ZERO EMISSION ECO INBA
FAQ about ECO INBA
Q 1: What is the major difference between marathon and ECOMARATHON?FAQ about ECO INBA
A 2: All marathons are timed races in which participants compete and are judged only by their finishing time.
ECOMARATHON is a new type of sports event for the 21st century. It is not a timed race and participants have no need to compete for finishing time, but may enjoy nature and cultural exchange fully with fellow participants from all over the world. The joy comes from smelling the roses, taking photos of each other in their favorite costumes on the 42.2Km or 26.2 mile marathon distance. Most importantly, at the Farewell Party after the event, the awards will never be based upon the finishing time, but by contribution to the protection of the environment, humanity, world peace, creativity, inspiration and enjoyment of life.
Q 2: Why ECO INBA as the “World’s First ZERO EMISSION ECOMARATHON”?
A 2: We are proud to be the world’s first ZERO EMISSION ECOMARATHON because our goal is to create a healthy, peaceful planet for future generations by raising environmental awareness and lowering marathon bars through organizing ZERO EMISSION sports event for wider range of population.
For example, ECO INBA will be the world’s first sports event to distribute EcoTips, a conservation rules and guidelines for both during the event and everyday life to create a ZERO EMISSION world. Also, it’s mandatory for participants of ECO INBA to carry their own water bottle or camel bag for safe hydration and fill up water or sports drink by themselves at each water station to stop wasting tens of thousands cups and leaving some of them in nature. It is mandatory to take public transportations, bicycle, registered carpooled EV, run or walk to the start, not driving emissioned vehicle to reduce carbon footprints and NOx. Even if by accident, any participants litter on the course, and fail to pick it up, he or she will be disqualified and will be asked to leave from the course. Locally grown foods will be served at each water station and parties to reduce food millage and participants will be asked to take trash home or hotel to recycle. We love to see nothing, but only foot prints on the course of ECO INBA as the world’s first ZERO EMISSION sports event.
Q 3: Why ECO INBA will be a Non-Competitive sports event?
A 3: At ECO INBA, running fast or slow are just simply a difference of running styles, not dominance by a few participants. We believe the 21st century should not be a century of speed, but a century of environment. We think speed and environment will not be the best combination to make ECO INBA, an Eco and runner-oriented safe sports event. Thus, participants of ECO INBA need to follow traffic lights and we will not provide finishing time and place. For those who don’t obey EcoTips, a conservation rules and guidelines or traffic lights or don’t understand the meaning of running without a finishing time, should run somewhere else, not ECO INBA. However if you prefer to pick up trash in your favorite funny costume or take photos with the fellow participants from all over the world, ECO INBA is for you.
Q 4: Why is Equal Opportunity important at ECO INBA?
A 4: We believe Equal Opportunity will be one of the most important issues of human rights in the 21st century.
At ECO INBA, slow runners and walkers who can’t complete the 26.2 mile marathon distance in under 5 hours, but those who are determined and capable to complete the marathon distance
between 5 and 9 hours are welcome. Within this unique time limit, ECO INBA will achieve its socio responsibility of being a sports event which provides the sense of accomplishment of completing the marathon distance to a wider range of the population, This maybe 100 times more rewarding than less than 5 hour marathon, especially for female, novice runners and baby boomers and beyond. Also, at the Farewell Party of ECO INBA, even the last finisher will have a chance to be honored as an Eco Heros.
Q 5: Why international cultural exchange will be important at ECO INBA?
A 5: At the inaugural ECO INBA, we set the cap at 1,000 participants, which we hope will consist of 50% overseas, 50% locals. We will also seek a balance of 50% female, 50% male and 50% walkers, 50% runners. We will try our best to make oversea participants feel comfortable by treating them with respect and warm hospitality for better understanding of each other. At the grass roots level, we will seek to create mutual relationships to achieve our goal of One People, One Planet, a healthy peaceful planet for future generations.
To make it happen, we believe ZERO EMISSION, Non-Competitive and Equal Opportunity sports event such as ECO INBA will fulfill an important role. That is why we will provide the following international cultural exchange opportunities to overseas and local participants and communities;
・Free cultural and historical walking tours before the event.
・Host families for oversea participants who will visit Japan with a limited budget.
・Performance of Japanese drum groups to cheer participants at the parties and along the course.
・Pasta party to share environmental ideas with local Non Profit Organizations.
・Farewell party to celebrate the accomplishment of 26.2 mile walk and run and to elect Eco Heros through Photo Contest by Runners which was introduced at the 2008 LAGUNA. PHUKET MARATHON.
Q 6: How will you make a wider range of participants feel safe and comfortable during the event?
A 6: We will work hard to make participants feel safe and comfortable at ECO INBA as follows;
・99.8% of the course is on motorized vehicle-free park trails, 13 foot sidewalks and 10 foot bike paths.
