Episode 202

Nina Davies Discusses The Green Runners

Episode Summary: in this episode of CarbonSessions, we dive deep into a conversation with Nina Davies, joining us from Bath (UK) and co-founder of The Green Runners, a running community making changes for a fitter planet. 

Launched on Earth Day in 2022, "The Green Runners" is a running community dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability and encouraging eco-friendly practices among runners. It was created in response to the urgency highlighted at COP26 in Glasgow. 

Conversation with Nina Davies, one of the co-founders, and CarbonSessions hosts, Leekei, Rob, and Jeremy. Highlights include: 

  • The joy and freedom gained from running 
  • Bob Graham Round 
  • How runners can use running practice as a platform to create a positive impact 
  • The Four Pillars of The Green Runners 
  • ‘Sportswashing’ and how The Green Runners called companies out 

Tune in to learn how this impactful initiative harnesses the power of community to spark significant environmental change. 

To find out more about The Green Runners go to https://thegreenrunners.com/ 

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For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac (one of Amazon best-selling books of the year!), visit thecarbonalmanac.org 

Want to join in the conversation? 

Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. 

Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! 

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Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Leekei Tang, Rob Slater and Jeremy Côté. 

Leekei is a fashion business founder, a business coach, an international development expert and podcaster from Paris, France.  

Rob is from Birmingham in the UK, he is an orthodontist, triathlete, coach and podcaster. 

Jeremy is a scientist, an athlete, a coach, and a writer from Québec, Canada. 

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The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Steve Heatherington and Rob Slater. 

Transcript
Speaker:

Hi, I'm Christina.

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I'm from Prague.

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Hi, I'm Jen, and I'm from Canada.

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Hi, I'm Oladunji, and I'm from Nigeria.

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Hello, I'm Liki, and I live in Paris.

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Hi, I'm Brian, and I'm from New York.

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Welcome to Carbon Sessions.

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A podcast with Carbon Conversations

for every day with everyone

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from everywhere in the world.

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In our conversations, we share ideas,

perspectives, questions, and things we

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can actually do to make a difference.

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So don't be shy and join our Carbon

Sessions because it's not too late.

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Hi, I'm Rob.

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I'm Jerry.

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Hi, I'm Leaky.

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And today, can you see that?

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Yes.

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So lovely.

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Yeah.

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So it's lovely, isn't it?

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I've just received my Green Runners badge.

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And today we have Nina, Nina

Davis, uh, one of the co founders

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of the Green Runners with us.

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Welcome, Nina.

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Niki.

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Hi, Robert.

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Hi, Jeremy.

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Lovely to be here with you.

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And what a fabulous badge there you have.

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Isn't it?

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I just received it today.

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I'm so excited about it because I'm

going to be on the race on Sunday.

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So it was really important for me to have

it before, uh, before this race on Sunday.

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So tell us, you know, um, how

did it get, uh, into running?

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Oh, how did I get into running?

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Um, actually, do you know what?

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I, I have always run.

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I was, um, My dad was into marathons,

like, in the time when like, into

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marathons was quite small, like, you

know, in the, in the seventies when,

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uh, it wasn't such a done thing to just

go out and enjoy yourself in the hills.

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Um, so I remember, like, even from

a little girl, kind of following

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him around the lanes on my bike and

planting water bottles on his long runs.

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And so I guess, you know, running

was a part of my life and I was one

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of those kids that had to sort of.

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Pretend not to enjoy the cross

country when really I did.

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Um, but, um, yeah, so I, I started off

running road marathons and, and, um,

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had a bit of a pause for, you know,

university years and, and then, you know,

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pause again when we had kids and things,

but it's, it's always been there really

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is one of my kind of like stalwarts of,

um, joy in life and, um, you know, and,

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Probably a sort of cornerstone of, kind

of mental health and well being for me.

