Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 2019 | Page 30

OUT OF
THE By BOX
Norrie Williamson
STIMULATING A HEALTHY DEBATE
T on all the aspects where races can impact, and
AIMS (the Association of International Marathon and
Distance Races) is already on the fourth update of its
programme to make races greener.
Water points are often the focus of attention, but
in fact, for race organisers, the overall impact of a
race can be considerable. Entry forms, marketing,
medals, goodie bags, T-shirts and branding material
are just a few of the aspects that add to the carbon
footprint of the event. In fact, books could be written Keeping perspective is important in this very
emotional subject. Currently, the social media debate
in road running has tended to be around water
points, single-use plastic sachets, various options
of “carrying your own,” and the use of paper cups
instead of plastic sachets. All too often the debate
degenerates into personal attacks, so let’s establish
a non-negotiable base here: Let’s give all runners,
coaches, officials, organisers and environmentalists
the benefit of the doubt that they are committed
to the belief that both individuals and the sport
must minimise our waste, our footprint and our
environmental impact. On that basis, no suggestion
or viewpoint is ‘incorrect,’ or should attract damning,
here are very few people who still question the
existence of climate change, or the excessive
use of resources in a world of ever-increasing
population. Meanwhile, running is our chosen
sport, so it is logical that what we have all seen and
experienced at races becomes a concern.
There is not a road race with water points that does
not experience the conflict of interest and concerns
of littering, waste management, minimising the use
of resources and complying with the combination
of common sense, finance, and environmental
expectations and desires.
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ISSUE 125 DECEMBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Modern Athlete has long been promoting its #runclean campaign, and over the next few editions will carry different
views on how we can all contribute to the solutions to the litter problem in the sport. The purpose of this column is to
point out some of the background facts and considerations to open the conversation – and we all need to keep in mind
that contributions can only be meaningful if we are open to other opinions and recognising that currently there is no one
solution.