NEWS:

Green In Eugene

In a city known as the “emerald city” it's important to try and keep things green! After just one year of our event, we knew it was important to focus on green initiatives to help minimize the environmental impact of an event our size.  So after our inaugural year (2007) we went to work to implement efforts that we continue to use today.  Each year we strive to better our efforts and implement new green strategies to keep it "Green in Eugene."  

  • 2008 (only our 2nd year) we became the first race in Lane County to "go green."
  • November, 2008 Runner's World recognized our green efforts and named the Eugene Marathon a "Top 10 Green Race in North America!"  

Some of our Green Initiatives:

Goodie Bag: Participants will again receive a reusable, eco-friendly shopping style "green" goodie bag in 2010.  They're great souvenirs!  These also double as the "gear bag" for participants on race day.

PickUp Pal: Interested in ride sharing to Eugene for race weekend? Sign up here - It is free to join and use. PickupPals can track the number of rides they have given or taken and the number of miles they have traveled via ride sharing and we can keep track of the amount of carbon emissions we have collectively reduced as a result

Waste Free Oregon: We employ Waste Free Oregon and "master recyclers" to help divert 80% of the garbage generated from our event from landfills. WFO works with us before, during and after the event to ensure we are taking necessary steps to help achieve such a high diversion rate.   Learn more about the amazing work they do to help keep Oregon "waste free."

Pedal Power: Use bikes for pacing 17 miles

Educate: Keep volunteers, workers and runners informed of our goal to be Green in Eugene

BeGreen Now:  BeGreen and it's parent company, Green Mountain Energy (the longest serving cleaner energy provider in the nation), provides an opportunity for participants to offset their CO2 Emissions.  Participants can purchase "Green Tickets" (500 kWh of renewable energy) when registering online.  Visit:www.begreennow.com for more information about the company.

Water: We've worked hard in 2010 to reduce our dependance on bottled water by over 1/3.  Now, many water stations use the city’s water supply to hydrate runners, not only eliminating the bottles but also the transportation that goes into providing water to 17 stations around Eugene and Springfield.  Our water sponsor, Earth2O, provides reusable jugs at all other water stations.

Signs & Printing: We make every effort to reuse signs and banners from previous years.  We work with a local printer (Print Green) to print brochures, maps and handouts using soy ink and FSC certified paper.

Recycling Toolkits: Utilize the City of Eugene's "Recycling Toolkits"

Donate: After the race we donate all leftover food (from the Pasta Dinner, Finish Line & Pancake Feed), discarded clothing and extra race shirts to charities in need.  

 

 

10 Things to Reuse/Recycle from the Eugene Marathon

  1. Race Shirts - Send old shirts to Haiti, Africa, etc…  Make a race t-shirt quilt. Check out: www.toocooltshirtquilts.com
  2. Medals - Donate to races like the ReRun Run.  They reuse medals and shirts from local races. Or make a windchime from all your old medals.
  3. Space Blankets - Good for reflecting light in indoor gardens, make great halloween decorations, or can be used as packing material
  4. Water Bottles - Can be refilled once or recycled
  5. Goodie Bags - Great all purpose bag
  6. Clothing - Any clothing left behind at the race is donated to Goodwill
  7. Food - Leftover food and drink is donated to Food for Lane County or the Eugene Mission
  8. Shoes - Donate your used running shoes to Nike.  They recycle them to make things like basketball courts.  Drop them off at the Nike Store in Eugene. 
  9. Gel Packets - Roll your empty gel pack and put it in your pocket to drop in the next available trash bin!  These are the hardest clean up item for the marathon crew. Send your empty ‘GU’ Gel packets to Gu and they will recycle the wrapper and donate money to your favorite charity.
  10. Shuttles - Use alternate transportation to the Eugene Marathon. Take one of our shuttles from Valley River, Eugene Hilton or SEHS.  Bike or walk to the start/finish. Or buy carbon offsets to offset the fuel you use to travel to Eugene - sign up on our website (see above).