Paris took the step this past April by directly eliminating the option to receive a bottle or a cup at the aid stations. It was up to the runner to carry their own container. Now follows the Chicago Marathon, which will take a new step in sustainability in its edition on October 11, though not as drastic as the Paris Marathon. The race will allow, for the first time, runners across the field to refill their own bottles, soft flasks, or reusable cups during the course.
The initiative, developed together with Culligan International and HydraPak, marks a significant step for a race that seeks to reduce its environmental impact. However, Chicago will maintain its 20 usual aid stations, where water and Gatorade Endurance will continue to be offered in paper cups.
Precisely there lies one of the project’s peculiarities: the new recharge stations do not replace the traditional cups, but offer an additional option for runners who prefer to carry their own hydration.
According to Carey Pinkowski, the event’s executive director, sustainability has been one of the marathon’s top priorities for more than a decade, and these stations represent “an important step” in that strategy.