Runners love their coffee, and during races they need water and other hydration drinks. The most popular method for delivering the drinks continues to be paper cups. And why not? They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and do their job well. And they’re often provided free to races by sponsors such as Absopure. But the standard cup isContinue reading “Recyclable Cups? A New Hope”
Author Archives: happyplanetrunning
Could You Cover Your Glass, Please? Super 5K Sustainability Report
A snowy Sunday morning in Michigan, but over 1,000 runners came out to get in a 5K before the Big Game. And all of them would want to grab hot dogs, cookies, pint glasses and awards, and be on their way soon afterward. In past years the rush has been very challenging for the ZeroContinue reading “Could You Cover Your Glass, Please? Super 5K Sustainability Report”
Big Feet, Small Footprint: Bigfoot Snowshoe Race Sustainability Report
The snow had mostly melted south of Traverse City, but at Timber Ridge there was hard pack on the groomed trails and deep dry powder in the singletrack sections. Perfect for a snowshoe race! Temperatures in the 30s meant some racers ran in T-shirts and shorts, but the lines for the post-race chili were asContinue reading “Big Feet, Small Footprint: Bigfoot Snowshoe Race Sustainability Report”
HPR Accepts Environmental Excellence Award
What’s more fun than getting an award? An award plus getting to promote sustainability at running events! Happy Planet Running has been given a 2018 Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Award from the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors (AAABoR). I accepted the award at their annual meeting on January 10. I was nominated for theContinue reading “HPR Accepts Environmental Excellence Award”
Ski-riffic! Frosty Freestyle Sustainability Report
In March 2017, Epic Races started their Zero Waste program, and wrapped up the year with a landfill diversion rate well over 90 percent. Could that performance carry over into 2018, and at a ski race instead of a run or triathlon? Indeed! Read on for details.
Brrr! Holiday Hustle Sustainability Report
It was Holiday Hustle time in Dexter, where several thousand diehard runners showed up, hustled their way through a mile or three, and then hustled out of there. And supporting them was over a hundred diehard staff and volunteers determined to help them enjoy the experience. The Zero Waste team was fired up to finishContinue reading “Brrr! Holiday Hustle Sustainability Report”
Happy Planet Running Receives Environmental Awareness Award!
From the Totally Unexpected News desk: I’ve won an award! The Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors (AAABoR) has selected HPR to receive its Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Award for 2018. The award recognizes HPR for developing Zero Waste programs for local running events such as the Ann Arbor Marathon and the Dexter andContinue reading “Happy Planet Running Receives Environmental Awareness Award!”
Cold Turkey, Hot Chocolate, Zero Waste
A cold, blustery morning didn’t stop thousands of people from packing downtown Ann Arbor for the annual Turkey Trot. With a hot chocolate and coffee station for the runners, we promised to be awash in cups, as well as bananas, cookies, and cardboard from all the boxes. We learned last year that making the raceContinue reading “Cold Turkey, Hot Chocolate, Zero Waste”
Sweet Success! Hot Cocoa Classic Sustainability Report
How do you get several hundred people to show up on a cold, gray morning and climb a steep hill to begin a run? Promise them hot chocolate afterward! With a lot of food and drink being consumed in a short time, could the Zero Waste effort keep up? With a good process and thoughtfulContinue reading “Sweet Success! Hot Cocoa Classic Sustainability Report”
Slam that Cider! Scrumpy Skedaddle 2017 Zero Waste Report
A perfect fall morning, a run through an apple orchard, pancakes, and the best draft hard cider on the planet. That’s as good as it gets, folks. And this year, over 2,000 people showed up at Almar Orchards in Flushing to run, eat, and imbibe. The Scrumpy Skedaddle is a great race, but last yearContinue reading “Slam that Cider! Scrumpy Skedaddle 2017 Zero Waste Report”
Happy Planet Running 