Eco Friendly road races

[jferstle]

The perception of the road running community is that we're a pretty eco-friendly bunch. I'm just curious as to whether or not this translates into decisions made about the events we direct. Seven years ago Scott Douglas wrote a piece in RRM about eco friendly events listing ways we could make our events more eco friendly. Some races have eco friendly sponsors. Some events even promote themselves as eco friendly. What are your events doing? Is your "carbon footprint" or environmental impact even a consideration in your race decision making?

[JimG]

Well, we've gone to pace bikes rather than cars. Given the cost of gas these days, that's not only eco-friendly, but economically sensible.

[Len]

That's an interesting issue, making our races more "green" friendly and minimizing our impact on the environment. Is Scott's article available to non-RRM folks, if so can you provide the reference? One issue that comes to mind is the plastic coated cups we use at our water stops, any suggestions on a better alternative, i.e., paper cups that can be recycled perhaps?

[Tom Filippone]

I did a quick Google search and found an interesting term paper written in 2001 on "Greening the Boston Marathon (http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/11-122Environment-and-SocietyFall2002/D30CEDD2-2794-4A59-B406-2D83096F2484/0/fa01projectpaper01.pdf)". There was a lot more eco areas that I would have never thought about beyond paper cups, etc. The article goes into plastic bags, material shirts and shoes are made of, etc. It was interesting.

[Len]

Tom,

Thanks for the reply and finding that paper. I am thinking this could make for an interesting seminar topic at the RRCA Convention in 2008 or 2009. If we can educate the running clubs on how they can make their races more environmentally friendly and try to minimize their impact, maybe we can make some small contribution to the overall state of the environment.

Len

[Trailrunnerdude]

While I'm glad to see that people want to be environmentally conscious I think we really need to determine what if any impact foot races truly have on the environment. I know that many runners drive to the races, that races use trucks to deliver equipment along the courses, and that there is some trash from water/Gatorade stations & food service. However, if we sum all these things up, for any given foot race I think the environmental 'impact' is far lower than the impact from a NASCAR race or a golf tournament.

[Len]

Trailrunnerdude makes a valid point. Its just that if we in running try to make some small steps to be at least aware of the situation and impact we have, maybe that can make a difference and we can lead by example. Who knows maybe the other sports will follow? You would be surprised at the waste that is generated by the large mega races and how little of it can be recycled and the materials used are not as environmentally friendly as they could be. Something to think about.

[Trailrunnerdude]

I agree that it's food for thought and it can serve as an example for other sporting events. If you do manage to develop a seminar topic for the RRCA or other conventions, you may want to factor in the positive impacts that races already have, i.e. by closing down streets in major cities, thousands of cars, buses and trucks are prevented from driving on them. This prevents hundreds of tons of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere. Also, the trash that gets generated goes to landfills where it contributes to landfill gas, which is being used to generate electricity at a growing number of landfills across the U.S.

[jferstle]

The responses have been interesting in that some reflect a belief that we "don't go too far." Another view might be that we haven't gone far enough. While one may think that shutting down streets for the time it takes to complete the road race decreases the emissions from the cars, that's a pretty big assumption. Indeed from the complaints of motorists "inconvenienced" by road closures during road races, we might increase greenhouse gases as it takes them longer to get where they want to go as they have to drive further or take more time in the car in order to get around the closed roads. Another resource for information for those who are interested is available from a Kansas City based group, Bridging the Gap. It is not specific for road races, but is a general guide for advise on thinking about conducting Green events. http://www.bridgingthegap.org/RESOURCES/publications/pdfs/KKCB%20docs/Green_Event_Manual.pdf

[jferstle]

