Are you a runner? Running may seem like one of the greenest sports. All you need are some sneakers and athletic clothes (a simple shirt and some shorts generally will suffice). However, even running has its shortcomings. You know your sneakers? They are made of plastic, and that type of plastic is rarely ever reused, but you need new sneakers quite often, and so do many other people thanks to the fact that running is a very popular sport. If you participate in races, you will find that they are not the greenest events, especially with the disposable water cups along the way. Runnersworld.com has pinpointed many of these problems and has a page specifically for the eco-conscious runners among us.
One of the articles, “Running’s Impact on the Earth”, provides an interesting perspective on the effect that running has on the earth. Surprisingly, when all aspects are considered, running can leave a big carbon footprint. Going through multiple pairs of shoes in a year or driving to races that are miles away really can rack up on the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Read the full article for the exact numbers; they are astounding. Of course, much of this emission can be avoided by choosing races that are nearby or finding greener ways to get to them (e.g. carpooling). This article is closely related to another, “A Runner’s Footprint”, which outlines how the simple activity of running ends up having many not-so-simple effects.
Perhaps the most interesting articles are the ones that can help us be greener: “A More Natural Fit”, an article on eco-friendly athletic clothes; “How to be a Greener Runner”, which includes 30 ways to improve the level of green in your exercise; and “Races Go Green”, ways races can be more eco-friendly. These articles provide some extremely innovative solutions that reduce the environmental impact of running and races.
Of the many ideas listed among these articles, one of my favorites is giving the race goodies out in reusable cloth shopping bags. Giving race goodies out in bags is quite common, and what better way than to promote eco-friendliness at the same time? It would be great if you could take one (or more) of these ideas and make a suggestion to a local race or your local community. Little by little, we will be helping our world.
