Say Goodbye To Disposable Cups At Livermore Valley Half Marathon

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore Valley Half Marathon runners will receive reusable, collapsible cups in lieu of disposable cups at the March 15 run. Bibs will now be attached with reusable fasteners — not safety pins — made by San Ramon-based BibBoards.

Mascot Sports, which coordinates the Livermore run and others in the East Bay, announced Wednesday that the move is expected to eliminate tens of thousands of disposable cups at each running event.

Tim Cole, Mascot Sports vice president of events, estimated that about 24,000 cups could be saved between the 2,000 runners estimated to attend the Livermore Valley Half.

Cole hopes runners keep the reusable bib fasteners for future events, too.

The course is a beautiful, bucolic run through vineyards and serene nature, he said, and it's only fitting that the race become more eco-friendly.

"It really makes a statement," Cole said.

While Cole said most runners probably already carry a water bottle while they run, he suggested that others try getting used to taking water bottles on a run instead.

The system was first piloted at the inaugural Bay Bridge Half Marathon last year, and will now expand to the Livermore Valley Half, The Oaktown Half and Oakland Turkey Trot will also eliminate cups and safety pins.

Mascot Sports announced the move came as it expands its partnership with Oakland-based HydraPak, which makes the reusable cups, and Nuun Hydration, which manufactures electrolyte tablets. The cups also have loops that can be hooked onto a race belt or looped around a thumb, Cole said.

The Livermore Valley Half Marathon will be held Sunday, March 15 at 7:30 a.m. The course starts in downtown Livermore, runs down Arroyo Road to Sycamore Grove Park and heads back to downtown Livermore, along the eastern outskirts of the city.

Learn more about the run and register here.