Further amplification on the last posting is that small changes often are the hardest to make. Turning off a light, recycling a few plastic bottles. You get little reinforcement and often the small things go unnoticed, but they can have a big impact on a global issue because of the cumulative effect of individual behavior of a large number of people. The big changes usually are accomplished with lots of fanfare and praise for making the "right choice." But, as anyone in industry will tell you, the large companies have trouble changing fast. An example in the environmental sphere is Nike. The company has a highly successful air technology in its shoes, but the gas in the shoes is not air, it has been a gas that increases CO2 in the atmosphere. This fact was brought to the company's attention and there has been a long battle to get the issue resolved. Keith Peters, who used to work for Nike, and now has a site on the internet http://www.carbonneutraljournal.com/wordpress/ reports in today's message that after 14 years, Nike has finally solved the issue. It's part of a corporate policy to be more environmentally friendly as well as solve the persistent issue in the clothing industry of the "slave labor" charges against many clothing manufacturers. All these things didn't happen overnight, and don't have easy solutions. They require a commitment to change and/or alter behaviors. Small things do make a difference.

[Tom Filippone]

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run has been eco friendlier the last 3 years with the addition of providing bus transportation from Metro stops and race headquarters hotel to close to the staging area of the race. The race pays to have the Metro open one hour early on race day since the Metro doesn't open early enough on the weekend to get runners to the race. Plus, the staging area cannot handle all of the traffic that the race brings to the West Potomac Park area of D.C. (10,000 runners plus spectators). Parking and traffic for the race has always been very crowded.

The runners have adopted using Metro big time. This year 6,800 riders took Metro to the race. That takes a lot of cars and SUVs off the streets. Thanks to RD Phil Stewart.

Tom Filippone
Transportation Coordinator
Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile

[Trailrunnerdude]

While one may think that shutting down streets for the time it takes to complete the road race decreases the emissions from the cars, that's a pretty big assumption.

So is the idea that foot races are a significant cause of pollution. In relation to other athletic activities, I think road races are among the more environmentally friendly ones out there.

[jferstle]

The question is not whether or not road races are more eco friendly than other athletic events, but rather if there isn't more that could be done. There may not be. Maybe road races are the most eco friendly sports events in the world, but just like the runners in the events attempting to better their times, it only makes sense that those who put on the events also aim to maximize their goals. That may or may not be to be environmentally friendly. You have to look over the materials referenced in the various posts and see how your event conforms to the suggestions for eco friendly operation, or you can merely believe that being eco friendly isn't a priority for your event. Most of us probably fall somewhere in between those two extremes.

[Trailrunnerdude]

The question is not whether or not road races are more eco friendly than other athletic events, but rather if there isn't more that could be done.

That may be the specific question, but no matter where you stand, you cannot ignore the fact that other events have significantly greater carbon footprints than road races. Therefore, the running and race management communities should not beat themselves up in trying to figure out "what they can do" while the governing bodies and practitioners of those other events do nothing or next to nothing.

[jferstle]

Yes, we don't play in stadiums and under the lights at night and otherwise become less eco friendly by the site and nature of the activity. But the notion that we should use that comparison to pat ourselves on the back or as a reason for not doing more seems foolish. It reminds me of the protests we used to hear from track and cycling federation executives about drugs in sport and drug testing. There was a lot of finger pointing and talk about how much testing we were doing when others weren't. Why is everyone picking on Olympic sports when pro sports have a worse problem? The result being that neither group has been able to get a handle on the doping problem. Nero fiddles while Rome burns. Instead of cooperating with the pro sports, attempting to find a common ground in the fight to control drug use, they call each other names and waste energy trying to do PR or spin control about who has the least drug problems. Same with the eco issues. Just because we may do it better than somebody else, doesn't mean we're doing all we can or should. Striving to do our best is what the sport is about, after all, it's not comparing apples and oranges that my sport is better than your sport. It's how well can I run today on this course, under these conditions. It's not over achieving or a waste of energy to want to be better or do better in being eco friendly. It's not being a "tree hugger," it's just responsible, adult behavior, being a good citizen.

[Trailrunnerdude]

It's not being a "tree hugger," it's just responsible, adult behavior, being a good citizen.

I'm not arguing that it isn't responsible. If a race director examines his/her race and finds some low-hanging fruit-type measures that reduce their carbon footprint, good for them. At the same time, no race director should feel guilty because they've rented a truck to take equipment out onto the course or because runners drive to the race location or because there is some trash from all the paper cups at the water stations.

