In an ideal world, there would be no waste. In the real world, our races inevitably generate a lot of waste — and it needs to be handled properly.
We guide our pack not only towards a healthy lifestyle in nature but, thanks to the support of our partner Generali Investments CEE, also towards responsible recycling. That’s why we’ve prepared special bins for paper, plastic, bio-waste, and cans. But sorting waste isn’t just your responsibility as a visitor — it’s ours as organizers, too.

So, what exactly happens to the waste generated during Běhej lesy races?

"Every forest friend can do their part by sorting waste."

At the race village of every event, you'll find bins of all colours. Let’s take a closer look at them.

And what happens with the waste? 

All the sorted bags get loaded onto one truck and head off to a sorting facility. There, the staff can spot the well-sorted bags right away — and give your recyclables a second life. But if things are mixed up inside, there’s no chance of recycling. So please: sort with heart and conscience. Proper sorting is the be-all and end-all of recycling. Without it, your waste might just end up as waste.

After the race, it’s our awesome local partners who handle the pickup and make sure your trash gets the green treatment it deserves.

• Karlštejn - AVE CZ
• Brdy - AVE CZ
• Týmovka - will be announced
• Klínovec - will be announced
• Bílá - will be announced
• Běhej lesy Jizerská - Marius Pedersen a FCC Liberec, s.r.o. The unsorted (mixed) waste goes to Termizo a.s., while everything you've carefully sorted heads to a collection center with a proper sorting line.
• Železná Ruda - AVE CZ
• Lednice - will be announced

How much waste have we managed to sort together at Běhej lesy?

By 2024, we’ve sorted over 27 tons of waste together! This number comes from reports provided by sorting facilities — but unfortunately, we don’t always get those reports for every event. So please treat this number as an estimate, not an exact fact. It’s based partly on sorting facility data and partly on our own experience.

You can learn more about waste sorting and recycling from our friends at EKO-KOM.

You’ve already heard from us that we sort waste, which then gets recycled. We know that sorting is just the first step. The second, no less important step, is turning recycled materials into new, tangible products.

So, what has actually grown from this process so far?

The new participant medals for the 2024 season not only feature a fresh design highlighting key landmarks from each race, but they are also largely biodegradable, with a low-carbon footprint throughout their entire lifecycle. Take a closer look at the details.

Medal composition:
The base is made from EcoC — a brand-new, revolutionary, eco-friendly material resembling a wooden plaque. But this plaque boasts properties more commonly associated with plastics or metal: it’s stable, flexible, and permanently shape-retaining. EcoC is produced from high-quality cellulose fibers sourced from specially grown trees, without any chemical additives, binders, or bleaches. This makes the medal completely safe for both humans and animals. Thanks to this, the medal is biodegradable and carbon-neutral — 100% nature-friendly, because it comes from nature itself. Only water-based paints are used for the medal’s design; no other additives are included.

Production process:
The graphics are engraved directly onto the EcoC plaque using laser engraving technology.

Ribbon composition:
Made with 5% recycled polyester.

Number of medals produced per season:
Approximately 15,000.

Medal manufacturer:
dhMedia, s.r.o.

And now it’s up to you, teammate. Add this medal to your collection and let it bring you joy for years to come.

DIPLOMAS

• Diploma Composition:
  The transparent part is made from PETG (rPETG), sourced from recycled medical waste materials. This material comes from the Netherlands. The silver part is also made from PETG (rPETG), but from generally recycled plastic originating in the Czech Republic. The colored section is approximately 50% recycled PETG; the rest is non-recycled PETG (used where recycled colorants were unavailable). The colored section makes up about 1% of the diploma’s total weight. The diplomas contain no other potentially harmful or environmentally unfriendly substances.

  Production Process:
  The diplomas are 3D-printed using a printer with a power consumption of around 100W during production. Each diploma takes about 150 minutes to print, resulting in an estimated energy use of 250 watt-hours. At least part of this energy comes from solar panels installed on the roof of the printing facility.

  Number of diplomas produced per season:
  For the 2024 season, 610 diplomas were produced for Běhej lesy.

  Diploma manufacturer:
  3DDen s.r.o.

WINNERS’ PODIUMS MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

• Composition:
  The podium boards are made from recycled plastic sourced from large production lines — from old refrigerators to leftover 3D print scraps. You can find more information about the materials used at plasticguys.cz.
• Manufacturer:
  Big thanks to the talented team at Plastic Guys for making them.

We reuse the winners’ podiums again and again. Will you be stepping up on them one day, too?

