Tag Archives: running

Celebrating Moms and Mother Earth: Ann Arbor Goddess 2019 Sustainability Report

A 5K on Mother’s Day to promote fitness, fight cancer, and celebrate motherhood ought to be equally respectful to our planet. And the event’s Green Team was equal to the challenge, putting in an effort we hope our Moms would be proud of!

Despite a Fail, We Prevail! Hightail to Ale 2019 Sustainability Report

Morning, Friday, May 10. It was cool in Ann Arbor. While getting ready for the Hightail to Ale 5K that evening, I received a text from the event director regarding the recycling rolloff I’d ordered: “Hey Jeff, no dumpster on site” So in a few hours we’d be serving several thousand runners food and beer,Continue reading “Despite a Fail, We Prevail! Hightail to Ale 2019 Sustainability Report”

Cupless and Trashless! Trail Marathon Weekend 2019 Sustainability Report

While I was holding down a Zero Waste station last weekend, someone approached me holding a small bag of dog poop and looking confused. “I can’t find a trash bin anywhere,” he told me. I assured him that was the idea. For this was Trail Marathon Weekend, which has been Zero Waste since 2016, andContinue reading “Cupless and Trashless! Trail Marathon Weekend 2019 Sustainability Report”

A Perfect Day for an Invasion! Martian Races 2019 Sustainability Report

What a difference a year makes! From the freezing rain in 2018 to a cool, sunny day in 2019, conditions were much improved for both the runners and the people working the race. The Zero Waste team also benefited from the great weather and more experienced help. While last year the sorting had to beContinue reading “A Perfect Day for an Invasion! Martian Races 2019 Sustainability Report”

How I Failed a Cupless Race

All right, I’m just going to come out and say it right here. I failed my first cupless race. Yes, me. Mister Zero Waste, owner of an event sustainability company and decrier of our current throwaway society. Here I will confess all, so you can learn from my sad experience and avoid similar shame.

Greening Up in March! Ann Arbor Marathon Sustainability Report

What’s one way to clean up Ann Arbor? Hold a marathon! For this year’s Ann Arbor Marathon, the Zero Waste effort not only left the start/finish area cleaner than we found it, we did the same with the course! From a Saturday plog to a true team effort on Sunday, we “greened up” our fairContinue reading “Greening Up in March! Ann Arbor Marathon Sustainability Report”

Damn Good Year! 2018 in Review

What a year! Here are the results from events serviced by Happy Planet Running in 2018, with 95 percent average landfill diversion! Here’s the breakdown by waste stream. By the numbers: Number of events: 34 Total attendance: 48,000 Total waste managed: 15,700 lbs. (nearly eight tons!) Best events: RF Events Flirt with Dirt, the EpicContinue reading “Damn Good Year! 2018 in Review”

Choc Up Another Good Race! Hot Cocoa Classic Sustainability Report

How do you attract runners to a November morning race with a steep climb in it? With chocolate, of course! With a “chocolate aid station” and hot cocoa for recovery, several hundred people cheerfully ran or walked up and down the Mt. Brighton ski hill. The challenge for the Zero Waste team is handling aContinue reading “Choc Up Another Good Race! Hot Cocoa Classic Sustainability Report”

Slam that Cider! Scrumpy Skedaddle 2018 Sustainability Report

The Scrumpy Skedaddle is a lot of fun, but also challenging to the Zero Waste team. A lot of people are served pancakes and cider in a short time, there’s a lot of cardboard to take care of, and the waste bins are very popular with the local yellow jackets. This year rain was alsoContinue reading “Slam that Cider! Scrumpy Skedaddle 2018 Sustainability Report”