Sustainability
We have an environmentally conscious board and a director specifically devoted to tracking our sustainable efforts and searching out ways for us to make our race as green as possible. Our goal is to set an example for our participants and other events by minimizing our carbon footprint and being as environmentally friendly as possible while still putting on the best race for our participants. The marathon’s efforts have not gone unnoticed with a recent invitation from the Council for Responsible Sport to become a founding member of Sports Events Community of Practice to help lessen the carbon footprint of other sporting events.
As organizers prepared for the sixth running of the Williams Route 66 Marathon, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, special attention was paid to incorporate sustainable efforts where feasible. “We have an environmentally conscious board and one member specifically devoted to tracking our sustainable efforts and searching out ways for us to make our race as green as possible,” said Chris Lieberman, executive director of Tulsa Route 66 Marathon, Inc. “Our goal is to lessen our carbon footprint and be as environmentally friendly as possible while still putting on the best race for our participants.” The marathon’s efforts are leading the way for other racing events by serving as a founding member of Sports Events Community of Practice at the request of the Council for Responsible Sport. The newly formed committee will evaluate ways sporting events can reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, the Council for Responsible Sport will evaluate this year’s races to determine the Route 66 Marathon’s certification level as a green sport. To qualify for certification, the marathon must meet various requirements in six categories: waste; climate; equipment and materials; community and outreach; health promotion; and innovation. Efforts that have been taken to provide a greener race include: Breathing…something we often take for granted. Especially in Oklahoma when the clean fresh air comes “sweeping down the plain.” The air quality in the Tulsa area is doing fine – on most days, that is. Hot, windless summer days in the Tulsa area is a different story. When the wind is still and the temperature hot, ground-level ozone pollution can build to make the air we breathe unhealthy. Ground-level ozone is a summertime problem for many metro areas throughout the U.S. When conditions are ripe, ozone levels in the Tulsa area can measure as high as in places like Los Angeles and Houston. Tulsa doesn’t have as many unhealthy air days as those areas, but when ozone levels are high – the Tulsa Area Ozone Alert! Program kicks into action. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets the acceptable levels for ground-level pollutants. Areas not meeting those standards are placed in nonattainment or on the “dirty air list.” Nonattainment status is a federal designation which places various constraints on economic development and the cost of living for the area. For example, it becomes more expensive and more difficult for businesses and industries to develop or expand in a nonattainment area. Additionally, the public in an area on the EPA’s dirty air may be required to use a more expensive, cleaner burning summer gasoline. For the past 21 years, Tulsa’s Ozone Alert! Program has helped to keep our air clean. And although ozone levels have been improving, federal ozone standards are becoming more and more strict – placing Tulsa very nearly into nonattainment. After record-breaking weather patterns during the summer of 2011, the north Tulsa area ozone monitor has recorded levels significant to push the metro area into a probable violation of the EPA ozone standard. Because our ozone design value is higher than the EPA standard – the Tulsa area is eligible for a nonattainment designation. Nonattainment is a process – typically one to three years before the final designation would occur. As in previous years, a delay in federal process affords us opportunity to continue to improve our ozone levels and regain compliance of the standard. Ground-level ozone isn’t supposed to be breathed. It is naturally found in the earth’s upper atmosphere – but is formed by man-made pollution at ground level. We often say ozone is ‘Good Up High but Bad Nearby.” The effects of ozone air pollution include shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, and wheezing and coughing. Long-term, repeated exposure to high levels of ozone may lead to large reductions in lung function, inflammation of the lung lining and increased respiratory discomfort. Tulsa’s Ozone Alert! days typically occur May through September. When an Ozone Alert! Day is issued, it is a forecast that ozone conditions are likely to be very high and unhealthy. The Alert! becomes two-fold in purpose. Individuals with compromised respiratory systems, (such as elderly or small children) should stay indoors as much as possible. Ozone Alert! Days are additionally intended to notify the general public to take action to reduce ozone forming emissions. During ozone alert days, citizens are urged to take the following precautions: Reducing your carbon footprint as a visitor is easy with online resources that can help you find alternative housing and make travel plans that reduce the number of cars on the road and carbon emissions in the air on race day. Carpooling The Green Traveler website can match you with a carpool option based on your zip code and destination. To reward your efforts, the marathon even offers special VIP parking for runners who carpool to the race. To make an even greater impact, participants from out of town are encouraged to find other participants from your area to make the trip to Tulsa. We encourage you to use social media tools to find other participants from your area. Bike Check For locals who would prefer to bike to the start line, Lee’s Bike Shop will be managing a bike check at Veterans Park. The bike check will be available prior to the start of the Saturday and Sunday races. Sunday race participants can ride the VIP buses from the finish line to the start line after checking their bike. Housing Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is through housing alternatives found on sites like Vacation Rentals by Owner. Search Tulsa listings to find a reasonably-priced place to stay near the downtown race start and finish areas. By renting someone’s house for a couple nights you’ll help reduce the amount of energy and waste that results from overnight hotel stays. Recycling Besides the recycling efforts the marathon will have in place during race weekend, we encourage all participants to recycle their clothing and shoes for nonprofit use. Runners and walkers who wish to donate their retired running shoes can bring them to the Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo, presented by St. John Health System, where they will be collected at the Tulsa Masters Recycling booth and donated to the Day Center for the Homeless. OG&E Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) will also be available for purchase at the Tulsa Masters Recycling booth. Additionally, discarded clothing articles along the race route will be collected by Youth Services of Tulsa. Carry the personal hydration device of your choice (hand held bottles; hydration belts; or the device from one of our sponsors, the new HydraPouch personal hydrator), and fill it in about one second from self-serve coolers at every aid station. We’ll still have pre-filled cups available at our aid stations, but we hope you’ll help us take this big step towards eliminating cups by choosing to race cup-free. Both Gatorade and water will be available in these coolers, which will be located at each aid station. Volunteers will place the coolers immediately prior to the cups at the stations, so participants wishing to take advantage of the cup-free option should veer to the side as they are approaching the aid stations. The Tulsa Master Recyclers will be selling HydraPouches at a discount at the Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo, presented by St. John Health System. A limited number are available at a price of $10. View a demonstration of the special self-serve coolers, then use your new HydraPouch to take advantage of cup-free running on race day! Thanks to some generous contributors like Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa, the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Public Schools, and Claremore High School, we are able to offer these self-serve water coolers to provide water and Gatorade to our participants who carry their own hydration device If you wish to purchase a HydraPouch at your leisure, click here to learn more and get 10% off when you buy a HydraPouch. OG&E will issue the renewable energy credits (RECs) to the Williams Route 66 Marathon as the collective owner of the RECs, on behalf of all participants who purchase green tickets. These tickets can be purchased upon online registration or at the Tulsa Master Recyclers Booth at the Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo, presented by St. John Health System. Runners purchasing green tickets will receive an honorary e-certificate from OG&E, acknowledging their commitment to renewable energy. The total number of RECs purchased will have a cumulative reduction/benefit based on the equation as sourced below. After marathon weekend, the Williams Route 66 Marathon will publish the amount of RECs purchased, and the related environmental impact. Equation: Sources: Displacement of CO2 is based on U.S. average fuel mix for generation.
The board of directors of the Williams Route 66 Marathon is excited to introduce cup-free racing in this year’s race, and we encourage participants to choose to race cup-free. It’s easy, it’s fast, and it’s already happening at other major road races including the BolderBoulder, the Madison Marathon, the Estes Park Marathon, and hundreds more marathons and half marathons across the country.
View the 2011 Williams Route 66 Marathon Council for Responsible Sport Certification Plan
