Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 124, November 2019 | Page 9

RUNCLEAN
Three Easy
Ways to #runclean
#
1
Carry your own water
in races – you don’t nee
d an expensive hydrati
water belt, a recycled
on pack or
sports drink or cold drin
k bottle will do the tric
make sure it is nice and
k, and you can
cold by keeping it in the
fridge overnight. Many
offer refill stations for
races now
those carrying their own
water, so no worries abo
and no need to use sac
ut running out,
hets.
2
Dispose of sachets res
ponsibly – Most races
have dustbins along the
it only takes a second
route, and
or two to use them. The
excuse that you cannot
to veer to the side of the
afford the time
road to get to them is
cancelled by the fact
veered to the side to get
that you already
the sachet in the first
place... so just stay on
you drink, use the dus
the side while
tbin, then go back to the
middle of the road and
run, knowing you did
enjoy your
your bit to #runclean.
And please try not to
the corners of the sac
bite off and spit out
hets, because these seld
om get spotted and clea
race volunteers or clea
ned up by the
n-up crew!
3
plastic sachets, because we agree that an economically and practically viable
alternative is not yet available – and we do still want runners to be able to race to
their full potential – but we do promote the #icarrymyown campaign as a viable
alternative to sachets, on a voluntary basis, thus at least reducing the amount of
plastic waste being generated by the sport. We agree that it is not a viable direct
replacement for sachets, especially not for elite runners trying to race at top speed,
but it is at least a step in the right direction in the meantime, for those who want to
proactively contribute to the reduction of plastic waste and litter in the sport.
We have campaigned hard to get more runners to use dustbins in races instead
of dropping sachets on the road. This has led to debates with runners trying to
justify littering as job creation, their right, or just what has always been done.
Thankfully, many have come round to the thinking that littering is not OK, and
have changed their ways, but there are still many runners who need convincing.
We have steered clear of naming and shaming individual runners for littering.
We do not think it fair to make one person the scapegoat for public shaming
when several hundred or thousand runners did the same thing in the same race.
Furthermore, we do not want to scare people into stopping littering, we want them
to do so because they think it is the right thing to do. Thus we also have mixed
feelings about calls for running officials to fine or disqualify runners for littering.
Unfortunately, given the absolute refusal of some runners to even try to stop
littering, that route may become inevitable in order to effect change, but it’s not
something we actively campaign for. We prefer the educational route, which is
slowly but surely making a difference.
None of us are carbon neutral. By the very nature of modern life, the products
we use and consume, our lifestyles, etc, we all use, consume or benefit from the
burning of fossil fuels, and we all purchase products in plastic or non-recyclable
packaging. It is well nigh impossible in this age not to do so. But if we all do our
best to reduce this, we start making a difference.
Lastly, we hope that you will see that we are trying hard to effect positive change,
and that requires repeatedly banging the same proverbial drum. There are a
dedicated number of people, all of whom participate in road running, that have
If no dustbins are ava
ilable, carry the sachet
till you can dispose of
weight of an empty sac
it – The
het in your hand is so
miniscule that it will ma
whatsoever to your run
ke no difference
ning speed or your bio
mechanics. So if you
sachet away from a refr
have carried a
eshment station and now
want to dispose of it,
to it for another kay or
just hold on
two until the next stat
ion and use the dustbin
won’t affect your race.
s there. Really
been working on this issue for a few years now, exploring options, looking into
suggestions, researching new technology, experimenting with new or alternative
systems, and doing their best with limited time and resources to effect change.
All too often, these people are verbally abused or ridiculed by runners who simply
refuse to think about alternatives to littering. But we’re not going to stop…
because we believe the environment is too important.
Thanks for reading this, and think before you throw... #runclean.
The Ed
PS: Please promote the green message... If
you see a fellow runner littering during a
race, help to educate them about
the litter problem in the sport,
and give them constructive
ideas about doing better
in the future, but
please remember,
no runner has the
right to shout at
another runner
over littering.
Keep it
civil, and
let’s work
together
to solve
the
problem.
Modern Athlete readers can join the #ICarryMyOwn movement by purchasing
a Fuelbelt handheld water bottle through this exclusive price offer!
Fuelbelt Enduro Handheld retails for R450, purchase here for R250!
Lightweight, insulated bottle sleeve with two pockets for on-the-run storage. 500ml
capacity, BPA-free, contour bottle with soft silicone cap and burst valve. Top shelf
dishwasher safe. Adjustable hand strap conforms to the hand to promote a relaxed grip.
9
Carry your own water to reduce your reliance on single use plastic.