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But it was, , to be honest, it was when

we got a dog, I really got into running

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because suddenly I got into trail

running and like, you know, discovering

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kind of being able to just be free

in the trails was just an absolute,

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um, yeah, it was a revelation and,

you know, absolutely transcended my

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running into a different space really.

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And so, yeah, combination of that and.

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And thanks to my dad, really.

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My dad was a big hill walker, as I

said, big runner and then hill walker.

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And, um, he, he sadly passed

away from motor neurone disease.

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And he, um, I remember him saying to

my brother and I like, Oh, um, I always

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wanted to do this thing called Bob Graham.

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Bob Graham round and it's a big kind

of time we didn't, my brother and I

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didn't really know what it was and

we were sort of, you know, Oh, don't

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worry, dad, we'll do it for you.

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And, uh, yeah, he had the last

laugh because he obviously, yeah, he

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obviously knew what that would entail.

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And yeah, a couple of years later,

we had our first crack at it and,

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and failed as often people do.

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And then a couple of years later, we did

it again and we did it and, you know, but.

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But really the best part of that

experience was time together with my

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brother and in the hills and recce ing

and getting to know the Lake District.

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And yeah, so long winded answer, but

yeah, running, running is, is, is a big

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part of my life and my family's life.

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So what are the details of that run that

you did and managed to succeed in the end?

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Oh, yeah.

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I'd like to know too.

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, the Bob Graham Round is, uh,

yeah, it's, it's a, it's a lovely

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event actually because it's not,

um, it's not on a specific day.

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It's not a race.

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It's a, it's a challenge to visit

42 peaks in the Lake District.

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It's about 66 miles, um, 27, 000 feet

, and the, the tradition is that you start

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at the town hall and you have to finish

back at the town hall 24 hours later.

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So, um, yeah, I mean.

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We totally maxed out time on the hills.

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We did it in 23 hours and 55 minutes.

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Um, you know, unlike people like Julian

Jarnet, whose record is something like.

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13 hours or something.

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You got more value for money then.

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100 percent Rob.

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Yeah.

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What was your journey into

the, um, green side of running?

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Obviously there's green runners, but that

come first or were there other aspects

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to green running that came before that?

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Yeah, they actually, they, they were

very timely together, I suppose.

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I, um, back in 2008 and 18, I, um, Left

the business I had been in, I'd worked 25

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years in the brand and marketing industry

working for consumer goods businesses

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and, um, I guess the last kind of five

years of that, I was increasingly, um,

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finding it difficult to reconcile the

kind of world that we worked in and, um,

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you know, the challenges we were facing,

um, from a climate point of view, and

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we Danone and, you know, towards the

end, we were being asked to work on, um,

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You know, CSR projects and I, all sorts

of kind of like post rationalization

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that was going on in that world.

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And I, and, you know, so, um, eventually

for me, I decided that, that, um,

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as much as I loved the team I worked

with, my time was up in that space.

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And so, , Yeah, and, and it also coincided

with the kids getting older and just

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wanting to be around a little bit more for

them, which is, it was my own business.

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And as you guys all probably

know, that's pretty full on.

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So, um, yeah, I decided to take a

bit of time out and in that time.

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Wanted to mark that time by really doing,

um, following my passions a little bit

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more, which, which were running and, and,

um, sustainability or, you know, wanting,

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just caring for the, for the planet and

the world that I love to run through.

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Um, It gives so much to me and I just felt

it was time to give something back to it.

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So, um, it, and I also happened to run

in a run group where Damien Hall, um,

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is a member and he, he had just released

his book, um, We Can't Run Away From

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This, which is all about running and

our impact and the carbon footprint of

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running and what we can do about it.

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And yeah, it was all, and.

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That really was the kind of the start

of leaning in with that, with that crew.

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And, um, yeah, and it was funny really.

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And it was just, you know, it was, uh,

started as a kind of WhatsApp group

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as so many of these things do, like,

and, um, you know, and then somebody

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in that WhatsApp group sort of said,

well, you know, all this stuff we're

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talking about is really important.

