Going Green
In December 2009, the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) was awarded silver-level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport becoming the largest event to date to earn this distinction. CRS provides an independent, comprehensive certification for sustainable athletic events evaluating five categories:
Waste, Climate, Materials & Equipment, Community & Outreach, and Health Promotion.
The MCM achieved over a 32 percent reduction in waste to landfill in just one year's time. The standard decrease in waste to landfill for most events is ten percent. The MCM reduced waste by more than a pound per runner or 8.5 tons compared to 2008 totals. 
Athletes for a Fit Planet consulted and provided on-site support for the MCM's environmental initiatives and will again team with the MCM to apply these sustainable efforts to the 2010 Marine Corps Historic Half. Fredericksburg's Clean & Green Commission will contribute to the success of this campaign as well.
HISTORIC HALF ECO-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS
REDUCE
The Historic Half is already proud to offer paperless applications for all events. New in 2010--all finishers will receive electronic finisher certificates to reduce unnecessary waste.
The Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, home of the Historic Half Healthy Lifestyle Expo, is dedicated to assisting in reducing pollution, excess waste and the footprint all events leave behind. The facility strives to reinforce the importance of the collaborative responsibility all parties have to reduce waste.
Green activities include the minimization of disposable food service products, recycling and waste reduction, water conservation, energy conservation and a Green Events Package.
Staying at the race headquarters hotel? Hilton Garden Inn Fredericksburg focuses upon our key environmental commitments: energy efficiency, CO2 reduction, water efficiency, waste reduction, chemical management and purchasing to ensure that environmentally friendly practices impact our guests in a positive way. Our hotel has an effective sustainability policy that engages our team members through training, tools and active involvement and supports environmental initiatives within our local community.
Even the new B-tag timing technology (highlighted in red to the right) is environmentally friendly. The new bib-based timing device eliminates trash generated by previously used D-tag.
Traditionally, runners receive a goodie bag during pre-race check-in. The bag often includes product samples, coupons, promotional flyers and advertisements. At the 2010 Marine Corps Historic Half, the goodie bag has been bagged and a new, online interactive iGiftBag will be introduced. The iGiftBag will be provided electronically in advance of race weekend to all registered runners and will include digital gifts from local and national race sponsors in the form of coupons and discounts, games, video or audio exclusives, or virtual devices and apps.
REUSE
The 2010 Historic Half features eco-friendly race bibs. Composed from post-consumer waste and wildflower seeds, the seed paper bibs allowed runners to commemorate their race by planting their bib. Runners can enjoy the resulting Black-Eyed Susans along with the satisfaction of being green!
RECYCLE
Trash collected at the Historic Half will be removed from site including cups from the water points will be composted.
HOW RUNNERS CAN HELP
GET A MOVE ON!
Get involved in the Historic Half Trash Run program. Each time you embark on a run, take time to look at your surroundings and at any trash along the way. Make a plan to grab a bag or container to pick up the trash on your route. Whether its paper, plastic or any other object- tell the Historic Half where you found the trash and how many bags you collected. Take a few pictures while you are removing the trash and Historic Half team may post your photo on this page.
RECYCLE!
Take advantage of the recycling stations throughout the course. Simply toss your plastic bottles and cardboard materials in the designated recycling receptacles instead of the trash.
SHARE A RIDE!
Interested in ride sharing to the Marine Corps Historic Half? Sign up here for an account and become a member of a growing and dynamic community. It is free to join and to use. PickupPals can track the number of rides they have given or taken and the number of miles they have traveled via ride sharing and the Historic Half can keep track of the amount of carbon emissions we have collectively reduced as a result! Eco-Rideshare is a sponsor and use of this service is operated solely by Eco-Rideshare. Terms, conditions and liability are through Eco-Rideshare.
SHOE-A-THON!
Not sure what to do with those athletic shoes that are passed their running prime? Donate them to the Historic Half Shoe-A-Thon. The MCM will be collect gently used running shoes at all 2010 events to be provided to a homeless services provider. Look for the Shoe-A-Thon collection boxes at the next race to make your donation.
