eco efforts

The March Triathlon Series Committee is dedicated to hosting a green and sustainable triathlon and educating the triathlon community about using sustainable practices. We have committed to increasing our green and sustainability efforts each year because there is always opportunity to improve!

Sustainable Practices

Below we have listed each of the practices we will be incorporating into our event this year. Feel free to check them out and offer us additional suggestions.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact our Director of Green and Sustainable Practices.

 

Organic Race Tees

This year March Triathlon Series Committee has decided to sponsor the purchase of an organic March Triathlon Series race t-shirt. Buying organic cotton race tees reduces the impact on the environment of the production of the tees. Additionally, in the future, we are looking to eliminate the production of too many t-shirts and to avoid t-shirts being simply tossed in the bottom of a drawer and never used. Furthermore, every athlete would have the opportunity to pre-order an organic cotton race t-shirt to eliminate the excess production of tees.

Reusable Drawstring Check-In Bags

After bagging the bag last year, we have decided to replace it with a reusable drawstring bag. The idea behind the reusable drawstring bag is to use it for race day check-in, which can also be used to transport your racing gear to and from transition. The bag can then continue to serve a similar purpose beyond the March Triathlon Series by being used for practices, gear, etc.

Additionally, we are working to reduce the number of coupons passed out in the race day check-in bags by using electronic coupons instead. We have been working hard with our sponsors to reduce the unneeded coupon printouts while still providing you with great deals and excellent exposure for our sponsors. Look out for an email close to race day with great coupons!

Locally Sourced Water

Following the decision we made last year, we have decided to continue the use of local water rather than using bottled water. Bottled water creates an excess of plastic waste that can be easily be avoided with the use of locally sourced water. Additionally, bottled water adds unnecessary additional costs to hosting triathlons and other large races.

Cups & Bottles

For almost every race that involves some sort of endurance portion, water or nutrition drinks are provided throughout for replenishment. Small cups containing the drinks are handed out, and racers generally grab several separate cups throughout the extent of the race.

Multiply these several cups with the number of participants, and you have a substantial amount of waste generated for this single purpose. Waste generated from cups can easily be changed from a negative to a positive impact by a simple change in materials.

By choosing cups made from materials that can be composted (i.e. paper), this waste can then eventually become fertilizer to be sent to farmers for gardening. For this reason, we plan on using paper cups on our run course and reusable water bottles on the bike course.

Local Foods

Along with the initiative in past March Triathlon Series, we are again making the effort to buy locally grown food to feed our hungry triathletes. Using locally grown food eliminates the transportation of food ultimately eliminating excess carbon emission used by the trucks, planes, boats, etc. used to bring the food to the area. We are using local restaurant and grocers to purchase and sponsor our food needs. We will providing oranges grown on Cal Poly’s Campus picked by Cal Poly Students, talk about local!

Compost and Recycling

As more and more events strive to become more sustainable and ecologically minded, one of the first actions usually taken is to limit or properly manage the wastes resulting from the event.

Recycling bins in most areas can be seen as commonly as regular trash bins. While compost bins have quickly been moving into mainstream as the public is becoming increasingly educated on the extensive benefits of composting.

This year we plan on having recycling out on the race course as well as in the expo. Since most compostable materials will be in the expo area, we plan on having compost bins there as well.

Renewable Energy

We are once again hoping to make use of renewable energy this year! We are using the Solar Generator of Cal Poly’s Renewable Energy Club to help supply energy to run this year’s triathlon!

Promoting Sustainable Transportation

This year when you register on active.com you can choose to donate to a great cause! We are promoting sustainable and safe transportation by promoting SLO Bike Coalition. They advocate for safe, sustainable transportation for all of San Luis Obispo.

We also encourage all racers to carpool to the race. Make a friend and save some energy, share a ride!

Educating the Triathlon Community

As MTS grows in size, we are looking to grow our post-race expo as well. Each athlete finishes and goes to the expo area to enjoy his- or herself and to replenish some of the energy that used up on the race course. We plan on using this time to help educate the triathlon community about sustainable practices. Several Cal Poly green and sustainable clubs will be attending the expo to help further our efforts.

Clothing and Shoe Drive

This year we are hosting a clothing and shoe drive to help reuse clothing and reduce waste! We will be collecting all donations at a booth in the expo area before, during, and after the race. The idea behind the clothing and shoe drive is to help those in need, but to also help the environment. By reusing the gently used clothing that people no longer wear, this cuts down on the quantity of clothes needed to be produced to clothe the world. So clean out your closets and bring the clothes and shoes you no longer wear to donate! (Please wash used clothing and shoes before donating them!)