ECO-Friendly Route Marking

• We haven’t been using ordinary “paint” for a long time. In collaboration with our eco-friendly partner Generali Investments CEE, we’re among the first to introduce a more environmentally friendly way to mark our race routes.
• The markings are made from Solubag, a material that, according to the manufacturer, should decompose naturally within 180 days under typical conditions in the Czech Republic. It’s a specially produced and treated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), derived from natural sources and completely non-toxic, including the printing.
• The markings don’t have to be collected immediately after the race — usually within a week. Our team walks all the routes afterward to gather the markers, but sometimes a piece might be missed. Fortunately, the markings break down quickly on their own.
• We use about 18 kilometers of this material per season. While we try to minimize usage, we still prioritize clear and reliable route markings so you never get lost. That’s why, in tricky spots, we also use classic plastic signs that are easier to see.
• This marking method is truly gentle on the environment and revolutionary here in the Czech “pond.” That said, when you cut down a forest, chips fly. We don’t hide the fact that the markings come from Chile or China and are flown to us by plane. We know this isn’t perfect and hope to completely eliminate this footprint over time.

The connection between the Běhej lesy running series and its founding partner, Lesy ČR, runs much deeper than it might seem at first glance. Every runner contributes to planting a tree in selected locations with each race. This helps create new generations of forests that will forever be linked not only to our series but, most importantly, to your energy and determination. By participating in Běhej lesy races, you’re supporting not only your own fitness but also the idea of responsibility toward nature and the future of our forests.

Disposable cups in the forest are a thing of the past!
During one season, up to 100,000 paper cups were used — so in 2020, thanks to the support of Generali Investments CEE and Dr. Max, we replaced them with Speedcups.

SPEEDCUP – your race buddy

• Material: Thermoplastic polyurethane

• Weight: 10 g (light enough to scrunch into your pocket or hang on a loop)

• Place of production: China (all cups for the entire Běhej lesy and Behaj lesmi seasons are made at once and shipped to us by air)

Why is it eco-friendly?
You only need one — and you can use it again and again. Maybe even for your whole life.

If you don’t have one yet, you can get it when you register for a race on SportID or buy it on site for 50 CZK.

Water barrels

• At our forest base and refreshment stations, you won’t quench your thirst from plastic or paper cups, but from large barrels filled with water. You can fill up as much as you like, and during the race, we’ll pour water for you to keep your breaks as short as possible.
• Feel free to use your Speedcup or bring your own container.

275,000 disposable cups

Unfortunately, the SPEEDCUP hasn’t been with us from the very beginning, so in the past, disposable cups were used at Běhej lesy races. We decided we didn’t want to keep doing it that way and have gradually evolved toward a more eco-friendly approach. In the past, up to 275 thousand disposable cups were used at refreshment stations on the course and in the race base. This means that with each new season using SPEEDCUPs, water barrels, and reusable cups, we save thousands upon thousands of disposable cups. We’re proud to be able to refresh every runner without flooding the forest with cups. Big thanks to our forest crew for supporting us on this journey.

Thanks to SPEEDCUPs and water barrels, we’ve managed to eliminate the problem of disposable cups at the refreshment stations along the route and in the race base — with the exception of kids’ stations, where we want to keep the service a bit simpler. We also always have some spare cups on hand, just in case you forget your SPEEDCUP or other container and need a quick drink!

Another place where you might still encounter disposable cups and similar items is the PENNY dining tent, Cafíčko, and ČSOB coffee spots. Our motivation, together with our partners, is to make Běhej lesy races as sustainable as possible, and we believe these areas will improve in the future as well.

No more papers. Your smartphone is all you need.

We love trees and save paper — and you can join us.

Since 2020, we’ve stopped printing any disposable brochures, flyers, or cloakroom tickets. Everything you need is right on your race bib. You can read the brochure by scanning the QR code with your phone.

No need to print out your registration email with the QR code — just show us the confirmation on your phone.

Hearing this for the first time?

• The Earth’s climate is changing, linked to the rise of so-called anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Different greenhouse gases can be converted into their carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) based on their impact. You can learn more about the carbon footprint at samosebou.cz.

How can you minimize your carbon footprint during Běhej lesy?

• Heading to races by car? Have extra seats? Check the Facebook event and offer rides to fellow runners or join someone else’s carpool. We always encourage this before each race. At the very least, you’ll meet someone who shares your interest and maybe find new training partners.

• Warm up on your bike. Combined with the train, it’s a fast and inexpensive way to get around. Plus, it’s a great way to warm up before the race. We always provide bike storage at the venue, so your ride stays safe.

• Skip printing unnecessary papers — everything you need fits right on your phone.