Austin Marathon pursues ReSport Certification
The folks at Conley Sports–our clients in Austin, Texas–are truly committed to doing their best to stage a sustainable event.
Recognized by Runner’s World Magazine as the Greenest Race in North America in 2008, the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon issued a press release today detailing efforts to raise the bar and make the 2009 event even more environmentally friendly.
It all starts with a dedicated Green Team and a focus on eliminating unnecessary waste and pollution at every turn:
Major reductions will come from less plastic waste at water stops, fewer supply vehicles, eliminating paper inserts in the runners’ goodie bags, and distributing only one plastic bag to runners throughout race weekend (with instructions for ways to reuse it after the race).
A key component of Austin’s efforts this year goes beyond just being green: race organizers are seeking third-party certification of their efforts from the Council for Responsible Sport. ReSport Certification is making its public debut this year, after conducting a pilot program in 2008. Participation from events like the Austin Marathon will surely help raise this budding non-profit’s profile in the running world.
Who knows, the next time Runner’s World ranks green races, maybe they’ll base those rankings on points earned in the ReSport Certification process? Hope so.
For a full accounting of Austin’s green initiatives, please download the green-team-release.pdf.
Tags: Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, Conley Sports, council for responsible sport, green event management, green events, resport certification, Runner's World's 10 Greenest Races