[jferstle]

Certainly not trying to lay a guilt trip on anybody. Merely exploring the options. We all tend to follow the path of least resistance in most things, so if it's easier to do things one way, that's normally the way we go, but one should also consider the consequences and the options. "Going Green" is a big media hype issue right now. Looking back in RRM issues we noticed that there were articles in 1993 and 1997 on doing eco friendly events. So, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit the issue. Others are doing the same thing. There's a movement in Europe to explore making events more eco friendly http://www.fpa2.mc/en/actualite.asp?idactu=3 So, that's what we're trying to do with this discussion. No guilt. No "Big Brother" watching over anyone. Just some options.

[Trailrunnerdude]

Certainly not trying to lay a guilt trip on anybody. Merely exploring the options.

Well, that's fine, but to reiterate - most race directors & race management personnel don't have the time to explore such options. The bottom line is that all economic activity has some environmental impact and road races are already relatively pollution-free. Therefore, for race directors exploring these options should be a low priority.

[pstewart]

I tend to think it is an area that race directors haven't given much thought to. I suspect there may be some things that can be done that haven't even been thought about along with some that have such as recycling plastic water bottles, etc. I'd welcome more information about what can be done.

[Trailrunnerdude]

I agree that many race directors haven't given much thought about this, not because they are anti-environment, but because they really have not needed to since pollution from most races is relatively insignificant.

[jferstle]

That's one way of viewing it, but LA Times columnist, Pat Morrison writes in today's paper in an artilce headlined, ironically, Green Guilt Trip http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-oe-morrison7jun07,1,7482951.column : "Too lazy to recylcle? Here's how much you're wasting." The column points out that the small things add up. While you may think it doesn't amount to much, it does. We all have our habits, our priorities. Yes, there are many issues that race directors face that have a higher profile than making the event more eco friendly, but for relatively little effort one can have a major impact, especially in a big race. If we're used to doing things one way, there is not a lot of incentive to change that behavior, especially if there is no compelling reason to change. Others would argue that if we don't change our habits relative to the environment that the consequences will not be pretty. But since environmental change is incremental and gradual, we won't know if the dire predictions are right or wrong until, perhaps, it's too late. That is not enough of an incentive to most people to make the "sacrifices" necessary for environmental change. It's not a simple problem. There are not simple solutions. It involves a collective effort, sacrifices, and behavioral changes, collective responsibility, not merely self interest or clinging to old habits. The positive side to it is that if we make the small changes soon enough, we won't be forced to the bigger ones later. It's not a priority now, but may well be later. Part of the job of a race director is to look ahead, plan for the future. Many ignore that aspect at their own peril.

[Trailrunnerdude]

for relatively little effort one can have a major impact, especially in a big race.

if we make the small changes soon enough, we won't be forced to the bigger ones later.

I again have to respectfully disagree. Sure, the Boston marathon could significantly reduce its carbon footprint by replacing the buses it uses to get its runners to Hopkinton with a fleet of Hydrogen buses, but the cost would be astronomical. Also, supposing they did this, and NASCAR were to create a new race, that new race's footprint would far outweigh the reduction in the Boston marathon's footprint.

Instead of asking what small changes we can make, getting other sporting events to make small changes (for them) would have a much greater impact.

[jferstle]

NASCAR is already converting to using less gas and more biofuels. Small change, yes, but they don't have their heads in the sand. For them it's agood business move. New York city is looking at eco friendly cabs. Next would be eco friendly buses. So, the more we push for change in the areas where we have influence the better. Doesn't have to be doing the most expensive option, but just encouraging use of mass transit to and from an event and planning your start and finish areas near convenient mass transit is a way to make things better. Change comes incrementally. Best to start with the things you can accomplish easily to raise awareness, then push for the bigger things.

