How do you reduce running-related plastic? We just started running races. We did a 10K this weekend and got a plastic bag full of plastic-wrapped food samples and Gu along with our race number.

Location:Berkeley, California, United States

Name: Becca Ryals and Gordon Bennett

Week: 30

Personal Info:

A couple and a couple of cats.

We’ve been busy this summer, so we haven’t posted our weekly tallies here in a while. We haven’t posted on this Challenge format since week 22, but we have just finished week 30. Rather than posting several posts here, you can check out our blog.

Here’s week 30.

Becca Ryals and Gordon Bennett’s personal blog: http://becca.posterous.com/

Total items: 18

Total weight: 4.3 ounces

Items: Recyclable
none

Items: Nonrecyclable
new:
three condiment cups
two race swag bags
two stickers from race swag bag
granola bar wrapper from race swag bag
one envelope with bubble wrap and tape (mailed to me, but reused)
one wrapper from canola oil
one insert from canola oil

old:
tube of toothpaste
two forks
one knife
two rubber bands
one broken container lid

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
three condiment cups – We’ve been getting a lot of these from restaurants lately, even when we specifically ask to exclude them. Guess we should be eating out less.

plastic bags – We got these from a 10K race. I don’t know if we HAD to take the bags, but our numbers were in them, and they were prepared for the racers.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
plastic utensils. These have been sitting in our drawer for a while, and we finally decided to chuck them.

cheap plastic containers.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Toothpaste. Actually, I noticed your recent toothpaste blog. I can’t wait to try out some of the options! (Gordon is a little hesitant)

Rubber bands. Sometimes they come on celery and other produce.

Canola oil. We buy it in glass containers, but they have a plastic lid. We use it a lot for baking.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Sports seem to require a lot of plastic, even low-gear sports like running! I accidentally forgot my shoes at the 10K and ran in flip flops/barefoot. I actually liked it. Has anyone here tried barefoot running?

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
condiment cups. Life is getting a little less busy, so we’ll be eating out less.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?