2014

RUNNING USA - Marine Corps Marathon Encourages Environmental Awareness ©Marine Corps Marathon

RUNNING USA – Marine Corps Marathon Encourages Environmental Awareness

Organisation

By GRR 0

QUANTICO, Va. – The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) aims to decrease any impact the event has on the environment. With more than 60 percent of the MCM course located on National Park lands, the MCM is partnering with the National Park Service and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics asking runners and spectators to be considerate while discarding trash such as water cups, plastic bottles, gel packs and clothing items during "The People's Marathon."

Over 30,000 runners and many more spectators will participate in the 39th MCM and MCM10K on Sunday, Oct. 26 in Arlington, VA and the nation's capital.

"Although U.S. Marines, volunteers and contractors will rally on Marathon Day to assist with trash and clothing pick-up from the Marathon and MCM10K courses, runners and spectators are being counted on to 'stash their trash' and to deposit it in containers located throughout the event," says MCM Director Rick Nealis. "Everyone will want to be considerate of our national parks and memorials while keeping the environment healthy too."

Trash and recyclable containers will be located throughout the MCM start area and along runner corrals positioned on Route 110 in Arlington on event morning. Containers also will be located at every water point and food station along the courses and throughout the Finish Festival in Rosslyn, VA.

In 2013, the MCM and its volunteers and partners, including the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services, recycled over 11 tons throughout the event. In addition, three tons of runners' discarded clothing was picked up from the MCM and MCM10K courses. The clothing was cleaned and then provided to area shelters with the help of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, which coordinated clothing pick-up throughout the Finish Festival.

This year, the MCM is expanding event clean-up with the new "Adopt A Mile" program that calls on local volunteer groups to pick up trash and recyclables along Miles 5 through 20 of the MCM course. Groups such as the Thomas Edison High School Cross Country Team, Girl Scout Troop 3572 of Fairfax, VA, the Navy Supply Corps Foundation and the Filipino-American Capital Church will "Adopt a Mile" while clearing the roads situated along the MCM course.

The MCM also is partnering on a national level with the U.S. Park Service and Leave No Trace to encourage a clean event while sending the messages to "Stash the Trash" and "Can It." The MCM is the first marathon to work with these organizations to promote environmental responsibility while educating people of all ages to respect public lands. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics's goal is to "ensure the long-term health of our natural world."

In addition, the MCM is initiating plans to cut down waste with commercial partners such as Turbana, to compost discarded banana peels at the Finish Festival, with priorLIFE to re-purpose the finish line banners into tote bags and with Fitful to provide "Mission Accomplished" reusable recovery jackets to MCM and MCM10K runners. These jackets are distributed at runner hospitality rather than the Mylar sheets, which are often discarded during marathon events.

The Marine Corps Marathon encourages runners and spectators to use Metro to and from the event while working with the Washington Metro Transit Authority on the newly-designed reusable MCM "OORAH" SmarTrip card. The card can be used by runners, spectators and volunteers for use on Metrorail and Metrobus.

"In conjunction with the National Park Service and Leave No Trace, everyone is encouraged to do their part while enjoying the experience of 'The People's Marathon,'" adds Nealis.

Recently, the MCM was recognized by the Commonwealth's Virginia Green Program for its "Environmental Commitment" toward recycling, reduction of waste, green signage and for minimizing printed materials and disposable food service products.

For more information about the Marine Corps Marathon visit www.marinemarathon.com

RUNNING USA

Source: Marine Corps Marathon

Date: September 24, 2014

author: GRR