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The Great Run Company
2025 Environmental Report
Intensity Metrics
Measuring “Carbon Per Finisher” To compare events fairly, we look beyond the total headline figures. A larger event naturally generates more emissions simply because it serves more people. To adjust for this, we calculate Carbon Intensity - dividing our total emissions by the number of finishers to create a “Carbon per Participant” metric. This allows us to track efficiency. If an event grows in popularity, our total emissions might rise, but if our per-participant figure drops, it proves that our sustainability initiatives are working.
Analysis by Event Type The carbon footprint of a runner changes drastically depending on the event format and its catchment area. Regional City Events (Avg. 14.71 kg / participant) • Examples: Great Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester Run • Driver: These events draw primarily from local and regional demographics. With shorter travel distances and high public transport use, they represent our most carbon-efficient format. Flagship Destination Events (Avg. 34.01 kg / participant) • Example: Great North, South, and Scottish Run • Driver: As world-class or premier events, these draw participants from across the UK and overseas. The higher per-capita footprint is a reflection of the event’s national reach, necessitating longer participant journeys compared to our local city events.
Trail & Ultra Events (Avg. 40.035 kg / participant) • Example: 13 Valleys. • Driver: These events take place in remote, rural locations (e.g. the Lake District) where public transport is often not a viable option compared to our city-centre events. Consequently, the footprint is driven by a heavy reliance on car travel over long distances. Additionally, the lower number of participants means that logistical overheads are shared across fewer finishers, further increasing the intensity per participant.
Absolute vs. Intensity Targets We track both metrics to ensure a balanced view of success: 1. Absolute Emissions (The Climate View): The atmosphere only cares about the total tonnes of CO2e released. Our goal is to reduce this total figure in line with Net Zero. 2. Intensity Metrics (The Operational View): This is our tool for measuring the success of specific interventions. For example, if we introduce a shuttle bus service, the Intensity metric tells us if that specific change made the average runner’s footprint smaller, regardless of how many people signed up.
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