Recently, I ran the Austin Marathon and thought about how this ancient ritual, which crosses 26.2 miles, gathers community, promotes volunteer, and inspires people to root out complete strangers. Marathon celebrates human endurance and patience, but MS of Sustainability Science Graduates, I couldn’t help, how much is the environment for this massive event?
Thousands of paper cups and small plastic gel packs were scattered on the streets, and the runner was signed and sugar. The medals made of metal and ribbons were divided into all finishers, not to mention Overstock. The amount of single -use materials, from the chip and timing chips to the recovery snack and heat blanket packaged in plastic, raised questions about the sustainability of sports. Did you have the advantage of closing the city distance, reducing vehicle emissions during the day, and encouraging a lifestyle that is enough to balance the waste? Or is the marathon in essence that leaves a large environmental footprint?
The sustainability of the marathon is more and more interests. Some races have been converted into composting cups, recyclable bibs, sustainable medals in sustainable materials, and even reduce the planting trees to plant trees.
However, it is important to identify the size of the problem before explaining all the proposed solutions. It is roughly collected with New York City Marathon alone 38 tons The runner dressed in the clothes of abandoned clothes as he spilled the layer during the lace. More surprisingly, the event is also created around. 54.3 kiloton Carbon emissions (according to one analysis) -Bowing 747 424 Atlantic Crossing From NYC to London.
To solve these tasks, some races explored alternative sign language solutions such as personal refillable diseases or innovative biodegradable pods made of seaweed. OOHO Ford It was introduced in the 2019 London Marathon. Promising, this solution has not been able to adopt a wide range of marathon circuits. Most of them due to logistics and cost problems.
Beyond moisture, other races have made creative sustainability efforts. that Boston Marathon Recently, medals made of recycled steel and ribbons have been introduced with recycled plastic bottles. Toronto Waterfront Marathon Shock BIB program Instead of lace day shirts, we support sustainable charity. Bath marathon Each of 20 registrants plant trees in their forests and add more trees to achieve the goal of carbon neutral race every year. Some races, such as NYC Marathon, are reused and then replace traditional disposable heat blankets for lace poncho to reduce single -use waste and provide continuous souvenirs to runners.
Despite these efforts, the reality that daily events need a wide range of resources. The marathon requires thousands of volunteers, produces numerous garbage, and relies on a company with a lot of prizes with promotional materials and branding. Even with the goal of sustainability, racial organizers must maintain the balance of financial pharmaceuticals, logistics issues and participants and the audience.
This was not my first marathon. I had a pleasure to compete in the 50th annual NYC marathon, and still has a reusable post -lace pancake for all the finishers. I wanted to say that the second marathon of the new hometown was more than me. I started a fundraising event and received attention Local media And I was able to raise funds of meaningful amounts for the non -profit organizations I always applied for. I wouldn’t have the same result if I had made a fundraising event without a marathon. There is something about the essence of endurance challenge. Forcing people to support the cause, whether they support runners or donate to charities connected to volunteers or events.
If someone says that they are training marathon, the reaction is generally a positive variation. People may be impressed, have questions or suddenly want to share their races or endurance. Because marathon collects all kinds of individuals. Running is one of the most natural human activities. We learn how to run when we are around. 2 years old. Establishing endurance sports around something fundamental is a unification activity that transcends political beliefs, racial backgrounds and socioeconomic differences.
But making lace day sustainable is just a priority of sub -sets of participants and spectators. Some runners can actively choose an eco -friendly race or choose their own moisture, but other runners simply focus on personal challenges to finish the race. This is greatly responsible for organizers, city officials, and sponsors, so it is necessary to implement green practices without interfering with the experiences of the runner.
Nevertheless, there is a continuous thing about the traditional tradition of marathon, which is rooted in history and human elasticity. Looking at the third marathon in the future, which is not so important, my hope is to see more sustainability efforts into the organization. Organizers, sponsors and runners play a role in making race days more environmentally friendly. The future of the marathon is not to pursue human limits, but to respect the earth. This amazing feature of endurance has a positive influence on both those who run them and the earth that supports them.
Daryush Nourbaha, A Columbia graduate Sustainability Science Program Science MS,,, Collins Aerospace is an environment, health, safety and sustainability manager. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and dog ZOë in Austin, Texas.
The opinions and opinions expressed here are the author’s views and opinions, and does not necessarily reflect the official position of Columbia Climate School, Earth Institute or Columbia University.
