Guilty about the trash

[Monica]

I am feeling a little guilty about the condition we left the bathrooms in today at Sequoia. They looked great in the morning, even stocked with extra TP. (perhaps someone brought extra?) When I finished my run, I had to go, I was very shocked to see quite a bit of trash around the floors in both stalls. Even now I am feeling guilty that i didn't help out and pick up. On the run I was very impressed with the aid stations and the cleanliness of the area, the workers even called out "Carry your trash!" Next time perhaps we can all do our part in all areas from the parking lot on, there are a lot of us! (carrying extra garbage bags from now on)

[RiverPark Eric]

I agree, John. I used the men's facilities post-run and they were thrashed. What the heck happened in there? It looked like someone intentionally threw trash all over the place.

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

I guess that the bathrooms did get really bad by the end of the day - I didn't see them myself, but heard from Flora that they were trashed. That's never happened before - and we sure hope it doesn't happen again.

I checked them out on Friday as I marked that loop, and they were pretty dirty (toilet paper and seat covers all over) and there was no toilet paper in the ladies' room holders. I threw away a bunch of paper and stuff that was on the floor, and made a mental note to bring toilet paper.

I brought a dozen rolls of t.p. for yesterday (not enough I now realize). By the time I went back in the ladies' room later in the morning, more paper had accumulated on the floor (it didn't help that the only nearby (cardboard) garbage can was outside the men's room) and the toilet paper was mostly gone. I didn't check the men's room to see how it had fared.

By the time we were packing up, Flora reported that not only was there a lot of paper in there, but there were cups, baggies of wipes, and gel wrappers - in other words, lots of garbage left by people at the event. She took a garbage bag and cleaned up the bathroom.

I'm hopeful that this won't happen next time - I'll be sure to put garbage receptacles outside each bathroom and bring more toilet paper. Beyond that, it's really up to the runners to have a little respect for their surroundings.

[chrisoconnor]

Wow. Didn't see this. I can see it happening, though. Sounds like one of things for which no single person feels responsible because of the numbers involved. That is, until someone like Flora comes along and does what ~700 of us couldn't, wouldn't, didn't.

I'll be extra mindful of this in the future.

[rideandtiegeorge]

"I'll be extra mindful of this in the future."

"listen to your footsteps"