News
The annual April Fool's Run from Gibsons to Sechelt has committed to an even higher green standard this year by joining Athletes for a Fit Planet Pledge of Sustainability. Run organizers Teresa and Larry Nightingale have taken the pledge for the 2012 run.
The pledge requires that the event meets four required eco-practices:
- Reduce paper waste by requiring at least 80% of total pre-registered race field to register online - only option for paper registration is at the event.
- No mailing of paper registration forms. (Takes effect within 24 hours of signing the Pledge)
- Provide recycling bins at the event and recycle cardboard, paper, plastic and other materials
- Provide information to athletes about public transportation options and/or provide them with ride-share options on your website.
Organizers must also choose six more optional practices. Teresa Nightingale offered a partial list of what they are doing this year to make the race more sustainable.
- Direct Disposal is providing free drop off and pick up of 6 large bins for recyclables and compostables (and general garbage, but we won’t have much of that). All we have to do is put the right stuff in them, they haul it away when we’re done.
- We’ve added soup and burritos from very local sources for our finish line food this year. Soup made by Ty’s Bistro and burritos made by Sunshine Coast Foods (Today’s Entree). Both within 5 mins of our finish line.
- We aren’t getting compostable cups but the paper cups we use will all be recycled. We did look at the compostable option but we need 2500 cups and the cost (from local supplier) is approximately 3 times that of the paper cups. Next year we are going to be increasing our entry fees so we can afford more options like that.
- This year we’ll be using less cups at the finish line for water, as we are asking participants to bring their own containers and check them with their baggage. We’ll see how many do it! There is a drinking fountain at the park for those who forget and wish to avoid using a cup.
- Vehicles - we have an account with Pickup Pal and participants are using it for ride sharing. Also we hire the local school buses to transport our participants from the ferry to the start and back to the start after the race, which allows a large portion of them to leave their cars at home.
Teresa stated, “As runners we enjoy the natural environment and want to help preserve it, not harm it, with our running-related activities. To help achieve those goals, I attended the recent Zero Waste Events workshop offered by the SCRD and SC Tourism, and discovered more helpful ideas and local resources.”
This year's event starts at the Gibsons & Area Community Centre and features a spacious new finish line in Mission Point Park (Davis Bay). The 35th anniversary celebrations include a costume contest, hot food offerings, and free kids' run in the park. The main race starts at 9am with an early 8am start for walkers and 3hr+ runners.
Online registration is open until midnight Monday, March 26 at www.foolsrun.com. Walk-up registration will be available during package pickup on March 29, 31 and April 1. Volunteers can sign up online.