Marathon LAM trying to be green

[395guy]

Preface: I'm all for being green. I buy the most fuel-efficient cars possible for my family. I try to combine trips. I often bike to/from work. I recycle. I try not to waste water or power... etc, etc, etc.

The Los Angeles Marathon is trying to be a green running event:
http://www.lamarathon.com/event/run-green/
I was looking over the list of things they're trying to do. The one I found odd is that they are going to serve only 4 ozs. of water in each cup (instead of 8 ozs.) at each aid station since on average most runners only drink 4 ozs., not 8.

Like I said, I'm all for being resourceful and not wasteful, but to me in a race, this seems like it's going to be very annoying. The last thing I want in a race is someone scrimping on the water of all things ...and especially if it's a sunny day (which it can be in March). And I don't want to have to grab 2 or 3 cups when I'm trying to run a certain pace... and I don't want to stop at every aid station. I just get the impression that LAM has completely forgotten this event is supposed to be a race.

OTOH, LAM won't send out bibs in the mail and there is no race-day packet pick-up. So all 20,000 entrants have to make a separate trip over to Dodger Stadium on either Fri or Sat before the race and then come back for the race on Sunday. Do they forget that probably less than 10% of the runners have a hotel or house near Dodger Stadium? That's over 100 miles of round-trip driving for me. But I'm sure the almighty dollar (and not their "green" concerns) governed that decision since they want a packed out expo... and it's probably too expensive to use 44¢ of their $125 registration fee on a postage stamp.

So LAM... if you want to be green, be lavish with the water but mail out the bibs!