Sustainability is an important and complicated issue. As runners and outdoor enthusiasts, most of us value the great outdoors and want to do our part to protect the places we love. This takes conscious effort and intention.
While running is a simple sport that doesn’t require a ton of gear, the reality is that we continually wear out our clothing, shoes and other gear, typically sending worn out items to the landfill.
What can we do about this?
Since 2016, Terrain Trail Runners - STL has made small but strategic efforts towards zero-waste racing to help reduce our environmental footprint because we believe every little action matters.
Be part of the solution!
While running is a simple sport that doesn’t require a ton of gear, the reality is that we continually wear out our clothing, shoes and other gear, typically sending worn out items to the landfill.
What can we do about this?
Since 2016, Terrain Trail Runners - STL has made small but strategic efforts towards zero-waste racing to help reduce our environmental footprint because we believe every little action matters.
Be part of the solution!
How we are reducing our running footprint with these sustainability efforts
Pre-cycle
Pre-cycling is getting rid of potential waste and recyclable materials before supplies arrive at the race site. In our efforts to reduce the amount of garbage and recycling we have to dispose of at the race site along with reduced weight and volume in the race supply bins/truck, potentially reducing fuel costs we have a group of dedicated volunteers that helps pre-race to remove as much plastic film, hard plastic, cardboard, foam peanuts, foil and other extraneous packaging material as possible.
This one small step eliminates a lot of mess at aid stations and the supplies are packed strategically for the volunteers to use on race day. This measured step also helps us dispose of any waste sustainably, then to deal with it on race day when our staff and volunteer crew are tired and stressed and will simply take the easiest course – throw it in the dumpster – rather than the environmentally responsible course.
Recycle
Recycling is not optional at our races! We have dedicated bins at our events for the collection of landfill trash from recyclables. Our aid stations are also setup with separate recycling and trash collection bins/bags; post-race our group of volunteers goes through sorting trash and recyclables for easy disposal in the appropriate dumpsters/food waste cans.
Cup-Free
Terrain Trail Runners - STL events have been Cup-Free since 2016! In our continued efforts to eliminate cups from drinks - water, soda, electrolyte drinks - at aid stations, our races are sustainable in terms of lower waste volumes and additional equipment needed at aid stations. Instead, we have invested in several more pitchers to fill runners' reusable cups/water receptacles!
Cups, plates and plasticware that is still required for our races for soup, coffee and other warm food and drink items that we offer pre-race, mid-race and post-race are biodegradable! These collective steps help us keep our races eco-friendly, minimize the trash in the landfills and our trails clean!
TerraCycle
Terrain Trail Runners - STL has partnered with TerraCycle on their Performance Nutrition Recycling Program! As part of this program, we recycle all the nutrition packets and packaging. Twice a year we mail gel packets, bar wrappers and other packaging from sports nutrition used by runners during our races.
Course Markers, Flags and Signs
Other ways we are reducing our running footprint is by using reusable in-ground flagging, course markers and signage made from recycled materials.
Swag
Repreve® Recycled Polyester Fabric is the world's leading brand of recycled performance fiber made from plastic bottles. At Terrain Trail Runners - STL we pride ourselves in environmentally sourced swag! Most of our events offer swag made from Repreve® and/or other recycled materials. We also recycle unused, odd-ended swag left from our races annually to be repurposed into new tees. Our race swag bags are made of 100 percent recycled materials and are recyclable!
Repreve® - All you need to know about the recycled fabric.
Post-Race
*New for 2023: As part of our Zero-Waste racing pledge to help reduce our environmental footprint, we will no longer have paper plates and/or plasticware for post-race food. Runners and their crew are encouraged to PLEASE bring their own (non-disposable) plate and utensils to help reduce the trash from our events.
Trees For Tees
Starting in 2023 to further our efforts to reduce our running footprints we are partnering with Forest Releaf of Missouri to give our participants the option of planting a tree in lieu of a race T-shirt that they might not wear.
Millions of event t-shirts are produced and given away each year that are never worn. Let’s plant millions of trees instead.
Where are the trees planted?
Missouri and surrounding regions.
More details on our partnership with Forest Releaf of Missouri to follow!
Pre-cycling is getting rid of potential waste and recyclable materials before supplies arrive at the race site. In our efforts to reduce the amount of garbage and recycling we have to dispose of at the race site along with reduced weight and volume in the race supply bins/truck, potentially reducing fuel costs we have a group of dedicated volunteers that helps pre-race to remove as much plastic film, hard plastic, cardboard, foam peanuts, foil and other extraneous packaging material as possible.
This one small step eliminates a lot of mess at aid stations and the supplies are packed strategically for the volunteers to use on race day. This measured step also helps us dispose of any waste sustainably, then to deal with it on race day when our staff and volunteer crew are tired and stressed and will simply take the easiest course – throw it in the dumpster – rather than the environmentally responsible course.
Recycle
Recycling is not optional at our races! We have dedicated bins at our events for the collection of landfill trash from recyclables. Our aid stations are also setup with separate recycling and trash collection bins/bags; post-race our group of volunteers goes through sorting trash and recyclables for easy disposal in the appropriate dumpsters/food waste cans.
Cup-Free
Terrain Trail Runners - STL events have been Cup-Free since 2016! In our continued efforts to eliminate cups from drinks - water, soda, electrolyte drinks - at aid stations, our races are sustainable in terms of lower waste volumes and additional equipment needed at aid stations. Instead, we have invested in several more pitchers to fill runners' reusable cups/water receptacles!
Cups, plates and plasticware that is still required for our races for soup, coffee and other warm food and drink items that we offer pre-race, mid-race and post-race are biodegradable! These collective steps help us keep our races eco-friendly, minimize the trash in the landfills and our trails clean!
TerraCycle
Terrain Trail Runners - STL has partnered with TerraCycle on their Performance Nutrition Recycling Program! As part of this program, we recycle all the nutrition packets and packaging. Twice a year we mail gel packets, bar wrappers and other packaging from sports nutrition used by runners during our races.
Course Markers, Flags and Signs
Other ways we are reducing our running footprint is by using reusable in-ground flagging, course markers and signage made from recycled materials.
Swag
Repreve® Recycled Polyester Fabric is the world's leading brand of recycled performance fiber made from plastic bottles. At Terrain Trail Runners - STL we pride ourselves in environmentally sourced swag! Most of our events offer swag made from Repreve® and/or other recycled materials. We also recycle unused, odd-ended swag left from our races annually to be repurposed into new tees. Our race swag bags are made of 100 percent recycled materials and are recyclable!
Repreve® - All you need to know about the recycled fabric.
Post-Race
*New for 2023: As part of our Zero-Waste racing pledge to help reduce our environmental footprint, we will no longer have paper plates and/or plasticware for post-race food. Runners and their crew are encouraged to PLEASE bring their own (non-disposable) plate and utensils to help reduce the trash from our events.
Trees For Tees
Starting in 2023 to further our efforts to reduce our running footprints we are partnering with Forest Releaf of Missouri to give our participants the option of planting a tree in lieu of a race T-shirt that they might not wear.
Millions of event t-shirts are produced and given away each year that are never worn. Let’s plant millions of trees instead.
Where are the trees planted?
Missouri and surrounding regions.
More details on our partnership with Forest Releaf of Missouri to follow!
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We realize that in our current environment it's nearly impossible to host a 'zero waste' event. But we hope that you will join us in our effort to reduce the amount of waste and adopt a sustainable 'green' practice for our races and the sport of trail/ultra-running and further mitigate our environmental footprint.