The Amazon rainforest is set on fire and we are speeding our way towards a climatic catastrophe. As mining, logging and other agri-businesses drive the Amazon rainforest towards its peril, we are losing out on one of the major layers of protection and sadly, many of us primates are too ignorant to buck up and do something about it! The fire is eating up the source of a massive 20% of all the oxygen we get. With the Amazonian trees burning down, it is releasing millions of tons of carbon that had been stored within, since centuries ago. The planet is standing at the brim of destruction.

Image Courtesy: Malta Today

“The Amazon was buying you some time that it is not going to buy anymore” said Carlos Quesada, a scientist at Brazil’s National Institute for Amazonian Research.

When do we take measure of our actions, if not even now?

The community of sportspersons is known to, and expected to be sensitive towards the cause of the Earth and contribute as best as we can to save the nature. Run For Education happens to endorse the sportsmanship spirits and channel their emotions towards making the world a better place to live in.
Having said that, we would like to do our bit of the work and share with you a few tips for becoming an eco-friendly runner…

1. Do Not Litter – Leave No Trash:

Runners are known to value the discipline of the racecourse and not litter around it. The cups and other trash are generally disposed off at the aid stations but ones that do the trouble are the gel wrappers. Runners use the gel along their course with hardly any option but to throw them on the ground.
It is advisable that runners carry small mesh trash bags attached to their race belts and store their gel wrappers in these bags until reaching the next aid station. This helps keeping it eco-friendly and keeping the animals safe from the dangerous gel wrappers.

2. Recycle Old Running Shoes:

Old worn out running shoes should be recycled. They can be given away to someone who can utilize them to the fullest. Many organizations and even reputed sportswear brands collect old shoes for distributing to the needy. Making a donation will never harm a soul! This way we not only save resources, but also attach a sense of satisfaction to our lives.

3. Use Refillable Bottles:

Using disposable plastic bottles while the run is definitely more convenient, but adjusting a bit with our comfort for the sake of the planet is totally worth it. Isn’t it?
An eco-friendly approach would be to use refillable water bottles which runners can reuse after rehydrating themselves. Light-weight stainless steel water bottles are also made available to keep the water cool. This way we save unnecessary use of plastic while keeping the earth cleaner.

4. Recycle and Reuse Electronics:

Most runners consider using gadgets to measure their runs, track fitness, and use other technologies that facilitates their sport. Frequent technological upgradations cause users to frequently shift and switch to the newer devices.
In such cases, why not consider recycling the gadget rather than simply disposing it off? Like the shoes, electronics too can be given or sold away to ones who want to have it. They can be sold away even on online marketplaces or exchanged for the desired technology. The reason to do this is the same – promote and practice eco-friendliness!

5. Take Care Of Your Laundry:

Running laundry needs a lot of care. Save your labour and environment together by using eco-friendly detergent powder. Such detergents are available in specially designed formulae for technical fabrics – the fabrics your running clothes are made of. This even takes care of your sportswear in a way that they stay last longer.

6. Using Powdered Sports Drinks:

Sports drinks come in handy use-and-throw bottles that contain premixed beverages. They also come in powdered forms that need to be mixed and prepared by the runner itself. While the former is an easier option, it’s expensive and not eco-friendly. The powder containers come cheaper and keep open the option of recycling bottles, therefore helping keeping the process eco-friendly.

7. Run / Walk / Cycle / Carpool to commute:

All the above options are meant to reduce pollution. Where the distance is too long to even cycle by, carpool should be considered as the first possible option. The amount of help this does to the environment need not be separately explained to responsible citizens. Running or walking to the destination gives the added benefit of improved health.

8. Support And Participate In Eco-Friendly Race Marathons:

This helps promote the cause all over the society. The impact lies not only within the sports community, but the word is also spread to adjacent social spaces.
A number of races across the world are trying to get greener and safer for the planet by taking up various projects towards promoting eco-friendliness. Recycling of paper, plastic, clothes, shoes, gadgets, use of organically grown food at the race, donating left-overs, banning the use of plastic or paper cups through the race, etc. are some such endeavours taken by different race communities in the world. These are good means of showing our respect towards Mother Nature.

The practice of caring for Nature and adapting eco-friendly ways of life is something that does should not be triggered within us humans only when we see such devastations like the Amazon Fire. These should be practices and values imbibed in us through past and future generations of human life on Earth. The responsibility of protecting life on Earth lies not only on the shoulders of the Government but of every other individual residing on the planet.

This was a small effort from our end to help our runners, and everyone else, to understand the severity of the present condition of Earth and help taking care of it.