Twofer: Flirt with Dirt and Island Lake Tri Sustainability Reports

For several years “running” now, Happy Planet Running has served two events on the same morning; Flirt with Dirt, put on by RF Events, and the Island Lake Triathlon put on by Epic Races. The following is a combined report of our efforts on June 1. Both went smoothly, with great landfill diversion percentage asContinue reading “Twofer: Flirt with Dirt and Island Lake Tri Sustainability Reports”

Stegosaurus Tri 2024 Sustainability Report

Another day of great weather for this year’s RF Events Stegosaurus Tri. This sprint triathlon is the first of four identical events over the summer. The athletes were pumped to get the season underway, and so was the Green Team. As usual, we set up the main Zero Waste station near the registration tent andContinue reading “Stegosaurus Tri 2024 Sustainability Report”

Detroit Mother’s Day Run Sustainability Report

If you’re a mom, or want to celebrate yours, what better way to start Mother’s Day than to run a 5K or 10K in a beautiful location, then enjoy a post-race breakfast with a fancy non-alcoholic cocktail? Over four hundred runners agreed, and showed up for the Detroit Mother’s Day run on Belle Isle. AndContinue reading “Detroit Mother’s Day Run Sustainability Report”

Ale of a Good Time! Hightail to Ale 2024 Sustainability Report

Another perfect evening in Detroit for the RF Events Hightail to Ale 5K at the Atwater Brewery, which meant happy runners and a lot of beer consumed (three 96-gallon carts, or roughly 1,500 cans). The Green Team was happy too, with the 10-yard recycling dumpster from Unlimited Recycling in the perfect spot and just bigContinue reading “Ale of a Good Time! Hightail to Ale 2024 Sustainability Report”

Eight and Counting! Trail Marathon 2024 Sustainability Report

The eighth year of Zero Waste at Trail Marathon was another success! It has the special distinction of being the first race I did Zero Waste for, and the first cupless race RF Events put on, which means an event that celebrates the beauty of the environment also respects it, with minimal waste generated. AndContinue reading “Eight and Counting! Trail Marathon 2024 Sustainability Report”

Little Green Team! Martian Invasion of Races 2024 Sustainability Report

Another perfect day for the RF Events Martian Invasion of Races at Ford Field Park in Dearborn, although the back part of the marathon course had flooded from the previous day’s rain, so the full was two loops of the half marathon course. Nobody seemed to mind. Our setup was similar to last year, withContinue reading “Little Green Team! Martian Invasion of Races 2024 Sustainability Report”

Cold One for St. Patrick’s? Make it a Double! Corktown and Shamrocks & Shenanigans Sustainability Reports

Mother Nature picked the perfect time to stick a windy, freezing day in the middle of terrific early spring weather. “Perfect” for laughing her butt off. Certainly the HPR crew was freezing its butts off! But we persevered and pulled off two successful Zero Waste efforts, at St. Patrick’s day themed races: Shamrocks & ShenanigansContinue reading “Cold One for St. Patrick’s? Make it a Double! Corktown and Shamrocks & Shenanigans Sustainability Reports”

The Lions Slept, the Runners Didn’t! Super 5K 2024 Sustainability Report

The Super 5K at Novi High School on Super Bowl Sunday was very much a “blue” event. Of the nearly 900 runners, it seemed like 800 were dressed in Lions gear. Ah, what could have been! But spirits were high and conditions were perfect for a quick morning run. The Zero Waste team set upContinue reading “The Lions Slept, the Runners Didn’t! Super 5K 2024 Sustainability Report”

2024 Bigfoot Snowshoe Race Sustainability Report

The Bigfoot Snowshoe race in Traverse City went on despite several days of rain beforehand. The lodge’s property had plenty of snow left, albeit wet and slushy, but over 400 dedicated snowshoers ran the 5K, 10K, or one mile races. And as usual, your humble author of this report ran the 5K, and did surprisinglyContinue reading “2024 Bigfoot Snowshoe Race Sustainability Report”

What a Year! 2023 Year-End Sustainability Report

Another tremendous Zero Waste year at Happy Planet Running has come to an end, and here’s the summary scoop on it! We performed Zero Waste services for 39 events in 2023, tying the record with 2019 for the most events served. We diverted 11,383 pounds of waste – nearly six tons – from landfill, withContinue reading “What a Year! 2023 Year-End Sustainability Report”