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”

That’s a Wrap! Holiday Hustle 2023 Sustainability Report

We had another nice day (for December) for the final HPR-served event of the year – the RF Events Holiday Hustle. A good thing, with another great turnout for both the morning half marathon and the afternoon 5K. The half marathon starts and finishes at Erratic Ale in Dexter, with an out-and-back up the Border-to-BorderContinue reading “That’s a Wrap! Holiday Hustle 2023 Sustainability Report”

Go, Gobble, and Gone! Downtown Ann Arbor Turkey Trot 2023 Sustainability Report

The RF Events Turkey Trot in downtown Ann Arbor on Thanksgiving morning is something like a “here and gone” event. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. to set up, the runners were off at 8:30, and we were packed up and outta there at 10:45, with Liberty Street clean and open to traffic like nothing hadContinue reading “Go, Gobble, and Gone! Downtown Ann Arbor Turkey Trot 2023 Sustainability Report”

The Things I Do For Trash! Epic Races Original A2 Turkey Trot Sustainability Report

This year’s Original A2 Turkey Trot promised to be quick and simple, at least from a Zero Waste standpoint, and after the crazy-busy summer I was looking forward to it. And then Epic Races director Eva approached the Zero Waste Station holding a full-size turkey costume. “Hey, Jeff,” she said. “How would you like to…”Continue reading “The Things I Do For Trash! Epic Races Original A2 Turkey Trot Sustainability Report”

Boogie Down, Light ’em Up! Bonfyre Trail Fest 2023 Sustainability Report

This year’s RF Events Bonfyre Trail Fest was what a fall trail race should be all about – cool temps, beer afterward, and, of course, fires big enough to keep warm and roast marshmallows. A welcome change from last year, when high winds prevented us from even lighting the fires. It was a great morningContinue reading “Boogie Down, Light ’em Up! Bonfyre Trail Fest 2023 Sustainability Report”

Pigging Out! Scrumpy Skedaddle 2023 Sustainability Report

by Green Team captain Rachael Rewitzer             What a time to BEE a sustainable race! Sunday was the RF Events Scrumpy Skedaddle at Almar Orchards & Cidery, home to JK Scrumpy cider, a necessity after their 5k and 10k races. Despite a large number of aggressive yellow jackets bingeing on leftover syrup, no one gotContinue reading “Pigging Out! Scrumpy Skedaddle 2023 Sustainability Report”

Back in Town! Ann Arbor Marathon 2023 Sustainability Report

Guess who just got back today? Those wild-eyed marathoners who’d been away… For the first time in many years, the Ann Arbor Marathon started and finished in the heart of downtown. Energy was high, both from runners and from spectators who paused their shopping and dining to cheer them on. Runners had the option ofContinue reading “Back in Town! Ann Arbor Marathon 2023 Sustainability Report”