Clean Air Council to Host 38th Annual Run for Clean Air Presented by Toyota Hybrids on Saturday, April 20

 

Thousands of Runners, Families and Environmental Advocates Will Support a Healthy Environment in the Region’s Signature Earth Day Celebration

(April 10, 2019) PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Clean Air Council will host the 38th annual Run for Clean Air presented by Toyota Hybrids on Saturday, April 20, 2019. The event will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Paine’s Park and Martin Luther King Drive next to  the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Philadelphia region’s largest Earth Day celebration will bring together more than 1,500 runners to compete in several races. Runners and other attendees will also have a chance to test drive Lime scooters and visit a number of local and sustainable vendors and sponsors. The Run for Clean Air is once again an AFitPlanet certified green run that implements over a dozen sustainability best practices.  The popular event will feature four races – a 10K Run, 5K Run, 3K Walk and Kids’ Fun Run. The Run for Clean Air also includes a Virtual 5K, which gives runners nationwide a chance to support the Clean Air Council and enjoy outdoor spaces in the week before and after Earth Day, no matter where they are located.

Online registration for all events and additional details are available here.

“At a time when our environment and health are being attacked by elected officials and the government, the Run for Clean Air gives me hope,” said Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Clean Air Council’s Executive Director and Chief Counsel. “Clean Air Council is seeing overwhelming support from the public and companies like Toyota Hybrids. This race confirms how important it is for us to lead the fight against polluters and to protect everyone’s right to clean air and a healthy environment.”

“Toyota and the Tri-State Toyota Dealers are very proud of our six year partnership with the Clean Air Council and to be the Presenting Sponsor for a 5th year, at the 38th annual Run for Clean Air.  With Toyota’s ongoing commitment to the development of vehicles that help reduce carbon emissions and as a leader in the alternative fuel segment, we are thrilled to once again support the Clean Air Council through this year’s Run for Clean Air,” said Paul Muller, President of the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association. “Toyota is committed to helping play a role in delivering cleaner air and environmental sustainability to our customers. With a portfolio of nine Toyota hybrid models, including the fuel cell vehicle (FCV) Mirai, we are the leader in alternative mobility and have a large selection of both hybrid sedans and SUV models to fit our customers’ diversified needs. The newest editions to our hybrid line-up, the Corolla Hybrid and the Prius AWD-e, will be onsite for event goers to check out in this year’s Toyota Hybrid display as well as the exciting all-new 2019 RAV4 Hybrid. Also at the Toyota display, the Toyota Mirai, an FCV with a range of over 300 miles per tank and emissions that consist only of water vapor.” Muller added.

A Full Day of Celebrations

The day begins with a pre-race yoga stretch specifically designed for runners. The 10K Run, 5K Run, and 3K Run all follow the banks of the Schuylkill River along Martin Luther King Drive. The route will be marked with course signs offering compelling environmental facts sponsored by PECO. Runners will be met at the finish line by a cheering crowd and a mini environmental festival with free food and drinks  as well as other activities and displays, including free post-race massages, Lime scooter test drives, fresh goodies from MOM’s Organic Market and home energy efficiency demonstrations from PECO. The celebration, adjacent to Paine’s Park, continues until 11 a.m.

About the Run

• The 10K Run is a favorite for those training for the Broad Street Run. It begins at 7:30 a.m.
• The 5K Run begins at 7:45 a.m., followed by the Earth Day Celebration in front of the Art Museum. 
• Participants in the 3K Walk are encouraged to bring their dogs along, opening up the day’s events to the entire family beginning at 7:50 a.m.
• The Kids’ Fun Run offers children five and under to participate in a 250-yard dash and children ages six to 12 can run a half-mile. All children will receive a Kids’ Run shirt, a race bib, and an Earth Day medal. These runs begin at 9:30 a.m.
• The Virtual 5K race can be completed any time between April 13 and 27. Runners will receive a run medal and t-shirt just like race-day participants. Runners committed to clean air and a healthy environment can use the hashtag #runforcleanair all month long to show their support.

 

Run for Clean Air’s History and Future

Nearly 50,000 runners have participated in the Run for Clean Air since it began in 1981 as a small race in Wissahickon with just over a hundred participants. Each year, Clean Air Council works to make the race even more sustainable. This year, Clean Air Council is utilizing solar generators, recyclable run bibs, paperless on-site registration and t-shirts printed with sustainable inks to minimize the environmental impact. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike or take public transportation to the event, and Clean Air Council will provide a free bike valet service.

Regular registration for all Run for Clean Air events runs through April 12, 2019. Registration is available at runforcleanair.com. Prices for online registration are as follows:

• 10K Run – $50.00
• 5K Run – $40.00
• 3K Walk – $30.00
• Virtual 5K – $40.00

The Kids’ Fun Run costs $10.00 regardless of registration time. After April 12, last-minute online and race day registration is also available for an additional $5. After online registration closes (April 12 at midnight), runners can register in person at any of the packet pick-up locations or on race day starting at 7 a.m. Team bibs, bags, and shirts must be picked up by a representative from the team. Team items will not be separated. It is the team representative’s responsibility to distribute to team members.

Sponsors and Partners

In addition to Toyota Hybrids, the 2019 Run for Clean Air is supported by a number of local and national organizations, including PECO, Community Energy, MOM’s Organic Market, Lime Scooters, Energy Co-op, SEPTA, DVRPC Air Quality Partnership, Johnson Matthey, Entercom Philadelphia, Hungry Harvest and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.