The Chicago Marathon is one of six World Major Marathons, and this year will host around 50,000 runners from around the world, not to mention the spectators, vendors, and volunteers. So, is it possible for an event of this magnitude to be sustainable? On this episode, Casey and Sara chat with Cat Morris, the Sustainability Manager at Chicago Event Management, overseeing the Chicago Marathon. Hear about how the Chicago Marathon became certified as an Evergreen Inspire event through the Council for Responsible Sport, how waste, from water cups to gel packets, is being diverted from landfills, and how runners and spectators can get involved!

Sara will be running the 2024 Chicago Marathon as part of Team Fox, raising funds for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. If you'd like to donate to support the Foundation's work to find a cure for Parkinson's, you can donate through Sara's fundraising page here: https://give.michaeljfox.org/fundraiser/5270913

Resources for this episode:

Chicago Marathon Sustainability

Community Impact through Compost: Chicago Distance Series

Instagram: Tina Muir, Chicago Marathon Sustainability Ambassador

Instagram: Chicago Marathon Know Before You Go: Sustainability

This week, Casey and Sara recap Sara's first trip to the Rocky Mountains, covering everything from road trip musings on land use to wildfires to amazing wildlife encounters!

Resources for this episode:

Natural Features & Ecosystems - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Moose Research in Rocky Mountain National Park

Tribal Partners - Rocky Mountain

White-tailed deer may not be the first species that pops to mind when you think of conservation, especially if you live across much of North or Central America. For many of us, these animals are commonly seen around our own homes and (unfortunately) roadways. Depending on your perspective, they can be seen as a nuisance, a game species, beloved local wildlife, or all of the above. In this episode, Casey and Sara discuss the history, ecology, and conservation of one of our most recognized animals.

Resources for this episode:

White-Tailed Deer-Penn State University

The Relationship Between Deer Density, Tick Abundance, and Human Cases of Lyme Disease in a Residential Community

You're More Likely To Hit a Deer This Week while Driving

Deer-Vehicle Collisions | Purdue Extension Forestry & Natural Resources

Reproductive characteristics of female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Midwestern USA - ScienceDirect