[najennifer]

I think you can make the biggest impact in life by what you do. More so than telling other people they should have an impact and hoping it happens. If as a RD you can only make small changes, such as using non-wax coated cups. Then that is one step forward that was taken. Saying someone else should change because they could make an even bigger impact. Well you made no change so you had no impact. As a RD you make choices, it would be good to learn options for the choices we make. It's hard to make an eco friendly choice if we don't know it's an option or take moment to look at our race and ask if there is anything more we could do. It's your chance to have an impact. Sounds like a good topic for a seminar... It would give RD an hour to think over their races and choices at least.

[Trailrunnerdude]

I think you can make the biggest impact in life by what you do. More so than telling other people they should have an impact and hoping it happens. If as a RD you can only make small changes, such as using non-wax coated cups. Then that is one step forward that was taken. Saying someone else should change because they could make an even bigger impact. Well you made no change so you had no impact. As a RD you make choices, it would be good to learn options for the choices we make. It's hard to make an eco friendly choice if we don't know it's an option or take moment to look at our race and ask if there is anything more we could do. It's your chance to have an impact. Sounds like a good topic for a seminar... It would give RD an hour to think over their races and choices at least.

I think this eco-friendly movement is getting out of control. If a race director somewhere has the time to think about this and to make sure they don't use wax-coated cups, good for him/her. However, this has nothing to do with staging a successful road race and based on my experience, most race directors & committes don't have the time or the personnel to deal with this question. Also, given the level of pollution that most races create, diverting time & energy to making a road race more eco-friendly (which nobody even seems to be able to define on this thread) wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket. I am not willing to divert time & resources away from the races I work on for this.

[Len]

Not to belabor the point, but Trailrunnerdude makes a good point, and maybe if we had some
"recommendations" on how we can make our races more environmentally friendly then perhaps more race directors would at least make an attempt. I understand that this subject will be a topic in a forthcoming issue of the RRM newsletter. In addition, the recent "Escape from Alcatraz" triathlon race in San Francisco undertook an effort to make the event more "green" and to offset its environmental impact. In addition, I hope to make this a seminar topic at the RRCA's annual convention either in 2008 or 2009. So let's remain open-minded about it.

[hillrunr]

Interesting discussion.

Trailrunnerdude, I most definitely understand and respect your point. Anyone who organizes a race should have a top priority of holding the best event possible for the competitors. Also, I do believe that road races are probably very gentle on the environment compared to a NASCAR event or even a baseball game.

That said, all big changes start at home. All big moves start with one step. We can say we're better than NASCAR, MLB, NFL, etc. all we want but that doesn't help the environment. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of road races nearly every week in this country. Not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone but imagine if even 10% of these events did one small thing to reduce the environmental footprint. Use recyclable bags for goody bags. Place a recycling bin next to the garbage can at the finish line so recyclable plastic bottles don't get thrown in the trash with waxed paper cups and banana peels. Use recyclable cups at aid stations and the finish line if doing so would be easy, cost effective, and not burdensome to the runners (I hate trying to drink out of plastic cups that break if you try to pinch the top so that, to me, would not be an option). Use a pace bicycle instead of a pace car. These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. I'm sure there are many others.

When at home, do you say big businesses are polluting much more than I am so I shouldn't worry about my carbon footprint? Personally, I don't. I use fluorescent light bulbs, set the programmable thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter, recycle everything that can be recycled, etc. Likewise, if I'm organizing a race and there are easy steps that could be taken to lessen the environmental impact of the race, I'd like to give it a shot as long as it does not take away from the quality of the event.

Instead of debating whether or not this is something worth doing, could we see some ideas of simple things races could do? I saw a few ideas in this thread already and I mentioned a few above but I'd love to see ideas that others have of what we all could keep in the backs of our minds as we organize our events in order to lessen our footprints. Sure, not all ideas will be feasible for every race but, even if a few races could try a few ideas, it might make a difference. We can do our part and leave it up to NASCAR and the others to do their part. Maybe we can even offer ideas to them based on what we find to work.

[Trailrunnerdude]

Hillrunr, thanks.

