Putting on a running event is a massive production. Yet amidst the excitement, there’s a vital aspect often overlooked: sustainability. As our world embraces a greater commitment to our environment, integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our lives, including sports, has become crucial. We’re getting into exactly how races can put their green foot forward and embrace more sustainable initiatives within their events.
Whether you’re a spectator or participant in a race, it’s safe to say these events amass a lot of excess waste. From starting your race weekend at the expo, to ending it at the finish line, think of all the waste you’re contributing to the environment. Thankfully, there are so many sustainable practices to incorporate into your race day plans.
Switch to Reusable Cups
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a race. For many runners, they’re there to break a personal record, and aren’t necessarily focused on what type of cup they’re using at a hydration station. They’re also not thinking about how throwing away that cup while keeping up their pace is affecting the environment. The good thing for race directors is that there are sustainable practices to fix this problem!
Ditch the plastic! Hiccup is a reusable cup service that race directors can start incorporating into their events. Hiccup provides races with bins for their runners to drop off the cups once they’re done using them. They will then wash and sanitize them for their next event. Prefer your own water bottle? Check out HydraPak to help reach your running goals.
We’ve all seen the amount of non-reusable cups left over after a race… Let’s work together to prevent this!
Encourage Sustainable Race Medals
We get that a part of the excitement of a race isn’t just getting a PR, it’s also receiving a medal once runners cross that finish line. The problem with this? Medals are made up of mixed medals with a large carbon footprint. As a race director, runners will appreciate other options for this as it shows your commitment to sustainable practices.
Earth Runs is a company that creates medals made from 100% biodegradable materials. From the ribbon to the medal itself, everything is completely recyclable. These medals are even made from wildflower seeds, so your participants can plant them after they’re done showing it off! If you’re medals are already in production for this race season, encourage your participants to recycle them.
Choose Sustainable Apparel
Again, we understand the excitement runners have in receiving a race shirt. When it comes to choosing a manufacturer to create your race shirts, investigate the materials they’re using. Not every manufacturer uses sustainable practices. There are a number of companies that use recycled materials to create shirts.
Another option for your race? “Tree’s not Tree’s” works with events to give their participants the option of planting a tree, instead of receiving a t-shirt they may only wear once (or not at all). This is a great option for your event, as not only are you giving your participants the option not to add to excess waste, but directly help the environment.
Incorporate a Sneaker Recycling Program
Another factor that creates excess waste going into landfills every year: Sneakers! As a race director involved in the running community, you know firsthand that runners go through ALOT of sneakers. After a certain threshold us runners need to replace our sneakers. Why not give your participants a sustainable practice to repurpose their running shoes?
Sneakers4Good works with the running community to give sneakers a second life, all while helping races double their impact. This sustainable practice allows races to hold collection boxes at their events to have runners recycle sneakers they’re no longer using. Our program is entirely FREE for races to participate in, and we pay you by the pound for the sneakers, allowing you to support your community in more ways than one.
There you have it! Incorporating sustainability into race events is not merely an option but a necessity in today’s world. By embracing sustainable initiatives, race directors can lead by example, inspiring participants and spectators alike to adopt eco-friendly habits and foster a culture of environmental responsibility. As we look to the future, it is imperative that race events prioritize sustainability, ensuring that the joy of competition does not come at the expense of our planet and communities.
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