For this year’s Missoula Marathon, we again worked on our commitment to keep the environmental impact of our event to a minimum, while improving what we had started in the past years.
If you have never eaten from and with 100 percent bio-degradable plastic plates, bowls, cups and “silver wear”, you will now have the chance at the Missoula Marathon while re-fueling your body with fantastic post-race food, provided by the Good Food Store of Missoula; and you might find that this material is actually very strong, even though it can and will break down (bio-degrade) in only a few months after you use it.
Several dozen volunteers put in approximately 100 volunteer hours last Saturday, to clean up large parts of the Missoula Half and Full Marathon courses. It was a great success and all of our participants and spectators ought to find a great course. Thanks to Frank Scariano Construction for donating his Truck and the necessary gas. While visiting and running, please enjoy the beautiful scenery of western Montana!
Our 2010 high-end, technical finisher’s T-shirts are made from at least 50 percent recycled plastic – so thanks for recycling your plastic bottles; now you may proudly wear those old bottles on your back, for you earned it! In addition, you’ll find more T-shirt options of the same caliber as well as other “green” Missoula Marathon memorabilia at the Expo.
The Missoula Marathon Goodie bags for this year are fully recyclable and re-usable polyester bags. Plus, they look great and you may get some attention while carrying your goods, even long after this Marathon.
Without surprise, we again will recycle aluminum cans, plastic water bottles and cardboard at the starting lines, finish area, and the Missoula Marathon Expo.
For your immediate hydration needs, and to save on many of thousands of plastic bottles, we opted to have an additional water station at the finish area, just after you cross the finish line. And speaking of water stations, all of the water cups used during the Marathon are 100 percent compostable.
For the first time, the Missoula Marathon will use Solar Power Energy at the Expo and for its post-race festivities and awards ceremonies. The solar power will be provided by Axmen of Missoula. Look for the solar panels, and stop by at their informational table, to see how it all works. Axmen also will have a little experiment on-site, to show what else is possible with this technology. The Missoula Marathon experience is not only beautiful, fun, with fast times, but also educational for young and old.
As always, all Mountain Line Buses can be used for free all day on Saturday. So consider taking the bus from your home or your hotel to get to and from the Expo.
The Missoula Marathon will have several water stations set up at the Expo, provided by Culligan Water, and you are encouraged to bring your own re-usable water bottle. It’s a great way to monitor your own water intake the day before the race, while keeping up your hydration. Besides, it saves a lot of unnecessary trash, too.
Lastly, and more as a side note, Missoula features two great Farmers’ Markets on Saturdays, where you can stock up on locally-grown and/or produced, and mostly certified organic or at least pesticide-free vegetables, fruits, dairy products, baked goods, meats, jams, coffee and freshly-squeezed juices. One Farmer’s Market will be open on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., while the other operates until about 1:00 p.m. A nice plus for all our race participants and their support is that the two Farmers’ Markets, the People’s Market (featuring crafty items), downtown businesses, and, for the younger visitors to Missoula, the Missoula Carousel, all are within a very short walking distance of the Missoula Marathon Expo. Literally, you can see all of the sites listed above, while walking less than a mile. And just in case your feet get hot while walking that one mile, or perhaps after the Marathon, you can dip your feet into the frigid waters of the Clark Fork River, while watching white-water kayaks performing tricks in “Brennan’s Wave”, and looking down “Hellgate Canyon” – all less than 100 yards from the Expo!
We hope you will enjoy your Missoula Marathon experience, and that our “green efforts” will enhance that experience.
The Missoula Marathon Committee and the city of Missoula is exited to welcome all of you to our beautiful “back yard”, which we call home, and wish you safe travels, a fantastic time while in western Montana and during the race.
Best wishes,
Volkmar “Vo” von Sehlen
Director, Green Efforts
Missoula Marathon Committee
