Green Ideas for Sweetwater 420 Fest 5K: Candler Park N. O. and Sweetwater Weigh In

Last month, I provided a recap of the Sweetwater 420 Fest 5K with a few ideas for making it a greener event. Well, I heard back from both the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization (which manages the 5K) and from Sweetwater Brewery (which hosts the Fest). Both offered some interesting feedback on my suggestions – enough to warrant a separate blog post.

Here’s what I learned:

No water stations: With an April race date, I questioned whether water stations were really necessary. The weather was mild for this year’s race, but that wasn’t the case in 2010 when temperatures were much warmer. According to Dave Aynes with the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization (CPNO), the group was criticized in 2010 for not having enough water stations. As Dave shared with me, CPNO is interested in ideas to make the race greener. One way runners can do their part is to bring their own water bottles.

Reduce trash - Sell beer in commemorative mugs: When I suggested this idea, I thought it was a “no brainer.” Boy, was I wrong. Per Steve Farace with Sweetwater, “We did that the first year and it turned into a nightmare game of twister trying to refill specific cups.” Understood – trying to keep track of which beer cup belongs to which person when there are dozens of people in line is a logistical mess. Dave with CPNO also mentioned that “some health departments don’t technically allow it (think new buffet plate).”

Offer a compost bin for banana peels: With 2,000 participants at the race, I suggested offering a compost bin to collect the peels instead of trash cans. This appears to be the only idea I offered that may be easy to implement. If you’re running the race next year, be on the look-out for compost bins.

I’d like to thank both Dave Aynes and Steve Farace for sharing feedback on my blog post. There are a multitude of factors involved with operating an event – particularly one as large as the Sweetwater 420 Fest and 5K. While the hosts of these events strive to be green, it has to be balanced with the needs to make sure the event is also safe and enjoyable.

Sweetwater 420 5K: Fun Beer Run Could Be Greener

The Sweetwater 420 5K had three features that I love in a race:

1.) Late morning start time (11 a.m.)

2.) Great intown route (which I could bike to)

3.) Beer after the race (who doesn’t love beer?)

And it was a fun race. The weather was sunny and slightly warm and the route was enjoyable. The Sweetwater 420 Fest bills itself as an eco-conscience event with the tag line “We’re here for a good time. She’s here for a long time.” wrapped around an image of planet earth. Like a lot of people these days, I strive to be environmentally responsible. However, I felt certain aspects of the race could have been more eco-friendly.

Here are my ideas on making the Sweetwater 420 5K a greener event:

No water stations Waxed-coated water cups littered the street at the two water stations along the route. For a 5K, there’s really no need for hydration stations – especially for a race hosted in April where heat is not an issue. Wax-coated cups cannot be recycled. Instead, hand out plastic water bottles at the finish line.

Reduce trash - Sell beer in commemorative mugs While music is a big part of the fest, the real star is Sweetwater’s beer. And lots of it is sold at the event in plastic cups. The recyclable cups proudly promote being made from plant-based plastics, yet I saw a lot of them dumped in waste bins designated for trash instead of the recycling bins. Let’s face it -- people under the influence of beer don’t always make the best decisions. Instead of serving each beer in a new plastic cup, sell the first beer in a commemorative mug (for $2 or $3 more) and refills for $6 each. The result will raise more money for community organizations and reduce festival trash.

Offer a compost bin for banana peels At the end of the race, runners were offered bananas and bagels while they waited to get their festival wrist bands. With 2,000 runners, that produces a lot of banana peels. Instead of throwing food trash in a waste bin, why not offer the option of a compost bin? The compost could be used to fertilize the landscape around Candler Park.

Overall, this is a fun event and I’m glad a local company like Sweetwater is an advocate for conservation. I plan to share my ideas with the folks at Sweetwater and I’ll let you know what I hear back from them.

UPDATE 5/9/2011: Both the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization and Sweetwater provided feedback on my ideas which I shared in a new blog post.

