To catch up on how sustainability issues took center stage throughout the past year, we turn to Tina Muir, a contributor to Running insight and speaker at The Running Event, whose Racing for Sustainability project sets the pace for the industry’s eco-efforts. In her year-end report on racingforsustainability.org she takes a look back at 2025 – and ahead to 2026 – for the industry’s sustainability efforts.
Here we excerpt some of her comments:
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Hello, friend!
My 2025 fall busy season is complete, and as I head out for Cape Town for a 100k goal I set myself when I had surgery on my Achilles in April 2024, I am reflecting on what this year has involved, what it represents, and the role you have played in the optimism I feel right now.
Yes, optimism. Even in this time when things have felt really dark for us all, really divided in a way that feels, at times, like it can't be repaired.
I do feel optimistic, not just hopeful, but hope-filled, and believe that this sustainability work is a movement that is gaining traction.
I will weave into this email the initiatives I have been involved with this fall that have helped me feel that way, and also ones that I have come across that I have nothing to do with, but that inspire me to believe in our collective future.
So let's get started:
Sustainability innovations or initiatives that impressed me:
RunVirt's hemp bibs standing up to multiple marathons and still looking like new.
I crossed the start line of Boulderthon's 10k this year full of emotion, running in the first race in the US to use hemp bibs. It was a huge step for the running industry, and one I think we are long overdue in making.
AND I have some even more exciting news related to it:
In addition to the bibs for the race, RunVirt sent me Racing For Sustainability-branded hemp bibs and, so far, I have worn the same one in both the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon. I will wear it again in my 100k.
I understand the hesitation around the durability of this new (to the industry) material, but I hope I can show you that not only do these hold up, they can hold up through the toughest of circumstances. I intend to wear this same bib on my back in all of the races I run in 2026.
I also hear your concerns about sponsors and the ability to read the bib numbers on the natural color of the material rather than the white of the traditional plastic (that sits in landfills for 500 years). RunVirt is working on this, and it is a challenge that can be solved...and is more likely to be with your support of this being the future.
Examples of doing the work:
The TCS Sydney Marathon having a plogging team follow the runners to clean up leftover gels.
I love this idea and think this could be incorporated into many races. Runners need to learn to not throw their gels on the ground (honestly, I don't know how we got to the place where this was so normalized), but while I work on getting that message to runners, I love this. These gel packets can be recycled through TerraCycle, and it would be a great way to do your part.
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You asked for it, HydraPak delivered:
Many race directors and organizers have told me that their hesitation with pushing more runners to carry their own fuel and hydration is the potential slowdown of refilling. I was told that if data existed that backed up that it could work, refill stations becoming more prominent would be a real possibility.
HydraPak heard you, worked with world-renowned crowd scientist, Marcel Altenberg, and here is what they found:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7364329098342498305/
It is super interesting, and yes, maybe a little confusing. To summarize, it says that refill stations/no-disposable-cup races can be done without losing any time, requiring FEWER volunteers than you would typically need, with some extra steps.
That said, I know that a big jump like this is not going to be a possibility for most of you. How can you get a step closer with pushing more runners towards carrying their own hydration, and getting refill stations in place (you only need a few to start)?
Community initiatives I loved:
Culligan flourishing in the running space with their refillable, reusable, infinitely recyclable (means the integrity of the material does not break down, no matter how many times it is recycled) bottles at the finish. We need to move past the days of plastic water bottles at the finish. Culligan is working with many of the biggest races, but there are a lot of opportunities for other races to work with other canned water companies.
Celebrating:
NYRR Team For Climate having 200 runners in the TCS New York City Marathon
Make sure your volume is not turned up to max (unless you want me to scream into your ear!), but watch this video of us starting the race. Giving the NYRR Team For Climate runners a tent (as one of the NYRR Team for Climate agreements, we didn't bring start area bags to Staten Island, so this was needed!), a separate start time, and a shoutout on the start line were nice touches to make runners feel proud to run for this cause.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQl-CJdDfmj/
In addition to this cool initiative of NYRR Team For Climate, we also had 70+ runners join us for a plog before the TCS New York City Marathon,
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and at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, we more than doubled our turnout in year two of our post-race plog.
I know that for many, sustainability initiatives are tough to prioritize, and I get that; you have a small team, you are overstretched, but in the same way I shared about NYRR Team For Climate having a tent and a separate start line to make runners feel special, here is another example that any race can do:
I stood at the finish line for a few hours after I finished the TCS New York City marathon, and put medals around the NYRR Team For Climate runners' necks. They were the first runners to get their medals (the rest of the runners had to walk further down the finishing area to get theirs), and the sustainability team cheered and celebrated them individually.
Watch this video and have a tissue ready:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ7wzAIDfey/
How could you do something like this at your event?
We had a very exciting fall, and are prepping for 2026
Here at Racing For Sustainability, we have been building and seeing great momentum.
We had five runners fundraise in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We have lots of races planned as charity partners for 2026. This could be a great next step, if you would like to work with us.
Be a part of the positive movement; check out Racing For Sustainability here
https://racingforsustainability.org
As you know from working anywhere, and especially in this industry, starting from scratch takes a lot of hard work and energy, many moments of wondering if it is ever going to come together (much like our running journeys themselves!). We are building, and if you have the capacity to support us, that would mean so much.
Donate to Racing For Sustainability here
https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/RacingforSustainability/Donate
And if you are a race organizer, come join Boulderthon, TrackShack, Crown Collective (Around the Crown), and others as a Racing For Sustainability member. We would love to support you with your sustainability goals.
https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/RacingforSustainability
