The Cook Medical Beat the Heat 5K is Committed to Sustainability for 2026! TCTC is doubling down on efforts to plan races and events with sustainability in mind, starting with the 2026 Beat the Heat 5K!
To be held on July 18 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, BTH brings together fitness, community, and philanthropy, with proceeds supporting local nonprofit partners that promote health and wellness. This festive, evening event welcomes everyone from first-time walkers to competitive runners, with a separate elite race, youth events, and a lively post-race celebration. Adding to the excitement, BTH has been named the Road Runner Club of America’s National 5k race for 2026!
This year, the event will pair a signature summer tradition with a serious commitment to reducing our environmental impact by emphasizing composting and recycling to reduce landfill waste, encouraging digital race materials and QR-based sponsor engagement, and working with vendors and partners to prioritize compostable service ware, packaging and low-waste operations.
How can you help, you ask?
1. Pay attention at the event to posted signage for where to dispose of all trash, at waste sorting stations.
2. Avoid bringing food and beverages into the venue. We will have plenty of free food and drink options for runners and spectators to enjoy.
3. Consider giving your gently used athletic shoes a new life by donating to Sneakers4Good. Donation boxes will be available at packet pick-up (Fleet Feet) and on race day at the Fairgrounds. The first 100 donors will receive a pair of REPREVE socks, made from recycled plastic bottles, courtesy of our sponsor, UNIFI.
4. Consider volunteering in ANY capacity for the race, including working on our Green Team-with support from our sustainability partners (Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Triad Compost, UNIFI and Ace Hardware)-to help achieve our goal of reducing waste on race day.
TCTC is proud to showcase Beat the Heat as a local example of how large community events can be both high-energy AND low-impact! Learn more about our sustainability plan and sign up to volunteer at BTH5k.org!