iRunNation Discussions

[admin]

Are we as runners environmentally-conscious enough? Or Is the running community becoming too reliant on disposable products like gel packets and short-living shoes?

[jm]

If you have to drive to run - you are NOT environmentally friendly!!!!!

In the gatineaus, for example, its rather stupidity that people drive to train.
For the love of the country and of the planet, ride your bike!!!!
Just a damn shame the amount of people I see driving!
Especially during the fall months when congestion up there goes up 10 fold (damn shame the NCC doesn't close the park during peak times... damn shame they cater to the laziness of it all... the carbon foot print we leave)

We as athletes, contribute to the mess.
We have to use the environment to train in. Yet, most of us are still far removed from the damage we create by driving to our training grounds.

Jump on your bike and include that in your training!

And, if you travel to race... buy carbon credits or at least plant some trees! (keep in mind, we - canada - are only air cleaning about 6 months of the year cause the tree converters shut down for the winter). All that pollution we produce in the winter... we are stupid.

[Charlene]

I run from and back to my house, as I'm lucky enough to live within spitting distance of the Trans Canada Trail, the Rideau Trail and the trails of the NCC.
Alas, my last three half marathons have been out of province and have involved flying. I have five more provinces to cover. I guess that makes me off-green...

[marathoncat]

I had never thought of this until a non-running friend of mine pointed it out after her husband ran the Ottawa marathon - but man do we ever waste a lot of disposable drinking cups!! When I run a marathon - I probably grab a drink at 10 of the water stops - multiply that by all the entrants - and that is a huge environmental impact.

Meanwhile on a 25 mile training run I don't use any.

[kilroythehermit]

You can do what you can to minimize the effect of your existence on the planet but really is it that important. If it were truly important would industry & government not be doing more? So yes you can make an effort, but if we all gave up our non-green ways tomorrow the global wold economy would go into crisis ... and it would probably be a whole lot more of a problem.

I don't drive ... I try to use environmentally friendly products but not at the expense of my convenience. Yes, races could use more biodegradable cups ... sure. Would you be willing to pay a premium to register for a race so they could supply the water-stations with a premium, environmentally friendly drinking cup? Tough call ... Of course you could run with your own water-bottle, maybe another for Gatorade ... and a third for gel-syrup that you can dilute with water along the way ... stopping to refill them at the water-stations on course, as needed. It won't help improve your time at all (take my word for it - I know) but you could make the effort. In the end it comes down to "Where are Your Priorities?"

As for driving to the place you train ... well depending on why you are going there .... it might be worth while. I know that IFF I ever qualify for Boston that I will make the effort to get to the Gats to train. I see those hills as a resource that we are blessed to have here. You can train for the effects of the net-downhill course and its unique challenges on your quads ... I would believe the trade off more than worth the slight increase in my carbon footprint. But I'm selfish that way ... and since my current marathon PB wouldn't qualify me for Boston as an 80 yr old woman - we won't have to worry about that for a while.