no more cups on the run course, going green (Page 2)

This video shows how the cup-free system works.... Not sure how well that would work in large races - they would need a lot of water jugs to avoid back-ups at the aid stations!

A company I used to work for makes compostable paper cups. I tried to get some sales people to start talking to race directors, but they never did. Here are a couple of links.

http://letsgogreen.biz/pages/utensils/cold_ecotainer.html

http://www.internationalpaper.com/US/EN/Products/ecotainer/ColdCups...

Looks like one could end up with a sticky hand if they're going for the gatorade. Not sure how I feel about that.

But I like how it's not the push button dispensers, that would save time. 

THe cup free racing video makes a lot more sense than the one they have on their main page.  Looks like their dispensers are the key.

I will be really cuious to see how it goes at Vineman.  I certainly like the idea of it -- I hate the cups everywhere, and that's the very reason I carry my own hydration for anything over a 5K and ignore the aid stations.

I do not want to stop on the run to refill my silly pouch.  This may work for slower runners that like to stop at water stations and walk, but this would mess me up.  This is just going to traffic jam everyone up.  Horrible idea.

Where did you get that info?

And do you know if that's true for the full, or just the half?

The pouch is silicone and not meant to be thrown out.  I used mine this morning and it's great for runs that have water fountains along the way.  I don't have to carry heavy water but I can get 6oz of water to sip over a period then just clip the virtually weightless pouch back to my shorts and keep on going until the next fountain.  I understand that for faster racers this may not work but seriously people quit spreading the wrong information.  Cups are not re-used nor are the pouches just thrown out at the end. 

Not sure how it would work during a race, filling it etc.  However, I am glad there is at least some talk about using less cups, it's crazy how much waste there is.  But I am guilty, I hate running with something in my hand.

I went to the website thinking I'd just get one to have for myself when I run.  I currently take my Camelback on longer runs in this Houston heat but I often wish I could just have a gu pouch of water so this seemed like a simple solution until I saw the price.  I figured since they were being used for races they must be cheap - WRONG!  I can't believe they are charging that much for a 6 ounce pouch!  I could buy two good size water bottles for $14.

FTR - If I got one in a race I would totally re-use it and keep it for future runs.  Until I saw the price I was going to get one for all the runners in the family.  So if you're not going to use yours feel free to ship to me, I'll pay postage.



Edited by KeriKadi 2010-07-10 2:33 PM

You can fill up the pouch of 6 oz in 1" with special nozzles so how will that slow you down more than getting hand off for volunteer?

Race Directors can staff aid stations with far few volunteers (which they normally pay or make a donation to their team/club/organization) so it will save money.

How is the filling it any different than filling up a soda at a fast food place like Panera or McDonalds? Both have a place to push against and it is designed not to spread germs.

I've seen races they have reused cups off the ground as they have run out of clean cups..now that is gross.

Come on as triathletes we pee in our wetsuits, on our bikes, wipe our noses, mouths and eat food, gels, without washing our hands and we are worrying about cleanliness of this...think how are the cups filled...I've volunteered at aid stations....it isn't exactly sanitary.

I'd like to try it as I think it could be really good on many levels. I'm a bop person so aid stations aren't really crowded but it may be an issue in MOP but with enough containers dispensing hydration it should work.

Why not just do a bottle exchange with fuel belt.  I have though that Fuel Belt should sponsor a race where they just pass out their 8 oz bottles at the water stops.  Then you drink it, or put it in your own fuel belt for consumption at your leisure.

At the end of the race, they take all of the used bottles, sanitize and sell at a discount.

I only know about the full, not sure about the 70.3 but I doubt it.

Not a bad idea but some of us don't want to carry a bottle around and having hundreds of bottles all over the ground would really get in the way.  This seems like once you drink it just tuck it in your belt or shorts and you don't even know it's there.  I have a fuel belt but have switched to a CamelBak because the belt really hurts my hips no matter how many bottles I have on it.

Unless you're in a pack of 200 in a large marathon, all trying to refill at 10 stations.

John

L

I see a race is using this by me,, I might volunteer just to see how it goes. 

For a big race instead of just having a 100 ft aid station every mile, you could have many of these stretched all over the course. Not sure how you would keep them filled like that though

I have lots of doubts about it, since you are hoping people are aware of their surroundings and are willing to be polite to fellow racers.   I wouldn't want to do a race that is using it for the first time, since I can see quite a few issues with it, but it's still a good idea that with some planning and work could be pretty cool

I'm still curious as to where the OP got this information. I'm signed up for the half and have not received any type of email about these bottles. I also went through the website and saw nothing about it. Any one have a link for something? thanks.

Several thoughts from someone who's job involves providing hydration to athletes:

1. Coolers are not as clean as you think.
 
A.  If the RD receives new coolers prior to a race from a sponsor, and does not wash them out, but just fills them right out of the box, there will be small bits of plastic and insulation in the coolers. Besides, new coolers ALWAYS taste funny for the first few uses. 

B. If not drained and dried properly, coolers will grow mold VERY quickly.  Think about the RD who runs races every weekend during the summer.  As soon as one race is done, all the coolers are thrown into a dark, usually not well ventilated trailer until they are taken out to be filled at the next race.

2. This product will result in more dehydration and/or heat illness cases.

A. Go to the link in the original post and go to Learn More then Videos then scroll down to Debut at Canyonlands Half Marathon.  During the video clip over 60 people run right past the coolers, only 3 stop for water.  When have you ever seen LESS THAN 5% of runners in a half marathon get water at an aid station?

B. Unless there are multiple fast fill coolers spaced 10 to 20 yards apart at an aid station, how is a runner going to get enough water to both drink and cool themselves?  6 ounces, assuming that you can completely fill the pouch, is not a lot of water, so do you drink at one aid station and cool at the next?

C. Equipment failure could result in no water for runners.  The pouch may tear or be lost during the race, the spout may break, and coolers can be tipped/knocked over.

3. Not a truly "Green" product.

A. The pouch, the coolers, and the quick fill spout are all plastic products and all subject to breaking/failing and therefore having to be replaced and disposed of.  

  B. The number of coolers needed to provide proper hydration will take up a lot of space.  Bigger trailers means more fuel being used to transport all of this equipment from race to race.

 Just my thoughts, please don't take it personally.

I'm not sure I like the idea.  As a lot of posters said, "It could work if....." and there are a lot of if's.

You can't have a standard aid station setup or their will be HUGE traffic jams.  Aid stations work because you can just grab a cup without stopping.  Even if one person stops for just a second, the next person behind them has to slow down or stop and it's a domino effect.  Think about cars on a road....half the time you don't even see what caused the traffic jam because it was just a momentary slowdown that affects the preceding mile of road.

I also hate carrying fluids during a race.  I get that you can fill/dump and carry just a flimsy pouch...yeah, that works I guess.  But a lot of posters brought up the "dump water on your head" thing too.  Sounds like that will be much hotter.

And as others said...I don't see how using a plastic pouch that will likely be thrown away by a lot of folks is better than using biodegradable paper cups made out of recycled materials.

This user's post has been ignored.

Paper cups are more than just paper. They have a poly (read oil based plastic) coating that keeps the water from coming out. Many cold cups have a coating on the inside and outside. This keeps it from biodegrading in land fills and from being recycled. Some cups use wax instead. This has the same effect. The cups in the link I posted earlier use a plant based coating that is biodegradable.

That's what I would be afraid of.  You would need a LOT of stations to prevent large traffic jams in big races.