Here’s the 5K route from yesterday’s race:

• Start on McClendon Avenue (by Epworth United Methodist Church)

• Head west, running past Candler Park

• Turn right on Euclid Terrace

• Veer right onto Euclid Avenue

• Turn left on Fairview Avenue

• Turn right on S. Ponce de Leon Avenue

• Turn right on Fairview Avenue

• Turn left on Oakdale Road

• Turn left on North Avenue

• Turn right on Candler Park Drive

• Turn right on Benning Place

• Turn left on Oakdale Road

• Turn left on McClendon Avenue

• Turn left on Candler Park Drive

• Finish at the corner of Miller Avenue and Candler Park Drive

Atlanta Spring Road Race Roundup

Trees are blooming and daffodils are sprouting … sure signs that spring is just around the corner. Ready to hit the pavement with fellow runners? Here’s a roundup of races to check out.

ShamRock ‘N Roll Road Race – March 13
Get into the spirit of St. Patty’s day with the Junior League’s annual race. Got a kilt? Wear it during the race for a chance to win a $250 Belk gift certificate. The event features both a 5K run and 10K that’s a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race. Strollers and dogs are welcomed. As an added bonus, runners are eligible for a variety of discounts at Atlantic Station shops and cafes by showing their race bib.

Publix Georgia Marathon & Half-Marathon – March 20
It’s the big race of the spring running season. And there’s still time to sign-up – online registration closes March 16. This is one of my favorite races – terrific routes through Atlanta neighborhoods and convenient access to MARTA. With Publix as this year’s sponsor, there’s sure to be a great selection of post-race food. Not up for running the 13.1 or 26.2-mile distance? Grab a cup of coffee and join one of the neighborhood cheering stations.

Tour deCatur 5K & 1-Mile Run– March 26
This is truly an event designed for families. Last year’s race hosted more than 1,200 runners, with several hundred school-age kids among the participants. In fact, Decatur elementary schools host track clubs to help kids train for the 1-mile fun run. Proceeds benefit the Decatur Education Foundation, which supports educational programs and offers assistance to students in need.

Emory PA 5K Charitable Fun Run – April 2
For intown runners, this Druid Hills race is a convenient option. Physician Assistants’ students at Emory University host the annual race to help fund healthcare programs that serve the needy in Georgia. Proceeds from the event benefit Camp Sunshine, the South Georgia Farmworker Health Project, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. As an added bonus, the first 250 race registrants get free breakfast and coffee from the Waffle House.

Run Before You Crawl 5K – April 9
Yes, you guessed it – this event mixes a road race with a pub crawl in East Atlanta Village. Fortunately, the race takes place before the drinking kicks off. With a 9 a.m. race and 10:30 a.m. start for the pub crawl, it does seem a bit early for the alcohol-infused festivities. But, as the event organizers claim on the site “…it will be 11:30 in Nova Scotia, and that’s nearly noon.” Register by March 13 and the combo race/pub crawl fee is $27; it increases to $32 afterwards. If you plan on drinking, consider a designated drive since the MARTA rail line is not conveniently located near East Atlanta Village.

Sweetwater 420 Fest 5K – April 16
What’s not to love about this race … an 11 a.m. start time, beautiful intown neighborhood, convenient MARTA station and free beer. The Sweetwater 420 Fest is a great local gathering with festival food and bands. You can spend the day (or the weekend) hanging out. The race bib tear-offs are redeemable for a free beer plus festival wristband. Proceeds benefit the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization.

Big Peach 5K Walk/Run – April 30
The folks at Big Peach offer a fun racing experience through the streets of Buckhead and Brookhaven. The race kicks off at the Brookhaven MARTA station and ends at Big Peach’s store location. Post-race, runners are treated to food, prizes and music in the parking lot of the Cherokee Plaza Shopping Center.

Girls on the Run 5K – April 30
I’m a big fan of this organization, which operates running programs for girls aged 8 to 13 to foster a healthy lifestyle and self-confidence. During the spring 5K race, GOTR participants “graduate” by running the race with their team mates, coaches and family. West Stride in Buckhead plays host to this year’s event. Proceeds from the race benefit the scholarship fund for Girls on the Run of Atlanta.

Lauren’s Run 5K & 2K Fun Run - May 1
Lauren Zagoria and Lauren Kochman were two little girls who shared a legacy – both succumbed to childhood cancer. In honor of their memory, runners will gather at the Concourse Office Park in Sandy Springs in support of pediatric cancer research. For an additional donation of $25, runners can pay tribute to a friend or loved one affected by cancer. Tribute signs will be placed along the 2K race course. Registration is available at the event site.