*Environment
As mentioned in other places on our website, it is a priority to make this event as environmentally friendly as we can. Below is a list of efforts we're making to accomplish this:
- Registration is paperless and will be online only
- There will be no hand-out fliers or pamphlets produced for the event
- We're only allowing 100 runners total in order to minimize impact to the trails
- Race t-shirts will be made of organic cotton
- Runners will have the option to not receive a race t-shirt if it's not something they need/want to reduce unnecessary goods
- Late registrants will not receive a t-shirt to eliminate extra production and waste
- There will be no plastic bags for race packets
- There will be no wasteful handouts (SWAG) for runners that generates waste/trash
- There will be no packet pickup before race morning because it wastes gas
- Bibs/numbers will be unused extras leftover from other races that we've collected
- Park entry fees will be in place ($5 for IN license plates, $7 for out-of-state) to encourage carpooling
- There will only be two aid stations to reduce trash and encourage runners to carry refillable bottles
- Fruit available at aid stations will be organic
- Aid station cups will be made from sugar cane, an annually renewable environmentally friendly material
- Trash bags will be 100% biodegradable and compostable per ASTM-6400 certification
- Clif Shots will be provided due to being 90% organic and utilizing the "Litter Leash" to help reduce accidental trash
- Water will be purchased in large, returnable/reusable jugs instead of disposable bottles
- Gatorade will be purchased in bulk powdered form (admittedly standard at races) instead of disposable bottles
- Trail marking will be accomplished with reusable signs instead of surveyor's tape, spray paint, paper signs, etc.
- We will be accepting old athletic shoes on race day for recycling. Registered participants who bring a pair will receive $5 to help offset the registration costs
- There will not be finisher's awards for either race to help reduce unnecessary goods
- Awards will be given to the top two male and female finishers of each race. They will be handmade from dead-fall wood.
- We will be accepting safety pins (used for numbers) back after the race for re-use.
- An additional monthly fee is paid to our website hosting company to go towards more energy-efficient, less environmentally damaging servers and computer equipment
- We will minimize the purchase of new items (borrowing or purchasing used) to reduce manufacturing and unnecessary goods
- In general we will make every effort to keep this event as simple as we can. Please keep this in mind and remember that it's for the benefit of Lincoln State Park, and the environment as a whole!