www.arborage.com Arbor Age / July 2014 5
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FROM THE EDITOR
What a Ride
I took up running in 2013. I started off just running a mile or two at a
time, and gradually ramped up my mileage throughout the summer. This
year, I have pushed even harder, and I am running well over 20 miles per
week with short runs on weeknights and longer runs of 10 to 11 miles
every Saturday. But, despite the increase in mileage and my personal
overall growth, marathon distance still sounds daunting to me. And it
also makes me marvel at the achievements of others. For example, I can't
imagine riding a bicycle nearly 600 miles in one week; yet that is the
journey undertaken by an amazing group of people each year to raise
funds for tree research.
The 2014 STIHL Tour des Trees will be held in Wisconsin July 27 –
August 2, 2014 (in advance of the ISA Conference and Trade Show). The
583-mile ride will feature rolling country roads, pristine forests, acres of
orchards and sparkling lakefront views.
Beyond the cycling, the Tour includes tree plantings and commu-
nity outreach. Professor Elwood Pricklethorn (aka Toronto arborist and
veteran Tour cyclist Warren Hoselton) provides educational programs for
young audiences along the way.
Tour des Trees began as the dream of a few arborists at the ISA con-
ference in Philadelphia in 1991. They were looking for a way to create
a growing source of funds for the ISA Research Trust, now known as the
TREE Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund). Their idea
was to use their passion for cycling as a means for promoting their love
of trees.
The fi rst Tour des Trees began a year later with 13 riders cycling 1,000
miles from Seattle, Wash. to Oakland, Calif. It was a great success and
began a growing tradition. It is now becoming a "destination tour" for
avid cyclists from throughout the United States, Canada and beyond.
Every full-Tour participant commits to raising a minimum of $3,500
for the TREE Fund in addition to pedaling 500-plus miles in a week, rain
or shine. According to TREE Fund, they do it for the challenge, the mission
and the camaraderie. Their legacy is a promise of strong, healthy urban
trees for generations to come.
Since 1992, the STIHL Tour des Trees has
generated more than $6.6 million and has
funded a variety of research projects and
educational programs for budding tree care
professionals.
For more information about the Tour des
Trees, visit www.treefund.org/tour-des-trees
or stihltourdestrees.org.
Congratulations to all those who put
forth their time, effort, and personal forti-
tude for such a worthy cause.
Who knows? If I ever get a marathon out
of the way, I may just take up cycling.
John Kmitta
Associate Publisher, Editor
847-720-5613
jkmitta@specialtyim.com
