A Gonubie running club has organised one of the first green road-and-trail races along the coast.
Race organisers are coming under pressure not to give runners plastic water sachets, which can land up on beaches, in the bush and the sea.
Gonubie Harriers last week announced that sachets would be replaced by reusable plastic cups during their 28th Gonubie Coastal Challenge on Saturday.
The cups were not to be carried beyond the marked-out litter zones, said race organiser Dru Behrens.
Surfers’ Challenge race director Neville Wilkins said their organising committee was in discussion with committee members and activists to find a solution to the race logistics involved in replacing the sachets with another system.
Two environmental activist runners, Caron Williams and Karen Harvey, have challenged the surfers to find greener ways of keeping thousands of runners hydrated in the iconic race next year.
Behrens said her committee was willing to try and “make some changes that hopefully will assist in reducing the litter that is sometimes left after a big event.
“We are committed to eliminating littering in the forest, on the beach and on the streets of Gonubie during the event. Earlier this year the (Gonubie) beach was strewn with plastic water sachets for months after an organised run that took place along the beach. This plastic ends up in the sea and obviously affects sea life.
“As the Gonubie coastal challenge is run through the forest and along the beach we felt that steps had to be taken to prevent litter such as plastic sachets being dropped in the sensitive surroundings.
“Gonubie Harriers have completely eliminated the use of plastic water sachets for the annual Gonubie Coastal Challenge. We will be using reusable plastic cups for the water and coke and will also have demarcated litter zones, out of which dropping any litter will be prohibited.”
This had been publicised and, while there was “some resistance”, the organisers were hoping for a turnout of over 400 runners.
“We hope other running event organisers will follow our example and help to educate athletes that the littering that goes along with the road races is simply unacceptable,” she said,
There will be 10km and 21km routes starting and ending at the Gonubie Sports Club.
Gonubie club to organise green road-and-trail race
Race organisers are coming under pressure not to give runners plastic water sachets, which can land up on beaches, in the bush and the sea.
Gonubie Harriers last week announced that sachets would be replaced by reusable plastic cups during their 28th Gonubie Coastal Challenge on Saturday.
The cups were not to be carried beyond the marked-out litter zones, said race organiser Dru Behrens.
Surfers’ Challenge race director Neville Wilkins said their organising committee was in discussion with committee members and activists to find a solution to the race logistics involved in replacing the sachets with another system.
Two environmental activist runners, Caron Williams and Karen Harvey, have challenged the surfers to find greener ways of keeping thousands of runners hydrated in the iconic race next year.
Behrens said her committee was willing to try and “make some changes that hopefully will assist in reducing the litter that is sometimes left after a big event.
“We are committed to eliminating littering in the forest, on the beach and on the streets of Gonubie during the event. Earlier this year the (Gonubie) beach was strewn with plastic water sachets for months after an organised run that took place along the beach. This plastic ends up in the sea and obviously affects sea life.
“As the Gonubie coastal challenge is run through the forest and along the beach we felt that steps had to be taken to prevent litter such as plastic sachets being dropped in the sensitive surroundings.
“Gonubie Harriers have completely eliminated the use of plastic water sachets for the annual Gonubie Coastal Challenge. We will be using reusable plastic cups for the water and coke and will also have demarcated litter zones, out of which dropping any litter will be prohibited.”
This had been publicised and, while there was “some resistance”, the organisers were hoping for a turnout of over 400 runners.
“We hope other running event organisers will follow our example and help to educate athletes that the littering that goes along with the road races is simply unacceptable,” she said,
There will be 10km and 21km routes starting and ending at the Gonubie Sports Club.
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