Each November the ING New York City Marathon goes through 2.25 million paper cups at water stations.
But thanks to the maker of a new device, it's possible that New York, Chicago and even the Boston Marathon could cut the number of cups they use by two-thirds and possibly even eliminate them completely.
The device is called the HydraPouch, something so simple you have to wonder why nobody thought of it before.
It's basically just a recyclable food grade silicone rubber cup, that opens with a squeeze, and can be refilled on the run. It holds six ounces of water, has a pour spout so it's much easier to drink out of on the go than a paper cup, and is light enough to clip to your shorts between aid stations.
Last week, Michael Lynes, the winner of the Tacoma Marathon used a HydraPouch instead of paper cups. Former Olympian Jeff Galloway also uses one.
When it's paired with a HydraPour, a quick-fill valve that attaches to the water coolers most races already own, you can fill the HydraPouch in less than a second as you're running by a water stop. The HydraPour actually works with any refillable bottle. In fact, on the HydraPour website, they even show pictures of it being used with competitor's products like the Amphipod and Fuel Belt.
The HydraPour also cuts down the number of volunteers needed to man a water stop. In 2009, the Liberty Run, a cup free race in Denver, Colorado, used the HydraPour and needed just one volunteer at each aid station, as opposed to the 10 to 15 they would have needed with cups.
Craig McSavaney, the inventor of the HydraPouch and the HydraPour, came up with the idea while racing a marathon in Jamaica back in 2002. Instead of a cup McSavaney was handed a sausage shaped plastic bag filled with water at each aid station. He liked the way it was easy to hold and drink on the run, and was determined to come up with something reusable that would be just as simple.
The HydraPouch and HydraPour took him five-years to develop, and last year he launched both products.
The HydraPouch retails for $16.95, but McSavaney doesn't sell the HydraPour. Any race director who wants to use the system can get the valves for free. McSavaney boxes them up and ships them out before the race, and only asks that his company be recognized as a race sponsor.
On Memorial Day the Bolder Boulder, one of the largest road races in the entire world, will be using the HydraPour system. With more than 50,000 competitors, it will be a huge test for the product.
The Bolder Boulder will also offer paper cups for runners who don't want to carry their own bottle or HydraPouch.
This summer the Estes Park Marathon will be the first marathon in the country to go entirely cup free. The race will use the HydraPour system at water stops, and organizers are asking that all runners carry some type of bottle, cup or other hydration device that can be refilled at aid stations.
Of course it's not realistic for every race to go completely cup free. McSavaney explains, "Our goal is not to make everyone in the world run with a HydraPouch." Some runners don't like change, and others don't want to lose a few precious seconds when they're going for a personal record.
McSavaney estimates that at most races, two-thirds on the competition could use a HydraPour without wasting any time. The other third can stick to cups if they choose. In the New York City Marathon alone, a HydraPour could save 1.5 million paper cups.
So far McSavaney says that other than setting up a website, he hasn't spent a dime on advertising, approached a single news outlet, or pitched his product to any big time race director. All of his business has come via word of mouth, with people contacting him once they find out they can cut costs, volunteers, and use the HydraPour system for free.
Interested runners can purchase the HydraPouch at several specialty running stores, or order the product online. Race directors who would like to use the HydraPour system can contact McSavaney directly.
One day New York, Chicago and the Boston Marathon could all go at least partially green, making the paper cup as old school as the cotton t-shirt.
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Comments
One can only hope it will be.
VERY cool product!
totally interesting - it will be interesting to see what happens!
Oh that is so great!
*has a pour spout so it's much easier to drink out of than a paper cup*
I never knew drinking from a cup was hard
I run at a 7:30 pace, and yes it's hard to drink out of a cup while you're running. I usually carry a straw, pinch my cup, and drink on the go. I may try to pick one of these up.
I think this conception is brilliant! Are you a runner, Brian? Yes, drinking from a cup while in motion is an art in itself.
This is a ridiculous idea. Can you imagine a race with 10000 runners all fighting to get to a water jug? Then when you get to it and it's empty so you have to fight to get to another one? Inevitably, the guy in front of me will want to park his ass in front of the jug to get 5 or so refills before deciding to move on. I just can't picture this being any improvement at all. Maybe I'm not seeing the big picture but what's wrong with recycling paper cups? And how many times have you actually seen someone injured by a cup? Safety hazard? C'mon...
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