Location: P3R Warehouse in the Strip District
Featured guest: Brian Schmidt, director of operations at P3R
3 things that surprised me:
1. The Pittsburgh Marathon might be a big deal for Pittsburghers for one weekend in early spring, but Brian is thinking about it all year. The marathon is one of 20-some events that P3R coordinates every year. A day or so before one of P3R’s races, Brian’s team starts setting up thousands of cones, dozens of water stations and a few giant inflatable arches. However, Brian and his team begin organizing all the equipment in the warehouse months before a race.
2. I was most impressed with the massive collection of signs in the back of P3R’s warehouse. If you can imagine a sign, it’s there. Need the name of every area middle school? Check. How about every directional arrow imaginable? Check. Or a “No parking for (enter any location here)” sign? There is every iteration of that. A massive shelf holds what I estimate are a few thousand different signs.
3. I also was impressed with the stack of boxes full of cups, but Brian says that was nothing. In a few weeks, he’ll be placing an order for a half million compostable cups. Those cups will help to hydrate tens of thousands of race participants throughout the season. Across from the cups were giant containers full of rakes and shovels that are used to clean up those cups after racers toss them aside. Brian was proud to share that the marathon strives to be a zero-waste event.
One thing that didn’t make the final cut: P3R has been working with the Pennsylvania Resource Council since 2011 to reduce waste at events. Together, they’ve created a system that involves composting, sorting and recycling that diverts 90% of potential waste from the landfill.
Additional info: You can learn more about P3R and see a list of races and events at the website.
Pittsburgh Marathon adds new ‘adrenaline-pumping’ fitness challenge
Want more Yinzer Backstage Pass? Take a tour of Kennywood with an amusement park historian.
