Road Race Management will conduct a one-day workshop " How Green Is My Event? " in Arlington, VA on Saturday, April 5 (weekend of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom). The workshop will focus on environmental issues and how they affect road running, as well as how events can reduce their carbon footprint, be good environmental stewards, and lead by example.

Are road running events part of the problem or part of the solution? What do you do with the thousands of cups, water bottles and the other trash generated by your event? What efforts do you or should you make leading up to race day? Should running events be in the forefront of the environmental movement or should we leave that to someone else?

These and many other questions will be posed and answered. In advance of the workshop, Road Race Management has surveyed race directors to inventory what steps are currently being taken to green-up events across the country. In addition a survey is under way with vendors to assess trends and environmental marketing approaches.

The timely one-day session on "greening" your event will be led by Keith Peters. Peters is the former race director of Portland's Cascade Run Off 15K and frequent participant and faculty member at the annual Road Race Management Race Directors Conference. His background includes 17 years as a Nike executive, with assignments as Running Events Manager, Director of Athletics (Track and Field, LDR) and Director of Public Relations. He was also the founder of nike.com. In January 2007, Keith launched www.carbonneutraljournal.com, a blog devoted to exploring the issues and opportunities that climate change poses to our everyday lives.

As part of the workshop Peters will take a close look at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run to see what they're doing and where they might improve. This "audit" of Cherry Blossom will help other event officials develop a checklist of things to consider doing for their event.

"I think every major race should start thinking green." said Cherry Blossom Director Phil Stewart. "Major events and clubs should appoint a 'green captain' to spearhead this effort," he added.

A limited number of entries to the sold out Credit Union Cherry Blossom race are available to those who register for the workshop by February 29, 2008. Alternatively, registrants can receive "All Areas" special credentials so they can go behind the scenes at this internationally famous race on Sunday, April 6.

Road Race Management publishes a monthly newsletter covering the management of the sport of distance running www.rrm.com. It also conducts an annual race directors' meeting (November 6-8, 2008) in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Annual subscriptions to the newsletter are $97.00.

Attendance will be limited. Information is available at How Green Is My Event?