Discover our Sustainable Runner’s Guides: eco-friendly city guides for runners, spectators, and travelers. Learn how races go green, where to stay, eat and explore responsibly, and how to make your trip better for you and the planet.
Running is about more than just the miles. In each city we feature, you’ll find mindful ways to travel, eat, rest, and reconnect with nature. From eco-conscious hotels and restaurants near the race route to local shops and green spaces worth exploring, these guides help you make every part of your trip lighter on the planet and richer in experience.
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We’ll be adding guides regularly, so keep checking back!
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a leader in presenting sustainable events. You’ll be impressed when you read about some of their creative initiatives – did you know that if you visit the Windy City in the future, you might wind up sitting on a bench made from the Heatsheet you used after the race?
We’ve got some great ideas for places to eat, shop, and enjoy the outdoors before and after the marathon, and all of them are good for the planet. We also give you suggestions about what to look for in a restaurant or hotel when you’re deciding where to dine or sleep. Whether it’s for this year’s race or another visit to Chicago, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for an enjoyable and sustainable trip!
The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, with 50,000 runners and over one million spectators. It’s no small feat to make an event of that size environmentally friendly, but the New York Road Runners’ goal is to have net zero emissions for the marathon and their other events by 2049.
We’ve rounded up some great options for places to eat, shop, and enjoy the outdoors when you’re in NYC for the marathon – or any other time! We also give you suggestions about what to look for in a restaurant or hotel when you’re deciding where to dine or sleep. You’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy your trip and take care of the planet at the same time!
Sacramento is the capital of California, but more importantly for our purposes, it’s where the expo and the finish line for the California International Marathon are found. The Sacramento Running Association, which puts on the marathon, prides itself on the positive impact the race has on its host city.
Take some time while you’re in town for CIM to explore the “City of Trees.” We have suggestions for sustainable lodging, dining, shopping, and that all-important down time, whether you’re in taper mode before the race or celebrating afterwards!
Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort is not only the world’s largest theme park, it’s also the site of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, two days of races ranging from the 5K to the marathon that attract tens of thousands of runners.
When you think of Walt Disney World and its environs, nature and sustainability may not be the first things that come to mind. But Walt Disney himself was an ardent environmentalist whose beliefs are carried on by the company that bears his name, and Central Florida offers a wide array of sustainable options for every aspect of your trip, whether you’re racing or just visiting “the most magical place on earth.”
The Boston Athletic Association is putting in the work to make their races more sustainable and their progress looks promising. While they’re doing their part to make the Boston Marathon eco-friendly, you can do yours through your choices of where to stay, eat, and shop when you’re in Boston.
And don’t forget about getting out in nature while you’re there – that’s a big part of being a sustainable runner! Check out our recommendations for green spaces to visit while you’re in “America’s Walking City.”
London is a global leader in sustainability, and the TCS London Marathon is a leader in sustainable racing, doing its part to help the city reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Hotels and restaurants are too, and we’re sharing some of them for you to check out while you’re in London for the marathon – or any other time!
And be sure to refresh yourself by visiting at least one of London’s many green spaces while you’re in the city. They’re everywhere – from the ruins of a 17th century church, to atop a Brutalist theatre, to a WWII bomb site. And of course, there are the justly famous Royal Parks and Hampstead Heath!
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly destination for a trip, and a race that shares those values, check out Boulder and Boulderthon! Boulder, Colorado, has been a leader in preserving the natural environment for well over a hundred years and Boulderthon is carrying on the tradition of innovative environmentalism.
We have plenty of suggestions for ways that you can sustain yourself and the planet while you’re in this beautiful city, whether you’re looking for a place to eat, sleep, shop, or enjoy the amazing Rocky Mountain scenery!
When you’re going out of town for a race – or on business, or on vacation – we’ve got some ideas for how you can pack to make your trip better for the planet.
We share some interesting (we think so, anyway!) facts about the items we use every day, and have a separate checklist that you can print out and use when you’re packing for your next trip.