Sustainability

Run Calgary dedicates time, energy and resources to reduce the environmental impact of the race. We aim to build upon our green initiatives year over year to create an even more sustainable event for the whole family, and you can help too!

2024 CALGARY MARATHON STATS

70,000

Cups composted

550

5 Gallon Water Jugs Reused

25,000

Plastic Bags Saved from Landfill

80,000

KM OF PERSONAL VEHICLE USAGE ELIMINATED DUE TO COMPLIMENTARY CALGARY TRANSIT

700

Bikes Parked

What Is Sustainability Anyway?

It’s a term we hear all the time, but it has different meanings for different people. For us, it means doing what we can in our day-to-day life to maintain the environment. There has been a huge shift in the way we live and we’ve seen the impact on the world around us.

To ensure the sustainability of our environment and our city, we all need to take many small actions to improve our surroundings for future generations. We know that nothing beats the allure of the great outdoors when it comes to running!

The Run Calgary Sustainability Program offers simple, easy to adopt choices to help you be a green athlete. Read on to learn more about our efforts to make the Servus Calgary Marathon and all Run Calgary races a leader in race event sustainability!

Our Sustainability Initiatives

  • Clusters of recycle, compost and waste bins placed around event sites.
  • All water/nuun cups at on-course aid stations and at the finish line are compostable and properly composted post-event.
  • Compostable plates and cutlery are used by event staff and volunteers.
  • Expo visitors and race participants are encouraged to walk, run, bike, carpool, or take transit with two C-train stops that service Stampede Park. A secure bike zone is available for participants to park their bikes on race day.
  • Leftover finishers’ medals and other metal medals collected throughout the year are recycled or repurposed.
  • Leftover fruit and pre-packaged food is donated to a local charity or food bank.
  • Discarded participant clothing is also donated to a local charity.
  • The quantity of excess shirts and medals remaining post-race has been reduced by over 75% since 2017.
  • Sponsors and partners offer special promotions in the Virtual Goody Bag for the Servus Calgary Marathon.  A “no paper” policy at package pick-up means promotions, coupons and discounts are delivered to your inbox.
  • The participant Race Guide and Volunteer Handbook for the Servus Calgary Marathon are now fully paperless and distributed electronically.
  • In 2023, we introduced a Water Refill Station at the Servus Calgary Marathon that can be used to refill reusable water bottles on site.
  • Optional add-on finisher medals were introduced to the Wild Run (2023) and Dash of Doom (2024), giving participants the option to choose what is important to them.
  • In 2025, a Green Bib option was introduced for the Servus Calgary Marathon to give participants a more sustainable option where a donation is made to a local environmental charity in lieu of receiving a shirt and medal.

Be a Green Athlete

Take the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Challenge:

Reducing, reusing and recycling are three easy ways to help limit our environmental impact. Let us help you incorporate the 3Rs into your regular running routine AND on Race Day! Take the “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Challenge” for any Run Calgary event and commit to making green choices on race day.

Commit to adopting the 3Rs on Race Day:

  • Reduce your carbon footprint by using green transportation to get to the race (walking, biking, carpooling, public transit): We are supporting your choice to reduce your carbon footprint by providing bike racks at all Run Calgary events and by being accessible by transit for most events.
  • Reuse your water bottle and forgo paper cups: We are supporting your choice to reuse your water bottle and forgo paper cups by introducing water bottle refill stations in the finish line area once you've completed your race.
  • Recycle all that you can and leave nothing behind: We are supporting your choice to recycle all that you can by providing compost, recycle and waste bins on-site. We have also eliminated the use of single-use clear plastic bags for bag check, and participants now use their your own bag/backpack to contain checked items.

Committing to the 3R’s is a big step towards becoming a green athlete.