Wisconsin’s Most Sustainable Marathon

ECO ECM

Our Commitment to a Sustainable Race Weekend 🌱

At the Eau Claire Marathon, we’re dedicated to reducing our environmental impact and preserving the beauty of our region. With nearly 5,000 participants and several more spectators, we understand the impact a large event can have on our community and the environment. That’s why we’re stepping up our efforts to reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote green practices. From eco-friendly race materials to waste diversion programs, we’re working closely with sustainability partners to ensure a greener event. We’re also encouraging our runners and spectators to join us in these efforts by offering tips on how you can plan for a more sustainable training season and race day experience. With the help of our participants, volunteers, and community, we’re working toward reducing our environmental footprint and creating an event that everyone can enjoy—while protecting the place we all call home.

Join us in making the Eau Claire Marathon not only a celebration of athletic achievement but also a testament to our collective efforts to care for our planet. Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for the marathon and the region we love.

For the long run ECM sustainibility initiative

🍌🌱 Sustainable Steps Forward! 🌎🏃‍♂️

We’re excited to announce our partnership with Earthbound Environmental Solutions to compost all post-race banana peels at the Eau Claire Marathon! ♻️

After you refuel at the finish line, toss your peels in the designated bins, and Earthbound will turn them into nutrient-rich compost—keeping waste out of landfills and helping the planet. 🌍

Small actions make a BIG impact! Thank you for running and going green with us! 💚

#EauClaireMarathon #RunGreen #SustainableRunning #CompostForACause #EarthboundEnvironmental

Donate your old shoes at ECM photo

DONATE YOUR OLD SHOES! 🌱

We’re hosting a shoe drive to help create opportunities for women in developing nations to start and sustain small businesses. Your new or gently used shoes can make a difference! 

When: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 11 AM - 6 PM
Where: ECM Expo – Sustainability Booth

Drop off your shoes and learn how the Eau Claire Marathon is on pace to become the most sustainable race in Wisconsin! 

🌎🏃‍♂️🌱 Join Us for a PLOGGING Party! 🏃‍♀️🌿

Let’s give back to the course that gives us so much! Join us on Saturday, April 15th, at 11:45 AM as we PLOG (pick up litter while jogging) the last 6 miles of the Eau Claire Marathon course.

📍 Meet-up Location: Relay Transition #3: Western Ave/ Air Communication Building
🕛 Time: 11:45 AM
♻️ What to Bring: Running shoes & a love for a cleaner planet! (We’ll provide bags & gloves.)

Let’s keep our course beautiful for race weekend while getting in some miles. Who’s in? 🙌

#EauClaireMarathon #Plogging #RunClean #Sustainability #GivingBack

 

Sustainable Initiatives

  • All participants are provided a reusable gear check bag. 🌱

  • We have donated over 100 bags of discarded clothing at start lines to local reuse stores. 🌱

  • Culligan Water uses reusable jugs at water stations instead of disposable gallons of water, saving an estimated 90,000+ bottles at each event. 🌱

  • All participant bib perks are delivered virtually to reduce what is printed for gear bags. 🌱

  • The Participant Guide is exclusively delivered virtually, reducing printed materials. 🌱

  • The marathon relay utilizes a bussing system that transports the 600 yearly participants from one relay to another, reducing vehicles emissions. 🌱

  • Leftover food from the finish line is donated to local food pantries. 🌱

  • Banners, signs, and flags are printed with limited dates and other restricting information so that they may be reused year after year. 🌱

  • Unclaimed finisher medals are recycled to be melted down into medals for future races. 🌱

Toddler giving thumbs up on top of the pile of donated clothes
Culligan water truck
Bed of truck full of shoe donations

Partners in Sustainability

  • Culligan Water 🌱

  • The Sonnentag Center (Expo location) 🌱

  • Goodwill 🌱

    • Official clothing recycler of the ECM.  Runners are encouraged to discard unwanted clothing items at the start line and along the race course. These items will be collected and donated to Goodwill.

  • The Community Table 🌱

    • The ECM donated leftover food to the Community Table and Meadowview School for their Meadowview Mile.

  • Student Transit 🌱

    • Relay buses help reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change, contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.

  • Soles4Souls & GotSneakers 🌱

    • Program where we collect and donate new and gently-worn shoes and sneakers race weekend

New Initiatives in 2025

  • Bike Valet with Bike Chippewa Valley

  • Organics Composting with Earthbound Environmental 🌱

  • ECM Earth Day Clean-up 2025 (Plogging) 🌱

How you can help - on race weekend.

  • Ride the bus!

  • Take advantage of our free bike valet. It’s perfect for spectators who want to avoid heavy traffic and enjoy a scenic view of Eau Claire!

  • Participants can discard of their unwanted clothing at the start line(s) and along the racecourse to be collected for Goodwill.

  • Place your waste in the proper receptacles for trash, compost, or recycling.

How you can help - throughout the year.

  • Make your running clothes last longer by taking care of them and when you do need to purchase more prioritize items made sustainably.

    • Donate old running shoes and apparel to Goodwill to be textile recycled.

  • Commit to not using single-use water bottles during your training and carrying what you can on your long runs

  • Take up “Plogging” – Picking up litter while jogging!

  • Choose local races! One of the biggest environmental impacts from major running events is the emissions caused by participant travel.