Antrim Coast Half Marathon goes eco with recycled medals, T-shirts and tree planting

Antrim Coast Half Marathon and street mile finishers will be presented with a recycled wooden medal in a move to make the race more sustainable.

Four-time Olympic champion, Sir Mo Farah, won the World Athletics approved event along the stunning Antrim Coast in 2020 and became a race ambassador the following year.

While his 2022 attendance hasn’t been confirmed, double Olympic and four times World Championship long distance runner Haile Gebrselassie will be taking part.

Read more: XRNI protest Cloghan Point oil terminal application at Go petrol Belfast

And this year, organisers have gone all out to make it as eco-friendly as possible by planting a tree for every runner while race T-shirts will be made from 100% recycled polyester, sourced locally.

The half marathon and ‘classic street mile’ take place in Larne on August 27 and are sponsored by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Speaking about its eco-credentials, race organiser James McIlroy said: “Wooden medals use less energy and have a lower carbon footprint than metal counterparts.

The design on both sides (Antrim Coast Half Marathon)

“Also, they are fully recyclable - you can shave the face off any access medals and re-laser a new logo on.

“In all honesty we will probably give the excess medals to local school children but it’s still nice to have the option and we’re not completely discounting it - although there would be travel involved to get this done so not sure how much carbon we’d offset.”

James said all the wood used for the medals will be FSC accredited and that the T-shirts are “100% recycled polyester”.

“For every paid entry for 2022 we will also plant a tree with One Tree Planted,” he added.

As for the issue of throwaway plastic bottles at running events, he admits: “Plastic water bottles are the biggest environmental issue and at the moment it’s drain and drop to remove excess water from the bottles to make it easier to recycle.

The finishers T-shirt (Antrim Coast Half Marathon)

“We did look at, and will continue to look at, integrating paper cups at one of the water stations and as the race grows, we will explore further.

“Although honestly,” he said they are, “very unpopular with runners so we will implement this gradually to try and get right as best as possible”.

READ NEXT:

• Watch: Behind the scenes with Rathlin Islanders helping endangered puffins

• NI environment bosses failing own targets at 40% of 'protected' sites

• Majority of Belfast people want more segregated cycle lanes on roads

• Record NI temperature marked in global WMO report on escalating climate crisis

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.