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The Paris Marathon just went cup-free. Is Boston next?
The Boston Athletic Association is testing reusable silicone cups for hydration stations at one of its upcoming races.
The Paris Marathon made history Sunday by requiring athletes to carry their own water containers, putting an end to the familiar sight of hydration stations surrounded by a blizzard of trampled paper cups.
With less than a week to go before thousands crowd into Hopkinton for the 26.2-mile trek into Back Bay, will the Boston Marathon follow suit?
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Not quite; according to Chris Lotsbom, the Boston Athletic Association’s director of race communications and media, there’s “no new news to report” regarding the Boston Marathon’s aid stations.
Still, the marathon’s environmental footprint remains a top issue for race organizers. Hydration stations along the Boston Marathon course accounted for about 7.7 tons of discarded single-use cups in 2025, but the use of compostable cups and collection bags diverted waste away from landfills, according to a new BAA sustainability report.
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The marathon’s water stops may remain unchanged for now, but Lotsbom said the BAA is turning away from single-use cups for its Boston 5K, which is expected to draw 10,000 athletes downtown Saturday.
“All cups are reusable, and will be collected and washed to be used at other races,” Lotsbom explained. “We’re asking all athletes to throw their cups into the bins provided to keep the roads clear for fellow runners. This is the first time these cups will be used at our events.”
The BAA is sourcing 30,000 reusable cups from Hiccup, a company that provides silicone cups to race organizers, collecting them afterward and sanitizing them for reuse.
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In the meantime, it remains to be seen whether organizers for other major global marathons will follow Paris’s lead.
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