February 21, 2018
The 2017 California International Marathon (CIM) produced by the Sacramento Running Association has officially earned gold level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. Organizers created and implemented new plans and expanded on existing programs to benefit the local community to earn a total of 48 of the best practice standards set forth by the Council, in each of program’s five categories, including planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity and community legacy.
“I am so proud of the hard work of our staff, Board, and volunteers to comprehensively integrate sustainability into our race planning and operations processes at CIM,” said Race Director Eli Asch. “We strive to be a leader in our events’ positive impact on our community, and this recognition by the Council as a gold-level sustainable event–one of only two races in California to receive this distinction in 2017–is a testament to those efforts. It’s our hope that we inspire our fellow Sacramento-area races to follow our lead and make sustainability a core value and a key consideration while planning and operating their running events.”
Highlights from the 2017 race weekend that earned credit towards certification included:
Environmental:
Developed a formal plan to reduce event’s environmental footprint and increase social impact
Diverted 45 tons (77 percent) of all event waste from going to landfill by recycling and working to procure biodegradable materials then collect and compost them
Promoted sustainable practices through interactive volunteer stations
Encouraged active and public transport by offering a free bike valet at the State Capitol for secure bicycle parking, and partnering with Sacramento Regional Transit to handout free one day passes at the CIM Expo & Packet Pick-up at the Sacramento Convention Center
Identified and calculated all uses of water and energy, as well as the resulting greenhouse gas emissions related to producing the event
Shared intentions, sustainability plans and calls to action on social media, at community outreach events, and in participant newsletters
Community & Inclusion:
Hosted the annual United States Association of Blind Athletes Marathon Championships
Partnered with Goodwill Industries to collect clothing items at the start line, on course, and at the Expo for redistribution and reuse in the community
Engaged 66 schools and more than 2,400 local youth in the ‘Runnin for Rhett’ fitness and healthy lifestyle program. 1,802 students finished the MaraFUNrun 5k and Fitness Walk during the 2017 event weekend.
Promoted partnership with the American River Parkway Foundation to raise awareness and funds. The foundation is the sole beneficiary of the annual ‘Run the Parkway 20 miler,’ produced by the Sacramento Running Association.
The two-year certification was awarded based on planned activities and programs, documentation of policies and on-site assessment of the 2017 race weekend by a third-party evaluator from WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES.
About the SACRAMENTO RUNNING ASSOCIATION and California International Marathon:
The CIM is organized by the Sacramento Running Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners. The 36th annual California International Marathon will be held on December 2, 2018.
Sacramento State students helped form the 2017 CIM Green Team to engage and educate Expo visitors about properly sorting waste to divert materials from the landfill.