Running a Sustainable TCS New York City Marathon
Tina Muir, the co-author of Becoming a Sustainable Runner, will be running the TCS New York City Marathon on November 5. Read more about Tina’s journey toward sustainability here.
You are headed to the TCS New York City Marathon, and you want to be conscious of your choices as you prepare for your experience throughout your time in NYC. What can you do to minimize your impact?
Packing
Beyond outfit choices in case the weather changes, energy gels, and multiple pairs of shoes, here are some of my favorite items to help keep my trips to races low-impact:
- Reusable water bottle
- Handheld water bottle for the race
- Reusable cutlery (fork, spoon, and straw)
- Cloth napkins
- Travel coffee mug
- Reusable bags for laundry, shoes, shopping (can be plastic ones you already have)
- Safety pins (we all have them!)
- Heatsheet to stay warm at the start
- Period underwear or cup
We aren’t shooting for perfection. You may forget some items at first – or bring them and forget to use them – we all do. Live, learn, and build good habits; it will become easier over time.
During marathon weekend, when you are offered freebies, ask yourself if you actually need or will use them, and get used to saying, “No, thank you” if an item might be wasted.
Getting Around Town
New York City’s public transportation system, the MTA, is easy to use and often quicker than a taxi or rideshare. Pull up your maps app to find the quickest public transport options. Use a contactless credit card to tap the OMNY reader at the subway turnstiles or when boarding a bus or purchase a MetroCard. You pay one price per trip, even if you take multiple trains or buses.
Take public transport before race day, and that way utilizing it on race day will be easy. Read more here about getting to the start.
Accommodations
Look for accommodations that use renewable energy sources, conserve water, and recycle. (This can be difficult, so just do your best.) It’s a good sign if they prioritize local businesses and source local foods at their restaurants. Running For Real Sustainable Runner's Guide to NYC gives more guidelines and suggestions.
Meals
Restaurants that use local ingredients or have lots of plant-based options are likely to consider their environmental impact and have compostable containers for food. If your containers are plastic, rinse them out with soap before placing them in the recycling bin.
New York
Your trip is never going to be environmentally perfect – don’t expect it to be. Do the best you can, but also remember that the TCS New York City Marathon is a celebration for you, and it’s okay to enjoy the experience as much as you can.
- Engage with the sustainability cube at the Expo
- Join us for a free plogging run (picking up trash while jogging) from the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance on November 4; info and registration here.
- Share on social media about the sustainability initiatives you see – that lets the running community know this matters to you
- On race day, drop your waste at the Waste Diversion Station
The NYRR sustainability team has put in efforts that make a difference, including assuring that the water and Gatorade cups are composted, saving hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles being used.
Go out there and enjoy it. You need your cup to be filled up, to be full of life and love, if you want to be a part of the solution, instead of feeling like part of the problem. The best way to do that is by soaking it in.
Your voice and your choices matter. We know that. After the race, come find us to show us that you do too.
You can check out an interview with Tina on NYRR's YouTube channel here.
