WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2013)—National Geographic Kids magazine today claimed the Guinness World Records® title for the most people running 100 meters in 24 hours, and magazine staff laid out 16,407 shoes at National Geographic Society headquarters in an attempt to set the title for the largest collection of shoes to recycle.
Through the magazine’s Run for the Planet program, National Geographic Kids invited kids and families around the world to show that they care about the planet and their health by setting two Guinness World Records, one for running and one for recycling used sneakers. A total of 30,914 people around the world ran 100 meters in support of the running record.
Runners (and walkers) completed their 100 meters between 12 noon ET, Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, and 12 noon ET Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. They included 2,601 participants of the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Healthy Kids Fun Run. In addition, 28 Macerich-owned shopping malls across the country hosted Run for the Planet events during the 24-hour time period.
The attempt for the largest collection of shoes to be recycled consists of 16,407 shoes, including those of Taylor Swift, One Direction band members, Danica Patrick, Eli Manning and Amanda Beard. (The official title is pending the receipt of the shoes at the recycling facility.)
With the help of Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, the sneakers will be recycled into Nike Grind — a material used in athletic surfaces such as basketball courts and running tracks.
The Run for the Planet program inspired kids, families, schools and community groups around the world. Runners’ events took place in such countries as Canada, Spain, South Africa, Trinidad, India, Kuwait and Germany, while shoes were sent from locations as far away as Australia.
“We are thrilled with the number of people — especially kids — who decided to do something good for both themselves and the planet,” says Rachel Buchholz, editor of National Geographic Kids magazine. “It was so exciting to watch the running numbers report in from around the world and to see just how much space 16,407 shoes takes up!”
Run for the Planet supports first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, which encourages kids and families to get healthy and active.
National Geographic Kids has previously set five Guinness World Records titles: the Longest Line of Footprints (10,932 prints measuring two miles, set in 2004); Largest Collection of Plush Toys (2,304 stuffed animals, set in 2006); Longest Chain of Shoes (10,512 shoes, set in 2008); Most Items of Clothing Collected for Recycling (33,088 items of denim clothing, set in 2009); and Most People Doing Jumping Jacks in 24 Hours (300,265, set in 2011). First lady Michelle Obama participated in the 2011 record-breaking feat, kicking off the attempt with one minute of jumping jacks on the White House lawn as part of her Let’s Move! initiative. This record is featured in the “Guinness World Records 2013 Edition.”
About National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core. National Geographic Kids magazine (10 issues per year) and Little Kids magazine (six issues per year) are photo-driven publications available on newsstands or by subscription in print and on tablets. The award-winning website kids.nationalgeographic.com excites kids about the planet through games, videos, contests, photos, quizzes and blogs about cultures, animals and destinations. National Geographic Kids Books is the leading kids’ nonfiction publisher, with 50 titles each year, including the New York Times bestseller “Kids Almanac.” National Geographic Kids Games engages kids to learn through play with games like the online virtual animal world of Animal Jam and the interactive TV experience of Nat Geo Kinect TV. National Geographic Kids Apps bring the best of National Geographic Kids to smartphones and tablets.
About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) is the global authority on record-breaking achievements. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records® book has become one of the biggest-selling copyright titles of all time, selling 120 million copies to date in 22 languages and in more than 100 countries. The internationally renowned brand is now also available across a number of platforms — GWR’s global television shows are watched by 250 million viewers annually; digital media and online record-processing services attract more than 50 million visitors a year; and the live events team annually entertains and inspires 1.5 million people around the world. GWR receives more than 1,000 applications each week and has a specialized team of multi-language record managers and adjudicators who travel the globe to verify official record attempts. GWR also has a commercial division (Guinness World Records Corporate http://corporate.guinnessworldrecords.com/) that offers accessible record-breaking business solutions to other organizations and brands.
About the Marine Corps Marathon
Voted the “Best Marathon for Families” and the “Best Marathon in the Mid Atlantic,” the Marine Corps Marathon honors the dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism of its participants. Runners from all walks of life participate in the largest marathon not to offer prize money, earning the name “The People’s Marathon.” Visit www.marinemarathon.com.
About Our Supporting Organizations
National Geographic Education is responsible for creating educational programs and resources for schools, out-of-school settings and the home. National Geographic Education’s work targets two goals: geo-literacy, an essential skill for decision-making in 21st-century personal, professional and civic life; and educational outreach that maximizes the impact of the National Geographic Society’s rich media, scientific and exploration programs on the education audience. National Geographic Education disseminates its educational resources via the natgeoed.org website, which brings geography, social studies and science to life for educators, learners and their families — in and out of the K-12 classroom.
The Healthy Kids Fun Run presented by The Washington Post hosts over 3,500 children for a 1-mile run and family fitness festival. Held annually the day prior to the Marine Corps Marathon, the Kids Run is sponsored by Sodexo, FAMILY Magazine and Navy Federal Credit Union.
Macerich® (NYSE:MAC) is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Macerich Malls serve neighboring communities with one-of-a kind events, which are fun and educational, as well as unique shops and restaurants.
The Kids Run the Nation Program, a program of the Road Runners Club of America, is a multi-week, turnkey, youth running program designed to meet the physical activity goals outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for children in grades kindergarten through sixth. The program can also be modified to serve older grades.
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
Let’s Move in School, an initiative of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, is urging physical educators, parents, school administrators and policy makers to get involved in bringing quality physical education and physical activity to schools through a comprehensive school physical activity program. Schools can start by registering at www.LetsMoveInSchool.org.
Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls 8-13 years old. It uses a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. Girls on the Run serves over 120,000 girls each year in 47 states and Canada.
The Life is good Playmakers is the Life is good Company’s accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, whose mission is to help kids overcome poverty, violence and illness. The Life is good Playmakers use the power of play to build healing, life-changing relationships with the children in their care and reach more than 209,000 children each year. To date, Life is good has raised over $8 million to help kids in need, principally through the annual Life is good Festival, Life is good products and other fundraising efforts.
We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition)® is a science-based national education program developed by the National Institutes of Health, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is designed to help children ages 8-13 stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices, increasing physical activity and reducing screen time.
NOTE: For an image of some of the athletic shoes that celebrities have contributed for the Guinness World Records “Largest Collection of Shoes to Recycle” record attempt, go to http://press.nationalgeographic.com/downloads/temp2/file/run_for_the_planet.
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