This year’s July 4 Epic Races Firecracker 5K returned to downtown Ann Arbor after last year’s construction moved it to Briarwood Mall. As usual, there was a hot dog contest division (eat four hot dogs in 76 seconds, then run the 5K), and a kids race led by the amazing Larry the Giant Hot Dog, before the 5K and one-mile main runs. And the Green Team was there to make it all sustainable, because Zero Waste is very American. (Or it oughta be. We’re working on it.)
Good luck, dudes! You are about to run three miles on a full stomach. Some would consider that – well, frankly – nuts. But Joey C. understands!
We had to be cleared out by 10:00 to make room for the parade, so we set up a minimal footprint. We staffed one station at Liberty and Fourth near the Fleet Feet, just after the water and bomb pops at the finish. A small unstaffed station was set up farther down Liberty toward Main St., after the runners had all started as it was part of the course. We covered City trash and recycling cans on Liberty between Fourth and Fifth and put All Waste boxes on top. All Waste boxes were also provided to registration, the hot dog eating area, and next to the Water Monster at the finish line.
Debbie (left edge) and Connor handle the rush while I (Jeff) stand around and take pictures. (It’s good to be the boss.)
We had no food vendors or coffee trucks this year, which cut way down on waste. We hit a new low with only 40 lbs. of total waste! Quite a change from when we started doing Zero Waste at this race.
Main sources were water cups, bomb pop wrappers, and some cardboard and plastic wrap from the finish line medals. (Thanks to the crew there for sorting it out.) We also collected some banana peels, uneaten hot dogs from the contest, Gu and snack bag wrappers, some discarded race bibs, and a few waxed cups from nearby coffee shops.
Paul loves his country, running, and a Bomb Pop on a warm morning!
Thanks to Debbie and Connor for all the sorting, and staying on top of swapping out the unattended boxes when they got full. We left Liberty Street on time, and thoroughly clean for the parade!
Happy Planet Running 