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You know, Leaky, like you're saying,

like having these conversations

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is so helpful to people.

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There was so much knowledge in that

little WhatsApp group and someone

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just kind of said, well, you know.

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Nothing's happening at cop and like, you

know, the vegan runners is a run club.

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Surely we could be, we could,

couldn't we be a run club, um, for

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people that wanna, wanna run and,

and be more mindful of how they run.

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And, and it kind of, uh, you

know, I'd love to say it was.

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Much more strategic, but it wasn't an

awful lot more strategic than that.

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It was a lot of passionate people,

um, passionate about running and

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environmentalism, some people that work

in environmentalism and, and run, and

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some people that run and passionate.

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So it's a, it's a really

nice mix of people.

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Um, and, uh, yeah, that's, that was

where it started So we, we launched

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it on Earth Day, , April 22nd in 2020.

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Yeah.

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And I should say that, um, running

has become very, very trendy now.

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And, uh, as anything that has become

trendy, uh, we are encouraged to buy

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more stuff , as it becomes more trendy.

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I remember I started running Over 20

years ago, because I wanted to do some

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exercise and, um, and I really, uh,

like the, the, the simplicity and the

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freedom of running, uh, you know, the

simplicity, it's just, you go out with a

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pair of trainers and it just go and run.

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And so that I really, really

loved because somehow I felt.

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I remember the first time I

started running, I felt like

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I was, um, Laura Ingalls.

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I'm a big fan of a little

house in the prairie.

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And so I don't know if you've ever used

you saw this show, but when she was a

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kid, she was so excited that Wherever

she goes, she was always running.

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So it's how I felt.

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I was felt this freedom, this lightness.

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And, and it was 20 years ago.

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And the other day I opened my, you know,

where I put all my running gear because

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it has like, it's a full cupboard of stuff

that I got from that I don't necessarily

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have bought, but it's like, I have all

this, you know, um, t shirts and like

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all the goodies and all the ponchos and.

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All of them, uh, they don't do that

so much these days, but like the water

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bottles and all that, and it just becomes,

you know, what started as something

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very light, simple, has become massive.

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And, oh, not even talking about, you

know, the app that tells you, wow, you've

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been running 600k or 700k with issues and

now you need to change them, you know?

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Yeah, yeah.

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Yeah, we talk about it a lot.

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I mean, it's so weird, isn't it?

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It's something that's so, as

you say, so simple and freeing.

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And also it's something that, um,

you know, that really connects us

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to nature in a purist kind of way.

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And, you know, particularly for people

that run on the trails, but, you know,

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also for people that are running in green

spaces and cities or even, you know,

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even around the pavements where we're

just connect, you know, we're running

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on the earth and yet we've made it

this very performance driven narrative.

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And I think part of that kind of.

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Obsession with performance is probably

also what is driving the consumerism

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in running more because, you know,

people want the better kit and they

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want the faster shoes and they, you

know, they want to, um, they want to

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look for those kind of marginal gains

as it were, but, um, you know, I think

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for me, that's part of the joy of not,

of not running kind of road races.

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It's like, you never really know

what sort of time you're going to get

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and no two races are ever the same.

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So you can kind of just.

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Just forget the times a

little bit and, and enjoy.

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And keeping it simple.

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Yeah.

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When I started running, uh, I, um,

I think I was quite naive, really.

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Um, I suppose I would've been about

17, 17, 18, and, uh, it was just

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a friend that said, uh, should we

go for a run up run on the canals?

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And so we, we started off doing, I think

it was a, um, about two miles and we built

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up to a four mile run that we did every,

every Monday on the Birmingham canals.

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And, um, after about sort of.

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Eight weeks of this, I decided

I'd like to run a marathon and

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say, um, I gave myself a student.

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It was a stupid thing really.

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But, um, four months later I was at

the start line of a marathon and having

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done all this training around, um, uh,

Studley, um, our village, all on the

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pavements, I hated running on grass

because it seemed to sap me of energy.