・A total of 26 water stations with toilets and Karaoke at every mile for peace of mind and fun.
・Locally grown foods will be served at water station and at pre and post event parties to reduce food millage.
・For ZERO EMISSION impact, participants are encouraged to pick up trash on the course.
・To provide an equal level of hospitality to every finisher, the finish line will be open for 2 hours.
Q 7: How will Trash Pickup, Cosplay and Photo Contests Heros be voted?
A 7: Trash Pickup Contest will be voted by how hard or beautifully the participant picked up the trash and had carried them to the finish line to weigh her or his trash bag and mark the weight to take proof photo with participant.
Cosplay Contest will be voted by its uniqueness of message delivered by the costume about
environment, humanity and peace by the participants and volunteers at the Farewell Party from
the photos shown as Photo Contest by patticipants.
Photo Contest will be judged by its creativity, originality or unique point of view of photos applied byparticipants right after the finish. They will be downloaded to our database as nominee after the finish line and they will be shown on big screens at the Farewell Party to be judged by the participants and volunteers. It means the photos taken by the participants during the event will be shown at the Farewell Party to be voted for both Cosplay and Photo Contests.
Q 8: Can I enjoy Ecomarathon in my home town or country in the future?
A 8: Yes, you can! It’s our mission to expand our vision of Ecomarathon worldwide to raise the awareness of environmental issues and encourage a healthy active life style by lowering the marathon bars.
After the inauguration of ECO INBA, as a creator of Ecomarathon, we will continue to promote the vision of Ecomarathon both nationally and internationally by supervising the event organizers.
Q 9: Who conceived the idea and had the vision of Ecomarathon?
A 9: The idea and vision of Ecomarathon came from Hajime Nishi, a founder and board chairman of Ecomarathon International, a Non Profit Organization and author of Ecomarathon Data Book.
His middle term goal in marathoning is to enjoy running and to complete and evaluate 1,000
marathons in 250 countries by 2049 and to hand over this concept as a human intellectual property for future generations. Hajime Nishi’s lifetime goal is to create One People, One Planet by the end of 21st century.
Q 10: How is Inba where we will walk or run looks like and its historical background?
A 10: Inba is a historic and healing place. The history of Inba back to 730 AC when Princes Matusmushi (723-795), the third princes of the 45th Emperor Shomu (701-756), came to Inba accompanied by Gyoki (668-749), the most trusted Buddhist monk by the emperor, to heal her serious ill from Nara, an ancient capital of Japan. After preying for her recovery for years in a small temple in Inba, a miracle had happened. She had recovered and returned to Nara. The Emperor sent carpenters to Inba to reconstruct The Matsumushi Temple to show his gratitude to the hospitality of people of Inba.
Inba is surrounded by North and West Lake Inba, peaceful farm lands and tree-covered hills with many old Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. It’s been isolated from the civilization and crowds for centuries because of its unique natural surroundings. In Mar. 2010, Inba will merge with Inzai City, the second best city to live comfortably by Toyo Keizai Ranking (‘09)among 784 Japanese cities.
Q 3: Why ECO INBA will be a Non-Competitive sports event?
A 3: At ECO INBA, running fast or slow are just simply a difference of running styles, not dominance by a few participants. We believe the 21st century should not be a century of speed, but a century of environment. We think speed and environment will not be the best combination to make ECO INBA, an Eco and runner-oriented safe sports event. Thus, participants of ECO INBA need to follow traffic lights and we will not provide finishing time and place. For those who don’t obey EcoTips, a conservation rules and guidelines or traffic lights or don’t understand the meaning of running without a finishing time, should run somewhere else, not ECO INBA. However if you prefer to pick up trash in your favorite funny costume or take photos with the fellow participants from all over the world, ECO INBA is for you.
Q 4: Why is Equal Opportunity important at ECO INBA?
A 4: We believe Equal Opportunity will be one of the most important issues of human rights in the 21st century.
At ECO INBA, slow runners and walkers who can’t complete the 26.2 mile marathon distance in under 5 hours, but those who are determined and capable to complete the marathon distance
between 5 and 9 hours are welcome. Within this unique time limit, ECO INBA will achieve its socio responsibility of being a sports event which provides the sense of accomplishment of completing the marathon distance to a wider range of the population, This maybe 100 times more rewarding than less than 5 hour marathon, especially for female, novice runners and baby boomers and beyond. Also, at the Farewell Party of ECO INBA, even the last finisher will have a chance to be honored as an Eco Heros.
Q 5: Why international cultural exchange will be important at ECO INBA?
A 5: At the inaugural ECO INBA, we set the cap at 1,000 participants, which we hope will consist of 50% overseas, 50% locals. We will also seek a balance of 50% female, 50% male and 50% walkers, 50% runners. We will try our best to make oversea participants feel comfortable by treating them with respect and warm hospitality for better understanding of each other. At the grass roots level, we will seek to create mutual relationships to achieve our goal of One People, One Planet, a healthy peaceful planet for future generations.
