Courtesy: event press release

Runner's World ranked the Austin Marathon and Half-Marathon number one on the magazine's first-ever list of the "Top 10 Greenest Races." The premiere running publication evaluated eco- friendly races in North America and found the Austin Marathon's efforts to be the most comprehensive.

The event's results include reduced trash, increased recycling, elimination of toxic chemicals in portable restrooms, composted food waste and decreased race-day energy use from solar power. These successes came in the Austin Marathon's first year of implementing eco-friendly practices.

"Since our race takes place in one of the greenest cities on the planet, we're making sure the Austin Marathon is as eco- friendly as possible," said, Michelle Sandquist, associate race director and champion of the green efforts. "We were thrilled to have such amazing results and are honored that Runner's World recognized the efforts of our team and especially our runners."

"Greenest Races" writer Kelly Bastone said of the Austin race, "As if solar generators, a finish-line farmers' market, organic race tees, and bio-diesel vehicles weren't enough, the event recycles 14,375 pounds of trash."

Below are additional features from the 2008 Austin Marathon & Half Marathon that make it the "Greenest Race" in North America:

-- Cardboard-only dumpsters were full with 10,000 pounds of boxes, used to hold everything from water and PowerAde to t- shirts and race medals
-- Recycling bins from Keep Austin Beautiful were filled with more than 13,000 plastic water bottles, totaling 4,375 pounds of plastic recycled on race day
-- Finishers in the half-marathon took home an organic cotton t-shirt; the 7,000 tees saved approximately 2,334 pounds of pesticide
-- Three Biodiesel and two solar-powered generators saved approximately 100 gallons of gas on race day
-- Ten official race vehicles and trucks used Bio-diesel fuel
-- No-idle zones were enforced for all race vehicles, saving approximately 18 gallons of gas and 95 pounds of carbon dioxide during race day
-- Race restrooms were stocked with 1,500 rolls of toilet paper made with recycled content
-- All 250 Austin Outhouse units were serviced with Dyna- Bact Environmental Toilet Deodorizer (a non-toxic alternative to traditional harsh chemicals)
-- More than 500 articles of discarded clothing were donated to local charities instead of being thrown away

Since its first race in 1992 with 605 competitors, the Austin Marathon has grown to become the 19th largest in the United States. It is the 10th largest combined marathon and half- marathon event in the country, attracting more than 11,000 runners and 30,000 spectators to Austin each year and generating more than $10 million for the local economy. The goal of the event has always been to organize a world-class marathon that unites the community, brings national attention to the region, promotes health and fitness, and serves as a fundraising engine for both local and national charities. The 2009 Austin Marathon and Half Marathon will be held Feb. 15, 2009.