Green marathons

Going bananas? That’s right – for organic produce! At the Frankfurt marathon, the catering companies stick to organic. Photo: Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

Mainova Frankfurt Marathon

The Frankfurt Marathon has already earned its stripes as an especially sustainable race. Held in the heart of Germany’s main financial center, since 2005 the event has been hosted in cooperation with the Rhine-Main Environmental Forum (Umweltforum Rhein-Main). In 2014 this classic race received the Green Award for the most environmentally friendly marathon – and with each passing year, it just keeps getting greener. The event’s holistic approach to shrinking each runner’s carbon footprint encompasses transportation, food services, and waste removal. On the day of the race, runners and helpers can use the buses and trains of the city’s public transportation network free of charge. The diesel generators that used to heat the water for the shower area have long since been replaced by a system that uses warm water from the convention center. And eleven photovoltaic units on the roofs of Frankfurt’s buildings deliver green electricity. The participant’s t-shirts are made of recycled materials, with each shirt made from around twelve recycled plastic bottles. Locally sourced organic food is served, which means fewer emissions generated through production and transportation. One-hundred percent of the recyclable waste generated by the event is collected and processed. In addition, the official lead and pace cars are all electric vehicles. And in 2018, the organizers donated one euro per runner to its partner and pasta-party host Fattoria La Vialla, which used the money to plant 4,500 olive trees in Tuscany.

Hengshui Lake – it’s not just for the birds. Photo: 阿留申 / Aliu shen

Yangyuan-Six Walnuts Hengshui Lake International Marathon

“Green Marathon, Beautiful Hengshui Lake” was the slogan of the 2018 Yangyuan-Six Walnuts Hengshui Lake International Marathon. And this race held in Hengshui, a city located in China’s Hebei province to the south of Beijing, probably wins the prize for the longest marathon name. But how green is it? The route alone shows its dedication to nature – almost the entire course runs along the shores of Hengshui Lake. The organizer’s main focus is on preserving the habitat of the many rare bird species who have settled in these wetlands. This message is communicated effectively on a “wish board,” helping the race organizers support the local government, which has undertaken a series of measures to improve the region’s environment – like creating a new local green space covering 1.3 square kilometers. And to keep the area pristine, teams are deployed during the marathon to clean up all waste. So even though some 18,000 runners take part in the race, by the next day you can’t even tell they were there!

At this green marathon in the Black Forest, 80 percent of the course runs through the woods. Photo: Black Forest Marathon

Black Forest Marathon

October 2019 marked the 52nd running of the Black Forest Marathon, whose name tells you almost everything you need to know about the race – not just its location, but about the topography as well. Eighty percent of the race around the hamlet of Bräunlingen is run on forest trails. Not only does the marathon cover natural terrain, but the entire event shows a deep respect for nature. Plastic is gradually being phased out at the race. For example, the race pack is no longer handed out in plastic bags, but in cloth totes. This marathon is especially popular with athletes from outside Germany. At the last event, runners from 34 nations gathered at the starting line – including Mexico, the Philippines, Lebanon, Japan, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt. And although the Black Forest may be known for its eponymous cherry cake, there are also all sorts of savory snacks available on the day. Runners and spectators alike enjoy exclusively regional food – meaning shorter delivery routes and lower emissions.

Top runner Temesgen Bekele shortly before crossing the finish line in Salzburg – accompanied by a bike-riding policeman. Even the cops travel in eco-friendly style! Photo: Buschmann

Salzburg Marathon

The famed birthplace of Mozart in Austria also puts on a green event. In 2012 the Salzburg Marathon was ranked first in the country for “sport and sustainability.” In addition, it was Austria’s first run to be “organically certified” three times. The commitment to sustainability is already apparent when runners pick up their start numbers – and are welcomed with locally produced organic treats. And along the route, runners can grab apples, bananas, and oranges – organic only, of course! Even the alcohol-free beer that many participants like to enjoy after crossing the finish line comes from Paracelsus, Salzburg’s organic brewery. Gatorade gets a green upgrade here as well – the popular, electrolyte-packed beverage isn’t provided in the usual plastic bottles, but is delivered in powder form and mixed with fresh local spring water on site. Participants and spectators alike can enjoy an event that’s free of noise – at least from vehicles. The only motorized vehicles are the ambulances and the camera motorcycles belonging to national broadcaster ORF. Marathon boss and employees, police and EMTs mostly use mountain bikes or electric bicycles to get around.

For its efforts to preserve this idyllic setting, the SwissCityMarathon’s sustainability concept has already scooped three awards. Photo: Ammon

SwissCityMarathon

“You can’t exercise outdoors unless the environment is intact,” say the organizers of the SwissCityMarathon in Lucerne. With this in mind, they work hard to make this marathon, which welcomes 10,000 participants, a green event. While the negative environmental outputs of the race might seem minor when compared to the annual impacts faced by the region, the organizers are also trying to look at the big picture. They work to educate the 60,000 people who attend the sporting event about environmental protection, for example by offering a platform to companies that make sustainable products. Which makes regional enterprises their top pick as partners for the event. Priority is given to companies whose products are certified to the Max Havelaar Fair Trade standard, such as fruit that meets its strict organic and labor criteria. The Swiss Runners Ticket lets runners travel to the race from anywhere in Switzerland free of charge – using public transportation, of course. Waste is avoided to the greatest extent possible, and any that is produced is sorted for recycling. The race’s Clean Teams are responsible for keeping the event litter-free around the clock. All motor vehicles are banned from the city center, and energy is sourced from renewables. The Lucerne marathon has already been honored three times by different environmental organizations for its attention to sustainability – it has been named an “environmental champion” and an “exemplary event” and received the prix ecosport.

In Nepal, the week before the marathon was tough but extremely rewarding. The runners joined forces to construct a water filtration unit and pipeline that will supply the entire village with clean drinking water. Photo: Adam Dickens

Impact Marathon Series

The Impact Marathon series isn’t about symbolic actions, but rather creating genuine change in direct cooperation with the participants. The concept is exciting – the athletes travel to locations off the beaten track and spend a week working on grassroots development projects. At the end of the week, they run a marathon together. In a small village in Nepal, for example, the group pitched in to build a five-kilometer-long water pipeline before running their race on the Saturday. Other events in the series are held in Guatemala, Kenya, and Malawi. At the end of May 2019, the next Impact marathon will be held on the banks of Lake Malawi. The runners will spend the week before the race helping with projects that benefit disadvantaged children. “What we do changes lives forever,” say the organizers.