.  The problem was that I still had 200 more meters to go.  Basically I did three separate sprints to get me to the finish line first.

A big thanks goes out to all the guys that raced with us for the win.  This one was definitely a team effort.

We know because last weekend was Mayor Nutter's citywide Spring Cleanup Day and the 2nd annual Philly Farm and Food Fest. The sun was shining and blossoms in full bloom for Saturday's spring cleanup day, which brought thousands of Philadelphian's out to sites all over the city. The Mayor's office provided all the necessary rakes, shovels, gloves, and bags for each site as trucks drove by to pick up all of the gathered trash.

Communities gathered to clean up parks like Jefferson Square Park in South Philadelphia with students from Nebinger George W elementary school. Children and parents enjoyed the sun while spreading mulch, painting benches, and picking up liter. It was great to see this community coming together to make Jefferson Square Park a green and clean space that everyone can continue to enjoy.

The fun continued at Sunday's Philly Farm and Food Fest. The Pennsylvania Convention Center was packed with cheerful fest-goers, vendors and exhibitors from around the region eager display their finest local goods. As you entered the hall, the smell of delicious treats wafted through the air and ornately decorated tables drew in fest goers .

Clean Currents talked with fest-goers about clean energy and asked them to share with us, "What do you do to be green?" We got great answers from "growing our own veggies" to "composting with worms". The atmosphere inside conveyed that there something for everyone from local cheeses, baked goods, freshly shucked oysters, libations, to homemade soaps and potted herbs.

Just down the hall, Clean Currents hosted a workshop entitled "How green is your café?" The room was full of people eager to hear what our panel of leaders in the restaurant industry had to say about implementing sustainable practices into their business. Our panel featured: Angelo Anastasio- Owner of Greenable Design, Justin Rosenberg-Founder/Partner of honeygrow, Tia MacDonald-Director of Culinary Operations for the Vetri Foundation for Children & Nicole Marquis-Owner of Hip City Veg.
Our panelists spoke about their vegan menu, environmentally conscious interior building designs, community nutrition initiatives, and relationship with local farmers. The 2nd annual Philly Farm and Food Fest was a success and Clean Currents was honored to be part of a growing local food movement in the region.

May 5th I will participate in my first ever triathlon. Only three weeks away. I feel as if I should be increasingly nervous as the day approaches, but I only have to look back to a few short months ago to see how much I've improved to stay calm and composed. That first 5am swim back in early December included much flapping, flailing, and choking down of water. After countless 5am swims, I was able to complete my first mile long swim just last week. That first Saturday practice, transitioning from a long bike ride to running made the legs turn into jelly. Or was it stone? Is it possible to be both? It didn't help that all feeling in my toes had been lost to the cold. Now, the transition is all but second nature to me.

I've enjoyed the training experience to a degree much greater than I initially expected; the reason being my teammates. I have had the pleasure of training with the most supportive, most positive individuals one could ever expect to meet. These are individuals who have seen loved ones battle cancer, have lost loved ones to cancer, and who have battled it themselves. I think it takes a certain type of character, one with a great deal of resolve, to experience such hardships and turn right around subject oneself to such grueling conditions. For many, it was the only way they could see themselves taking action to combat cancer. And, to put it bluntly, it's working.

Our team alone has raised over $165,000 this season! LLS has donated over $1.6 billion to cancer research since the 1960's, and we've seen survival rates double, triple, and even quadruple for some types of blood based cancers. We have seen countless breakthroughs through academic support from LLS. That's enough to get me out of bed and the running shoes on in the morning. I view this triathlon training as an opportunity to reduce the pain that patients and their families feel (whether physical or emotional) by subjecting myself to a little everyday. But it only works if I can raise the funds to make that possible.

I pledged to raise $2200 at the start of the season. I can proudly say that I've raised $1825 thus far. If you would like to help me reach my goal, please visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/montmntr13/Berwangerb, and click donate now on the right side of the page. Any amount is very much appreciated.

The Clean Currents team cleans up a stream in Rock Creek Park

There are hundreds of ways to be more green. Here are some of Clean Currents' staff favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day:

1. Plant your spring garden. Growing your own food is fun, rewarding, and chemical free. Even if you don't have a backyard or balcony, you can still grow herbs, greens, and even peppers in container gardens. Another great reason -- you'll know where your food comes from. Here, here, here and of course here are some helpful tips for getting your garden started.
2. Get out! This time of year there are gazillions of outdoor volunteer opportunities. Give back to your community and spend a little time enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Check out volunteer opportunities: Philly Spring Clean Up Day, Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day Clean Up.
3. Energize Efficiently. Take a day to make your home more energy efficient. Switch over to LEDs or CFLs for your lighting, caulk windows and cracks, and add weather stripping to doors. By better insulating your home, you'll be able to keep more of that air conditioning inside this summer. Learn more energy saving tips.
4. Events, events, and more events. Want to get your kids more engaged with Earth Day? Or want to have a little fun that doesn't involve home improvement? Check out some of these fun, eco minded events: Baltimore Green Week, Philadelphia Science Festival, Takoma Park Earth Day.
5. Leave the car at home. Pledge to leave the car a home for a day, a weekend, or a week. Although it may seem like a challenge to shake up your daily routine, getting out of the car opens up a world of possibilities. So, pump up the air in your bike tires, check out the public transportation system, or put on your walking shoes and go car free!  To make it easier, Clean Currents customers are eligible for 30% off memberships with the Washington Area Bike Association. Email us at gogreen@cleancurrents.com to get your discount.

Oh, and our little secret: you don't have to do these things just on Earth Day or Earth Month -- they're great activities for the whole year.

PS -- We're planning an Earth Day action of our own. Keep an eye out for more information soon!