What does a sustainable running event look like?

The answer to that question is a complex and ever-evolving one, but the days of carelessly throwing away huge numbers of plastic cups or enticing people to racers with t-shirts look to be coming to an end.

As runners, we benefit hugely from being able to run through undisturbed and picturesque landscapes. As such, we owe it to the environments we enjoy to protect and sustain them.

It’s not always easy. As race directors, we need to consider an audience that, in many cases, still prefers tees over planting trees or expects regular water stations on hot days.

But this isn’t a post about saying, ‘poor us’. Those organising races need to be at the forefront of introducing sustainable practice and helping to explain why these measures are required.

When it comes to putting on events, one new development that can help concentrate the mind is The Green Events Code of Practice.

Led by the Vision: 2025 group, the UK festival and event industry’s green forum, the practice look at ‘what good looks like’ when putting on events.

It’s aim is to embed consistent, clear and workable minimum standards for environmental sustainability in the UK’s outdoor events industry.

The hope is this will lead to a minimum of 50 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with specific targets including a 50 per cent reduction in fossil fuel consumption at live events by 2025.

The practice contains a number of targets that race organisers will need to bear in mind for future events, notably requirements to reduce travel and transport emissions, limit the amount of meat and dairy consumption onsite by 2030, crack down on food waste, and introduce water savings plans.

The last one is a particular challenge when putting on long races, sometimes in hot conditions, with runners needing to stay hydrated.

There are further desired standards around inspiring positive change, developing partnerships around environmental themes, and investing in positive climate impact. One thing is for sure, organising races – if it ever was – is no longer about simply lining runners up on a start line and saying ‘Go!’.

There is no doubt that mass-participation events can put a strain on the environment. From those plastic bottles to car journeys, even small races come with a potential burden for the planet.

Balancing the obvious physical and mental health benefits with a desire to be environmentally sustainable is a really important challenge.

At Go Beyond, we’ve already introduced initiatives such as eco-friendly medals and goodie bags, while entrants in our ultra races will bring their own bottles for water and other vital fluids.

But, of course, there is always more to do. Creating more sustainable races is a big goal for us. Many runners prefer to run outdoors, either on trails or within their neighbourhood, and we are keen to help them continue to do that in a sustainable way.

This is of even greater importance when you consider most of our races take place across Northamptonshire, the county where I and my team live and run ourselves.

The Green Events Code of Practice vision is a vital one. It’s up to all of us to make it a reality.