As runners, most of us probably imagine our sport has little impact on the environment. It’s just us, our own two feet, taking on the elements. For runners, every day is Earth Day, right? Well, not exactly. Admittedly, running’s likely a cleaner activity than most, but once you factor in a drive to the greenway, run club, or trailhead; bars, gels, or packaged snacks; then there’s that post-run bottled water or sports drink… suddenly it’s not as “green.”
The good news is you don’t have to relegate your running to the loop around the neighborhood, slurp from your garden hose, or be a tree-hugging political activist to make a positive environmental impact. Here are a few easy, breezy ways to run a little lighter on the planet.
One piece at a time
Maybe you’re not ready for some full-on plogging, but picking up just one piece of trash along your running route is a pretty simple act. Odds are, you won’t have to hang on to it for long. Drop it into the next available trash can or recycle bin. Tuck a plastic grocery bag into your pocket or hydration vest to keep your hands clean or collect more.
New life for your old shoes
Once you’ve racked up a few hundred miles on your running shoes, they’ve still got some good left in them. If you don’t want or need a pile of perfectly-good-just-no-longer-perfectly-good-for-running shoes stacked up in your closet, your local specialty running shop will take them. Most shops collect them for nonprofits who’ll get them to folks in need.
Skip the single-use plastics
BYO water bottles to races and runs. You’ll have the convenience of drinking when and where you want, and can bypass the aid station crowds. Buy sports drinks or electrolytes in powders and mix your own. Ask your specialty running shop pros about recommendations that have a lot less sugar and are more effective than the plastic bottles of mass-marketed stuff you’ll find on the grocery store shelves.
Good as new to you (or someone else)
Before you invest in a brand-new piece of specialty gear or equipment, check with friends, online marketplaces, or local joints like Gear Goat Exchange and the Charlotte ReCyclery that sell or consign gently used gear. And if you’re sitting on gear that’s no longer in your rotation, just reverse the process and find it a new home.
Read the labels
Look for products made with recycled or reclaimed materials. These days, lots of big brands have performance or lifestyle gear that’s made with at least a portion of recycled material or manufactured in a way with less environmental impact. Others are producing product that can be more easily recycled after use. Check out how Charlotte-based Recover Brands makes technical gear and apparel from recycled plastic bottles.
Pretty simple, right? Earth Day is just one day on the calendar, but making a difference year-round is as easy as picking up a few sustainable habits. And maybe a few more pieces of trash along the way.