Running for a Greener Planet

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Small steps can make a big difference.

Training is not just that time of the day when you lace up your running shoes, an active lifestyle means a healthy fit body. What you think of as being fitness-orientated can actually translate to a cleaner planet. Consider running or biking to work; take the stairs instead of the elevator; make use of the outdoors and your own body to train while the weather is nice.

Years ago, droves of people used their feet to travel. Today, the concept of leaving the ultimate no-carbon footprint has taken over in lieu of trendier ways to save the planet.  It’s time to get back to basics. With a little thought you can make your green go a long way. There are many ways you can green at least one of your runs each week and do your part in helping preserve our global training ground with these seven steps to a greener training.

1. Driving to work earns you an F in Healthy Planet Status. Running to work, if you have a place to shower, earns you an A-plus.  B is for bike, great cross training for a runner.

2. Drink from a water fountain. The water in this area is some of the best in the country. Tap water here could easily be bottled and sold in a restaurant. Take advantage of this by hydrating on the run and stopping at water fountains along your route. Buying bottled water earns you an F. Tap water gets you a B, filtered tap water an A. Fill your own reuseable BPA-free bottle if you have to carry water with you.

3. Volunteer to protect a section of your favorite trail.  Runners do cause an accelerated erosive disturbance by pounding out trails. Give up some time to repair pathways overused by runners. While a trail run is better for your body (less impact), it eventually creates overuse—a negative impact on our environment—so give back.

4. Recycle your running shoes. Soles4souls sends hundreds of shoes around the world to the less fortunate, but your local homeless shelter might also benefit from recycling your old running shoes.  Think before you discard.

5. Be a billboard. Parks are the think tanks of many cities, where a Go-Green T-shirt can help promote the fact that our planet needs looking after. Your T-shirt could be the wake up call for a fellow runner to take action. Inspire your friends or club members by sharing ideas and resources.

6. When it comes to your hardcore training, why not organize a Fartlek litter run? Carry a paper bag during one run a week and, wearing gloves, see if you can pick up a bag full of litter as you run. Your act may inspire others to look after our planet. Spy a piece of litter and sprint to pick it up; you’ll hardly notice the speed work, but you’ll reap all the gains and so will your park.

7. Eat local produce. The fresher your food is the more nutrition it generally contains. Apples shipped over from Israel don’t have that same taste as an East Coast golden delicious. You have to keep yourself healthy too. For runners who fuel on the run, eat a product with recyclable packaging and dispose of your garbage with care.

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