The Cost of Going Green

On Sunday 14 April, more than 50,000 runners took to the streets of the French capital to take part in one of the world’s largest races, the Paris Marathon. The iconic course winds through the heart of the city, taking runners past landmarks such as the Louvre, the Bastille, the Eiffel Tower and along the Seine.

This year‘s edition however, drew attention for the organisers’ controversial decision to remove disposable cups entirely from aid stations. Instead, runners were encouraged to arrive prepared with flasks, reusable cups, or hydration vests, refilling at water stations fitted with taps and hoses. It was a bold operational move, but one that has drawn significant criticism so it’s worth examining the advantages and drawbacks of the decision.

As race directors, we are aware how global warming is starting to affect our events. With heat levels climbing, optimal racing windows have become narrower and it is necessary to future proof our races. With this in mind, the sustainability of our events is key to the fight against climate change. Reducing single-use plastic or other items seems like a great way to start.

This was probably the thinking behind the Paris Marathon organisers’ decision to eliminate disposable cups as part of a sustainability drive but in the broader context, did the environmental benefit truly outweigh the impact on runners?

According to Marathon Handbook, by removing disposable cups, the race cuts approximately 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) - a standard measure of climate impact - roughly comparable to eliminating a return flight between London and Paris carrying 75 passengers.

But how does that stack up against the event’s overall footprint? The London Marathon, a race of similar scale, reported total emissions of 54,300 tonnes of CO₂e in 2023. If Paris is in the same range, cutting out paper cups reduces the total footprint by just 0.027%. In other words, a marginal gain at best.

And what was the impact on the runners? The most common complaints were:

• Time lost while stopping to refill
• Difficulty filling narrow flasks efficiently
• Water pressure inconsistencies (spray vs flow)
• Break in rhythm, especially for performance-focused runners

Elite athletes were largely unaffected as they received a special bottle service from the race, while back-of-the-pack competitors were generally positive as they are more comfortable taking their time to refill bottles, and recover.

The impact was felt mostly by mid-pack runners, the largest and most engaged group, who dislike disruptions in pace without clear benefit. They were frustrated by the difficulty filling narrow flasks and having to potentially jeopardise their race by waiting in line for refills.

There is also a legitimate concern that athletes, in an effort to save time, may not hydrate adequately, potentially leading to serious health risks.

From my perspective, sustainability measures should be pursued as far as possible, right up to the point where they begin to compromise the race experience itself. As much as the Paris Marathon’s bold move is admirable, it might have been a little premature.

There is already encouraging innovations, including biodegradable water pearls that runners can consume and dispose of safely without environmental impact. The focus should be on advancing and adopting solutions like these, rather than removing essential elements of the race in ways that detract from the athletes’ experience.

What do you need help with as an event organiser? If there is an area of organising you would like to know more about, send a mail to tim@finishtime.co.za and we will see if we can find some info for you.

Words To Live By ...

“Event planning: Where coffee becomes a food group
and emails never sleep."
 

– Unknown

It's a Game Changer!

When I ran my first Comrades Marathon in the early 1990s, my parents later told me how they patiently waited scanning a sea of runners, hoping to catch a glimpse of me on the route. Unfortunately, they missed me completely and had to settle for seeing me at the finish line.

For many seconds and supporters, this has long been their reality when trying to locate their athletes during races. But now finding your competitor has never been easier with the introduction of the Sports Splits tracker app administered by FinishTime in South Africa.

Easily downloadable to a smart phone via the Apple and Google Play stores, the app has tracking of athletes for spectators and participants through predictive and live timing data. With real-time push notifications as their chosen athletes or the race leaders hit key timing points, following the race has never been easier.

At the recent Two Oceans Marathon, seven-time women’s winner Gerda Steyn topped the Sport Splits app tracking list on race day, recording 4 468 tracks.

The Sport Splits tracker app is a great addition to any event. Spectators can track their chosen athletes along the route and seconds can relax knowing that they won’t miss their competitors at any key points. The Sports Splits tracker app administered by FinishTime in South Africa is a game-changer.
 

Sight in Motion 

 

                                                                                                              
History was made at the Brighton Marathon this year and the reason will probably surprise you. U.K.’s Clarke Reynolds became the first blind marathoner to use Meta glasses and an app instead of a physical guide.

According to Canadian Running, Reynolds, a runner with just five percent vision, relied on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which have built-in speakers and a camera and the Be My Eyes app which allows remote volunteers to see his path in real-time and guide him.

Reynolds is a Braille artist and children’s author known professionally as Mr Dot. When he was six years old he became blind in his right eye and by 32 had begun to notice changes in his left. The diagnosis was retinitis pigmentosa which is an inherited condition that leads to progressive vision loss. Today, he describes his sight as “like being underwater,” reduced to shapes, shadows and faint colour.

The beauty of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is that through live video and artificial intelligence, the Be My Eyes app connects blind or low-vision users with volunteers for everyday tasks, like identifying colours or finding a button on a TV remote. But Reynolds wanted to push the limits of what the technology was capable of.

“By running a marathon and using the tech in a way that hasn’t been done before, I’ve raised awareness and sparked so many conversations, which I hope will help to challenge society’s ideas about what blind people can do,” he said

Reynolds completed the Brighton Marathon in just under six hours and 20 minutes raising awareness and funds for Fight for Sight U.K. For those wondering what would have happened if the technology failed, a guide runner was close by as a backup.

Do you have an unusual, wild, whacky or funny story about event organising? If so, send it to tim@finishtime.co.za (max 300 words please).