While organizing and volunteering at races, I noticed most aid stations only have paper/plastic cups, pet bottles, meals served in plastic plates with plastic spoons, trails marked with plastic markings and people use them without realizing they are creating waste. I started to notice garbage bags filled with single use plastic after every race. I run outdoor trails with an appreciation for nature, but ending races with so much garbage made me feel sad. Some friends and I decided we wanted to take action. And this is how we came up with the Steel Trail Race in Zenica.
Eco trail seeks to reduce any sort of waste at every aid station, start/finish line, goody bag by having runners carry their own cups as well as their own trash pouch, to be mindful of what they bring to the race and the race only offers local products to eat and drink.
ECO-RESPONSIBILITY
Our ambition is to raise awareness among participants on the importance of protecting the environment through practicing their sport.
SOLIDARITY
This event supports local associations through fundraising efforts and through the involvement of volunteers as well as cultural sites rehabilitation.
As runners, most of us value the great outdoors and want to do our part to protect the places we love. This takes conscious effort and intention.
Modern living creates a staggering amount of waste—much of it from single-use plastic. While running is a simple sport that doesn’t require a ton of gear, the reality is that we continually use up our clothing, shoes, gear and nutrition, typically sending the leftovers to a landfill to sit for decades.
What can we do about this?
Start small and be strategic.
Every little action matters.
“It’s like voting,” says Nick Stump, operator of Fleet Feet Del Ray in Florida. “You may not think that your vote counts, but it does. We have to do our own part to make our world a little bit better.”
You can start with eliminating single-use plastic bags and cutting down on unneeded paper.
As we wait for big retailers to catch on and offer better alternatives to the less environmentally friendly options, here are a few suggestions for runners to reduce your impact.
The best place to start is to think about the impact of the items you purchase and consume on a regular basis.
What kind of packaging do they have?
How long do you use them before you throw them away?
What small changes can you make?
🍃Support races that produce less waste
Races can also create a huge environmental impact simply because they bring so many people to one area.
🍃Avoid driving
Run from home when you can. Carpool with friends when it makes sense, and run-commute to work if you’re able to. If it’s accessible, bike to your run location. Of course, it isn’t practical to do this every single day. But every little bit helps.
🍃Go plogging
The Swedish gave us the fartlek, and now they bring us plogging. In Swedish, “Plocka Upp” means “pick up,” as in, “pick up litter.” Mix it with jogging and you have “plogging.” No matter the name, it’s a great way to beautify a place you love while you exercise. The concept isn’t exactly new, but it’s a wonderful way to care for your community.
🍃Volunteer
If you want to see a low-waste race in your area, let race directors know, and offer to help. Bring friends. Provide support for sustainable practices where you live and be part of the solution.And you can start from the Steel Trail Race Zenica, help and learn how to make a change in your community.
🍃Make purchases you feel good about
When it comes to protecting the environment, our purchases—what and from whom—matter. Thankfully, the brands we love are always working hard to up their game when it comes to sustainability.
Dynafit Bosnia has chosen me to be their brand ambassador and I have chosen them to be the sports sponsor for Steel Race Zenica because they respect nature and they work on the sustainable development of mountain sports and all that with respect to humankind.
If you want to find more about Dynafit sustainability projects please check these links:
https://www.dynafit.com/sustainability
https://cdn1.dynafit.com/media/pdf/fa/3b/d4/Oberalp-Sustainability-Report_Contribute-2020.pdf
🍃Food Composting
Food scraps such as orange peel and bananas sometimes take up to two years to decompose, attracting wildlife during that time can be very damaging for wild animals. Therefore, the best advice is to leave nature in the same condition in which we found it, and if we already have to leave traces, let it be only those created by our shoes.
Compostable food scraps commonly seen at trail races include banana peels, melon rinds, bread, tortillas, pasta, nuts, dairy, meat, vegetables and fruits; paper towels and napkins, coffee filters and tea bags are also compostable.
Compost food scraps – send them to the local composting facility to be turned into dirt. We learned that this one of the most important things that we (and you at home) could do to reduce methane gas emissions from landfills.
We know running is good for us, but it should also be good for the planet. As race directors, we’re committed to conserving resources and sending as little as possible to the landfill, while providing an exceptional experience for all – runners, volunteers, and spectators.