Dear St. Patrick: Great job with the snakes and all. Anything you can do about snow? The Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K took place on a day where, unofficially at least, spring took over. But that was in the afternoon. Race morning was a final blast of winter fury – cold, windy, and snowing. Still, theContinue reading “Wearin’ O’ the White: Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K Sustainability Report”
Author Archives: happyplanetrunning
Easy as 3.14159: Pi Day 5K Sustainability Report
For the first time in several years, Epic Races held their “Pi Day” race in person. (Technically two days early, but hey, it’s running plus pie. Sign me up!) Despite cold temps (13 degrees) and wind, about 200 people showed up at Hudson Mills Park to run the 5K or the kids race. The raceContinue reading “Easy as 3.14159: Pi Day 5K Sustainability Report”
2022 Super 5K Sustainability Report
The Super 5K was back on Super Bowl Sunday! Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a formal Zero Waste team, yours truly being out of town and other captains also unavailable. So the RF Events staff stepped up and did its best. The good news is we recovered 110 pounds of race waste, most ofContinue reading “2022 Super 5K Sustainability Report”
Chilly and Chili: Bigfoot Snowshoe 5K/10K Sustainability Report
The Bigfoot Snowshoe race is something I can describe only as having an odd but irresistible attraction. I mean, running a 5K or 10K is hard enough in shoes on roads or trails. But run in snow? Who does that? Well, I have every year since 2014, along with about five hundred others who strapContinue reading “Chilly and Chili: Bigfoot Snowshoe 5K/10K Sustainability Report”
Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2021 Sustainability Report
The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run is one of Ann Arbor’s longest-running events. This is the 47th year of the event, and the third using a Zero Waste approach. Once again we achieved over 90 percent landfill diversion, officially making it a “Zero Waste” event per ZWIA guidelines! Attendance was down from previous years but still healthy,Continue reading “Dexter-Ann Arbor Run 2021 Sustainability Report”
Running Between the Vines Sustainability Report
The run at Sandhill Crane Vineyards returned this year, and conditions were perfect for both the races and the post-race party. “It’s almost like cheating,” the race director said of the weather. The event features a half marathon, 5-miler, and 5K. After their race, runners head behind the vineyard to enjoy live jazz, wine tastings,Continue reading “Running Between the Vines Sustainability Report”
The Legend Races 2021 Sustainability Report
The image you see above is of a Zero Waste Station that was unattended through an entire event. In earlier years I would not have dared to attempt this. And yet this year it has been successfully managed twice! In both cases the waste bins required only minor sorting before dropping them off at theContinue reading “The Legend Races 2021 Sustainability Report”
Battle of Waterloo 2021 Sustainability Report
What’s better than a triathlon – a three-stage swim/bike/run event? How about a ten-stage swim/bike/run event? Over a hundred athletes thought it was a good idea. And what’s even better than that? A ten-stage event that goes Zero Waste, of course. And such is the Battle of Waterloo, so-called because it traverses the trails, roads,Continue reading “Battle of Waterloo 2021 Sustainability Report”
Pterodactyl Triathlon Sustainability Report
The third triathlon in the RF Events T-Rex series kicked off on a beautiful evening in the Island Lake Recreation Area. While attendance was nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, total waste dropped to its lowest ever – under 100 pounds! Contributing factors include optional, order-ahead T-shirts (reducing packaging), lighter medals with no inner plastic wrappingContinue reading “Pterodactyl Triathlon Sustainability Report”
Firecracker 5K Sustainability Report
Independence Day in Ann Arbor wouldn’t be the same without its traditional 5K event. At least not to runners, and the Epic Races team! And so despite a warm morning and a new location, the show went on without a hitch. This year’s event, for several reasons, took place at Briarwood Mall instead of downtownContinue reading “Firecracker 5K Sustainability Report”
Happy Planet Running 