AKRON MARATHON CHARITABLE CORPORATION AND FIRSTENERGY LEAD THE CHARGE IN SUSTAINABILITY WITH REUSABLE HYDRAPAK SPEEDCUPS™
AKRON, O.H. (April 22, 2025) — In celebration of Earth Day, the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation, in conjunction with FirstEnergy, is proud to announce a significant stride in sustainability efforts at the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay. For the first time, all race participants will receive a reusable, event-branded HydraPak SpeedCup™ to help reduce waste at fluid stations along the Blue Line racecourse. This initiative represents another step forward in the organization’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.
The introduction of reusable HydraPak SpeedCups™ builds on the tremendous success of last year’s sustainability efforts. The organization diverted 91% of waste from landfills, a 41% increase from the previous year, thanks to the addition of the shoe recycling program and a partnership with Rubber City Reuse, which managed finish line recycling stations.
“We are thrilled to introduce reusable HydraPak SpeedCups™ to this year’s marathon,” said Anne Bitong, president & CEO of the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation. “Our goal is to green the Blue Line, and this is one more way we can minimize our environmental impact while encouraging our participants to join us in this effort.”
While recyclable paper cups will still be available at fluid stations, the addition of the SpeedCup™ offers participants multiple hydration options. Participants can choose to use the SpeedCup™, their own hydration pack, or the provided paper cups. Fluid stations will be thoughtfully designed to accommodate all three options, with convenient refill stations at the end of each station.
“FirstEnergy is proud to support sustainable initiatives that benefit our community and environment,” said Torrence Hinton, president of FirstEnergy Ohio. “Providing reusable SpeedCups™ to thousands of runners is a powerful step forward in reducing race-day waste and fostering a culture of sustainability in Akron.”
As FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay organizers continue to champion green initiatives, they encourage participants to take pride in being part of a race that prioritizes environmental responsibility. Together, the community can make a lasting difference by greening the Blue Line, one step at a time.
For more information on sustainability efforts at the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon or to learn how you can get involved, visit akronmarathon.org.
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About the Akron Marathon Race Series
The Akron Marathon Race Series is organized by the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation, a nonprofit group founded in 2002 to provide a world-class marathon and other events that promote health and fitness, stimulate the local economy, galvanize the community, and benefit charitable organizations. The series features race dates in June (National Interstate 8k & 1 Mile) and August (Goodyear Half Marathon & 10k), culminating with the 23rd running of the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon, Team Relay & Kids Fun Run in September. Additional information is available at AkronMarathon.org or by calling (330) 434-2RUN (2786).
About FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp.