Subtitle:
Pacing
for Sustainability
Introduction
Posted
on October 26th, 2023
By
Olivia Baker
Have you ever watched little kids, who are just learning to run, line up for a race? They often have two speeds. Running all-out full speed ahead or barely running at all, having badly misgauged their effort for the distance that needs to be covered…that is until some competition shows up beside them and then it's back to full speed! Likewise, many of us who are young in our advocacy journeys approach climate activism and sustainability in that same way. Often times there's an event, perhaps an oil spill or a natural disaster linked to global warming that spurs our motivation with a sense of urgency to do as much as we can to preserve our environment. However, like children running their first race, we quickly realize that our new pace is unsustainable for the long term and, feeling exhausted from the sudden effort, fall back into our old habits. In running, as in environmental preservation, through such trial and error we begin to learn how to pace ourselves for the length of the race and get the most out of the work we put in as a result. This book is simply designed as a guide to doing just that as individual runners, walkers, and joggers, and as a running community at large.
I chose Becoming
a Sustainable Runner by Tina Muir and Zoë Rom for the 20th
installment of Runners Who Read because I believe that we could all benefit
from learning habits that will sustain our running, our communities, and our
environment for years to come. We don't have to feel pressure to make ourselves
perfectly carbon neutral, but there are small changes that many of us can make
most of the time which are good enough, and most importantly sustainable. In
the words of the authors, "You don't need to buy rain barrels and live in a
cabin off the grid. You don't have to sail across the rough seas of the Atlantic
on a solar-powered boat [a la Greta Thunberg] to your next race. But could you
cycle to work most days (again, not shooting for perfection here) instead of
making your car the default?...Can [you] invest, spend, and donate money in a
way that's more in line with your environmental values?" (pg# xiv). The
environment will not change overnight, but if we pace ourselves with small,
consistent actions—each of us doing what we can reliably sustain on most days—we can make the most of our
impact and together create big change.
Discussion
Questions:
1. What
things do you already do to preserve the environment? Do any of those changes relate specifically to your running, walking, and/or jogging habits?
2. What
are you most looking forward to learning from this book?
Subtitle:
Sustaining Your Runner's Mind and Body: Myths vs. Facts (Mini-blog #1)
Chapters 1-7
Posted
on November 9th, 2023
By
Olivia Baker
There are so many reasons why we run, walk, and jog. Sometimes
we are in it for the social life, other times it can act as an escape from
society. At times, we are chasing goals and in other moments it's as simple as
movement just for the sake of it. Over the course of a lifetime as we age, our
priorities change, and different life circumstances happen, that relationship
with running fluidly changes with it but not always for the better. In Part 1
of Becoming a Sustainable Runner by
Tina Muir and Zoë Rom, the authors discuss ways to sustain a healthy
relationship with running both mentally and physically throughout the course of
a lifetime. Below are some of the common myths runners believe that can lead to
an unhealthy relationship with the activity, and some facts to dispel them.
Myth:
If I could just achieve X goal, then I'll be happy and satisfied.
Fact: Linking
our happiness and satisfaction to outcomes alone is often a recipe for
disappointment because in many ways, the outcome is outside of our control. Further,
if we do end up achieving that goal, we tend to find ourselves on what the
authors call a hedonic treadmill. "When we finally win that race, get that
promotion, or land that book deal, our happiness will temporarily spike, but
will quickly return to a set point. We readjust our expectations to match the
status quo of our experience and then need even more stimulus or accomplishment
to maintain the same level of happiness." (pg#23) While it is natural to raise
expectations after achieving a goal, equally as important is enjoying the
process.
Myth: Someone
else's good result makes my achievement less impressive.
Fact:
Life is not a zero-sum game. "Someone else's success is not my defeat. There is
plenty of good to go around" (pg#26).
Myth:
A run must be hard for it to count.
Fact: "The
best run is one that feels good. You don't need to finish feeling wiped out or
to even work up a sweat for the run to "count"." (pg#34). Whether you are
nailing a hard workout or just squeezing in a few minutes between meetings, it
all counts!
Myth:
Runners don't need strength training.
Fact: Whether
you are a sprinter, ultra-marathoner, or participate in any distance in
between, you can benefit from strength training. Strength training helps
improve running economy, prevent injury, and overall goes a long way in
creating a sustainable running career (pg#44-45).
Myth:
By taking time off from running, we are losing fitness and the hard work we
spent months putting in.
Fact: "Training
is not about one season or one particular moment of fitness. What builds our
fitness are months and years of training, which compound even if we take time
off." (pg#61).
Whether we are conscious of it or not in some
instances, it can be very easy to perpetuate these myths as our relationship
with running evolves throughout our lives. By combatting these myths with cold
hard facts, we can prepare our bodies and minds for a lifetime of healthy running,
walking, and jogging.
Discussion
Question:
1. What
other myths have you had to dispel to maintain a healthy relationship with
running, walking, and jogging throughout life?
Subtitle:
Sustaining Your Community: Pouring Into Others (mini-blog #2)
Chapters 8-10
Posted
on November 16th, 2023
By
Olivia Baker
One of the ways that we can sustain our communities is
to re-invest in those that have given us so much. As runners, walkers, and
joggers, the running community is certainly one of those spaces and while it
may seem hard to make a noticeable contribution to such a large community,
there are many ways that we can make an impact within our small running groups of
friends and neighbors and for runners all over the world (yes, really).
Become
a mentor. When we think of mentors we often think of people who,
are further along a path that we are taking and, through experience, can help
show us the way forward. In running, it is often someone who has run faster or
further than us, but have you ever thought of yourself as a potential mentor?
Even if you have only been running for a few years, your experience is valuable
and important. Take advantage of an opportunity to run alongside the person who
showed up to a group run for the first time to hear out their story and share
your wisdom. Being intentional about creating such camaraderie and exercising
empathy can create space for new runners to be included.
Share
your story. The running world tends to amplify the stories
of elite athletes and, especially at a time like this with the Olympics coming
up next year, can make it seem like they are the most important stories.
However, this is far from true. The stories of every single one of us holds
power. As Chris Mosier, a hall of fame triathlete and transgender athlete and
advocate puts it (via pg# 112) "Sharing our stories can be empowering to
ourselves and inspiring to others. Visibility and representation matter so
much, particularly to members of communities who have been told they don't
matter. For anyone who believes their voice or story do not matter, there are
people out there whose entire lives could be changed by seeing you and hearing
your story."
Volunteer
at a race. Whether it is a World Major Marathon or a local
community 5k, there are always volunteers needed to help with setting up and
breaking down the course, managing aid stations, leading pace groups, and also
just cheering on people as they run by. Many races could not run smoothly
without the help of many community volunteers. Furthermore, in addition to
contributing to creating a smooth race experience, volunteering is a great way
to shift our perspective towards gratitude and love for our community.
Many of us have received mentorship, been inspired by
the stories others so bravely shared with us, and benefitted from the
volunteers who help races go smoothly and can attest to the ways those things
have filled out cups with love for the running community. When we then allow
our cups to overflow into that of others in the form of giving back, we help to
build and sustain the communities that have given so much to us.
Discussion
Questions:
1. What
mentor, running, walking, or jogging buddy, or race volunteer has made an
impact on your running career? In what ways?
2. How
have you found ways to give back to the running, walking, and jogging
community?
Subtitle: Sustaining Your Planet: Run-Specific Tips (mini-blog #3)
Chapters 11-15, Epilogue
Posted
on November 30th, 2023
By
Olivia Baker
One of the biggest ways as runners that we can reduce
our carbon footprint within the sport we love is to make changes to the way
that we travel for races. Often times, travelling for races creates a lot of
excess carbon usage from transportation surrounding the event, increased
consumption while exploring a new location, and sometimes inefficient usage of
resources provided during the race itself (road races in particular). However,
with a few small adjustments and a little extra planning beforehand, we can
reduce the carbon footprint created by our travel to races without adding
stress to a trip that is already focused on optimizing performance. Throughout
Part III of Becoming a Sustainable Runner,
authors Tina Muir and Zoë Rom leave us with helpful tips for doing just that.
To begin with, before we even leave for our trip, we
can minimize travel waste by packing a
few extra reusable items in our suitcases (pg# 161). Items such as reusable
water bottles, reusable cutlery, a reusable shopping bag, and our own soap
among other things on the author's Sustainable Packing List take up very little
space in the suitcase but go a long way towards avoiding the consumption generated
by the harmful single-use plastics found in shopping bags, take-out orders, and
hotel bathrooms when travelling.
Once we've packed our bags, we can further reduce our
carbon footprint by trying to limit our
air travel and use public transportation when we can (pg#159). If a race is
within driving range, it is almost always significantly less carbon-emitting to
drive than to fly. If it is necessary to fly, planning to use public
transportation to and from the airport and during the trip is another way to
reduce consumption. Instead of taking an Uber or taxi from the airport, is it
possible to take a train, subway, or bus? If a form of rideshare is necessary,
is it possible to coordinate a carpool with another participant?
Finally, once we've completed the race, it's important
to leave feedback (pg#145). Some
races will give out surveys seeking feedback, but even if they do not, taking a
minute to email the race director to advocate for a more sustainable event makes
a huge difference. Ask race directors to build an offset calculator into
registration to help participants be more aware of their carbon impact.
Encourage event coordinators to more carefully consider the sourcing and
delivery of medals, awards and T-shirts to see if these items, which create
greater consumption, can be made optional. Even something as simple as asking
for there to be more portable toilets for runners, which save water (and the
surrounding environment at races when runners choose to go elsewhere), can have a great impact. Letting the organizers of
running events know that we value sustainability has the potential to compound
the impact of those sustainable practices on the environment. Individual
changes go a long way, but systemic change is ultimately needed as well to
truly preserve our earth.
It is the combined efforts of all of our individual
and local changes that add up to something that creates global change. As the
authors say in their epilogue, "Seeds are being planted with every decision we
make. We may never sit under the shade of those trees, but what matters is that
we're out here sowing our hearts out…You matter. Your choices matter. Your
decisions matter. It can feel like they don't. But just as an ocean is made up
of tiny droplets, and together those droplets make something beautiful,
powerful, and strong, we can come together with our unique gifts to amount to
something really special." (pg# 208).
Discussion
Questions:
1. What
other ways can you think of to reduce your carbon footprint when travelling for
races? What changes do you think could be reasonable for you to make at this
time?
2. Some of the ideas
presented (and that have been put into practice at some races) to help running
organizations offset carbon emissions at their events included partnering with
non-profits that 1) calculated the average emissions created by a runner
entering a race and gave them the opportunity to offset that cost at
registration (a cost that was $14.62 at the 2022 Chicago Marathon) and 2) plant
a tree for every time someone opted out of a race shirt or medal. As a
consumer, would you be willing to do either of the above things to offset carbon
emissions at a race you are attending?