Nature is our playground.
The natural world is where many of our events come to life and where memories are made, from the forests of Kielder to the sand dunes of South Shields. It’s why we’re committed to doing out bit to protect it.
This Earth Day, we wanted to share a few ways we’re weaving sustainability into the heart of our events – not just for the day, but for the long run.
Always trying to do better
We don’t have all the answers. But we try to keep asking ourselves: “How can we reduce our impact and run greener events?”
Here are some of the steps we’re taking – and some that our community has helped shape too.
T-shirts now optional, not automatic
In 2025, we’re making event t-shirts an optional add-on rather than automatically including them in race entries. Why?
- T-shirts take a surprising amount of resources to make.
- Every year we end up with leftovers that go to waste.
We know many runners still treasure their race shirts (and we’ll still offer them!), but this change gives you the choice – and helps us reduce waste together.
Plant a tree instead of a tee
At the Altra Kielder Marathon, participants can choose to plant a tree instead of receiving a t-shirt. We even have a dedicated tree-planting area at Kielder Waterside, and those who take part are sent a What3Words location so they can visit the forest and see the difference they’ve made. This way, we’re not only cutting down on waste, we’re helping to protect the setting of Britain’s most beautiful marathon together.
Read more: Kielder runners chose to plant trees to preserve historic forest
Reusables over landfill
Forget the throwaway plastic goody bags. We’ve switched to reusable fabric tote bags filled with useful, thoughtful items:
- Samples instead of stacks of leaflets
- Refillable water bottles (thanks to partners who support this!)
- Practical gear you’ll actually want to keep
Less waste. More value.
Eco-friendly water packaging
We make sure all on-course and finish line water is served in recyclable or compostable packaging. It’s a small touch that adds up across thousands of runners.
Group travel to cut emissions
At the Altra Kielder Marathon weekend, we run a dedicated bus from Newcastle to the event site. It’s better for the planet and easier than hunting for a car park space. If more people share the journey, we can make a difference together.
The little things add up
Even the small details matter – like using reusable cable ties for signage and branding. Tiny swaps like this, made across multiple events, reduce single-use plastics and help keep our race villages and event sites that big greener.
A shared journey
We can certainly do more, but we’re proud of the progress we’re making and grateful to our community for supporting the changes.
Earth Day is a time to reflect, but our goal is to keep improving all year round. We believe that when people love something, they’re more likely to protect it. That’s why we’re proud to inspire a love of the outdoors through every event we create.
Because when nature is your playground, you look after it.