To make it happen, we believe ZERO EMISSION, Non-Competitive and Equal Opportunity sports event such as ECO INBA will fulfill an important role. That is why we will provide the following international cultural exchange opportunities to overseas and local participants and communities;
・Free cultural and historical walking tours before the event.
・Host families for oversea participants who will visit Japan with a limited budget.
・Performance of Japanese drum groups to cheer participants at the parties and along the course.
・Pasta party to share environmental ideas with local Non Profit Organizations.
・Farewell party to celebrate the accomplishment of 26.2 mile walk and run and to elect Eco Heros through Photo Contest by Runners which was introduced at the 2008 LAGUNA. PHUKET MARATHON.
Q 6: How will you make a wider range of participants feel safe and comfortable during the event?
A 6: We will work hard to make participants feel safe and comfortable at ECO INBA as follows;
・99.8% of the course is on motorized vehicle-free park trails, 13 foot sidewalks and 10 foot bike paths.
・A total of 26 water stations with toilets and Karaoke at every mile for peace of mind and fun.
・Locally grown foods will be served at water station and at pre and post event parties to reduce food millage.
・For ZERO EMISSION impact, participants are encouraged to pick up trash on the course.
・To provide an equal level of hospitality to every finisher, the finish line will be open for 2 hours.
Q 7: How will Trash Pickup, Cosplay and Photo Contests Heros be voted?
A 7: Trash Pickup Contest will be voted by how hard or beautifully the participant picked up the trash and had carried them to the finish line to weigh her or his trash bag and mark the weight to take proof photo with participant.
Cosplay Contest will be voted by its uniqueness of message delivered by the costume about
environment, humanity and peace by the participants and volunteers at the Farewell Party from
the photos shown as Photo Contest by patticipants.
Photo Contest will be judged by its creativity, originality or unique point of view of photos applied byparticipants right after the finish. They will be downloaded to our database as nominee after the finish line and they will be shown on big screens at the Farewell Party to be judged by the participants and volunteers. It means the photos taken by the participants during the event will be shown at the Farewell Party to be voted for both Cosplay and Photo Contests.
Q 8: Can I enjoy Ecomarathon in my home town or country in the future?
A 8: Yes, you can! It’s our mission to expand our vision of Ecomarathon worldwide to raise the awareness of environmental issues and encourage a healthy active life style by lowering the marathon bars.
After the inauguration of ECO INBA, as a creator of Ecomarathon, we will continue to promote the vision of Ecomarathon both nationally and internationally by supervising the event organizers.
Q 9: Who conceived the idea and had the vision of Ecomarathon?
A 9: The idea and vision of Ecomarathon came from Hajime Nishi, a founder and board chairman of Ecomarathon International, a Non Profit Organization and author of Ecomarathon Data Book.
His middle term goal in marathoning is to enjoy running and to complete and evaluate 1,000
marathons in 250 countries by 2049 and to hand over this concept as a human intellectual property for future generations. Hajime Nishi’s lifetime goal is to create One People, One Planet by the end of 21st century.
Q 10: How is Inba where we will walk or run looks like and its historical background?
A 10: Inba is a historic and healing place. The history of Inba back to 730 AC when Princes Matusmushi (723-795), the third princes of the 45th Emperor Shomu (701-756), came to Inba accompanied by Gyoki (668-749), the most trusted Buddhist monk by the emperor, to heal her serious ill from Nara, an ancient capital of Japan. After preying for her recovery for years in a small temple in Inba, a miracle had happened. She had recovered and returned to Nara. The Emperor sent carpenters to Inba to reconstruct The Matsumushi Temple to show his gratitude to the hospitality of people of Inba.
Inba is surrounded by North and West Lake Inba, peaceful farm lands and tree-covered hills with many old Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. It’s been isolated from the civilization and crowds for centuries because of its unique natural surroundings. In Mar. 2010, Inba will merge with Inzai City, the second best city to live comfortably by Toyo Keizai Ranking (‘09)among 784 Japanese cities.
By Apr. 3, 2011, Inba will be connected with the world by the new Narita Rapid Rail Access to welcome participants from all over the world by hosting ECO INBA, the world’s first ZERO EMISSION, Non-Competitive and Equal Opportunity international people’s sports event.
ECO INBA is made possible by Ecomarathon International.
We are Non-Profit Organization made up of walkers, runners and volunteers. This is a non-timed event and is not for runners that enjoy running in large crowds and in big cities, this is for the eco-walker or runner that enjoys the harmony, brotherhood and beauty of walking or running in nature.
© 2010-2011 Ecomarathon International, a Non-Profit Organization www.ecomarathon.org