I should point out that I don't think it's unworthy to be concerned about the environment. In fact, I've picked up plenty of discarded sport drink bottles and gu packets along running trails that I've run on. This, along with the concern I've seen on this thread and actions that others in the running community have taken, demonstrates that 'all big changes have already been going on at home.'

The question is how do we know what the environmental impact from road racing actually is? I've seen more trash generated from a family reunion picnic than most road races. Also, not all road races are the same - if you were to accurately calculate the carbon footprint from a point to point race where people have to be bussed from the finish to the start like Boston, you could not apply it to a looped or out & back course in which many people take public transportation to get to the start.

It's possible that some mega-marathons could have an appreciable impact if they examined the issue and implemented some measures, but for most local races I don't think there's much possibility of having an 'impact' short of cancelling the race.

[Tom Filippone]

Interesting Article (thanks to Jim Ferstle pointing it out). This is the most a race has done that I have seen so far--pretty impressive. The compostable cups must add some significant expense.



Nature center lures runners with no-waste races
For the second year in a row, Richfield's Wood Lake Nature Center is offering runners a greener way to race.

By Ben Goessling, Star Tribune

Last update: July 24, 2007 – 11:36 AM
Let's get this out of the way first: Runners aren't exactly the most wasteful athletes on the planet.

So when the people at Richfield's Wood Lake Nature Center decided to make their Urban Wildland Half Marathon and 5K a no-waste race last year, it wasn't as tough as, say, trying to hold a green tractor pull.

But even in the seemingly eco-friendly act of bipedal locomotion, they found ways to reduce strain on the environment.

"We wanted to be on the leading edge," Wood Lake Nature Center director Karen Shragg said. "You might pay a little more, and you can balk at it, but it's all about who's going to lead. We want this to be contagious."

The races, scheduled for Aug. 4, are already a hit with the running community: This year's 1,300-person half-marathon field is almost full, and roughly half of the 200 5K spots remain. More than 125 south-metro residents competed last year.

Instead of preaching the dangers of global warming to runners at every turn, the nature center is trying to offer a better alternative from start to finish.

Race registration is almost completely online. Half of the snacks are organic. Volunteers recycle napkins, and water bottles, and they compost fruit peels.

And of course, those 20,000 plastic water cups used during the race -- you know, the ones runners grab on the fly for a quick drink (or shower) before throwing them on the street -- have been replaced with compostable cups made from a sugarcane byproduct.

"We started noticing at the end of the event, this big dumpster with 20,000 cups," race manager Amy Markle said. "It just seemed wasteful. Our mission is to encourage conservation and stewardship. We thought we'd better practice what we preach."

Apple Valley resident Paul Bergevin, who ran the half-marathon for the first time last year, said he didn't pick the race for environmental reasons. But, he added, he picked up a few things while he was there.

"Most runners are just looking for a nice track," he said. "I think I learned a little bit about some different products, some different ways of doing things."

Now, Shragg's next step is to get more races to follow suit.

She said an Orange City, Ala., race director called asking about the no-waste process, and while two other events in Minnesota -- the Carpenter Nature Center's Apple Blossom Race in May and the St. Paul Classic Bike Tour in September -- are no-waste races, Shragg doesn't want to be in the minority.

"The environment isn't a fad," she said. "It's more important than ever. We try as much as we can to be sustainable."

Ben Goessling • 612-673-7252 • bgoessling@startribune.com

[rt-pam]

Be sure to check out the article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on one race's efforts to reduce waste and environmental impact. It offers some good ideas for things that you can try to cut your waste. Visit http://www.startribune.com/332/story/1317846.html

[Tom Filippone]

Interesting article about the United Technologies Greater Hartford Marathon using a large water fountain - 40 spouts - at the end of the marathon instead of providing bottled water. It will be interesting to see how this Green move will work. It appears that more races are thinking green than I thought.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctwater0908.artsep08,0,4323212.story

[jeff darman]

Just a reminder that Road Race Management has a Green Workshop scheduled for April 5 (same time as Credit Union Cherry Blossom ten mile).
http://www.rrm.com/rdm/green/green.htm

A good venue to share ideas .