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I had lots of experience.

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I wrote a diary at the time, which I've

now lost, but I remember putting down,

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I swallowed my first fly as part of the,

uh, you know, experience I was having.

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And, um, it took until many years

later, I was in my late thirties

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when I joined the triathlon club

to actually discover trail running.

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And, and, uh, that really did change

things for me and open water swimming.

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I'd only ever done swimming in a pool.

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So suddenly being.

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Actually at one with nature,

swimming, cycling, and running.

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It was, um, incredible.

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And so trail running is now

one of my favorite things.

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And indeed, you know, last weekend,

uh, my son and I went out to our

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local park, Highbury, and, uh, we

ran with the dog, you know, just.

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And literally 10 minutes away from

where we live, we felt like we were

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in the countryside and yet we're

just one mile from the city center.

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So it's a, it's a lovely experience

wherever you are, really.

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Absolutely.

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What about you, Gerard?

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Yeah.

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And it's really nice to, to get this

sense of being like, even if it's

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not like just full on trails, just

having the sense of being outdoors.

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And I know like for me, I, for a

little bit, I lived in more of a city.

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And I remember just being so, so like,

kind of not confused, but just thinking

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I had to get out of the, you know, like

the concrete and all of these buildings

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within the city when I would go run.

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So I would kind of take the

fastest route out of the city.

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So that I could like minimize the amount

of time I spent running in the city and

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maximize the amount of time I was like

on more, you know, dirt roads and more

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on the countries that's mean to us a

lot of appreciation for being able to do

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this kind of activity, this, this sport.

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Not just within, just within the

roads, not that the roads are bad.

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Like, I mean, those are great too, but

like, for, for me, at least I really enjoy

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you're kind of out on the road alone or

say like with, with some other runners,

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but it's not, or you get out, how to dodge

traffic every 10 seconds and being able

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to just, you know, Just connect a little

bit more, um, with, uh, with the planet.

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Yeah, I think that's the, there are

two aspects to my trail running.

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Some, some of it is I like to go out

on my own with a little rucksack.

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And sometimes I might be gone for

about four hours and stop at somewhere

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and have, um, something to eat.

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But the more regular stuff is training

with other people that I like and, um.

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Where we do loops in the park and it

doesn't matter how slow or fast you are

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and you see people who are starting out

and they get faster and there's people

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like me who are getting older who are

getting slower and gradually moving

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to the back of the, uh, of the pack.

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But it, this, um, there is something of

a buzz about doing something like that in

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the morning and coming home and spending

an hour trying to get rid of all the

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mud off every part of your legs that has

built up over that time that you have.

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Running up and down these hills.

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I was just intrigued Nina as to how green

runners kind of communicate in that way.

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Yeah, I mean, it's really, it's lovely to

hear you talk about that community aspect

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aspect of running because I think that was

the opportunity that we really wanted to.

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Um, to connect with, I guess, you know,

generally runners are, you know, I'm

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probably biased, but runners are kind

of generally sort of positive folks.

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They're, they're doers, they're active,

they're, you know, they're outside.

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They are, you know, connected

to nature in many aspects.

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They do notice the effects of, of

climate change and what's happening

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because they are outside more often.

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And, and so I think, you

know, we felt actually.

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There's a need to, you know, most of

the people that we speak to, and in fact

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this was corroborated by a great piece of

research that was done, um, by Sporting

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Insights with the Running Channel.

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They did some research last year

with over:

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was like 98 percent of those runners

said they wanted to do, they wanted

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to take more positive action for

the climate through their running.

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But only kind of 52 percent

were actually doing anything.

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And I think, you know, for us, that,

that represents the opportunity.

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There's definitely a desire within that

community, but often it's that they

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don't know what to do, or they feel

conflicted, or they feel, uh, afraid

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to stick their head above a parapet and

do something and be called a hypocrite

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because they are buying trainers or

whatever, you know, whatever it is.

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And I think for us, that was like, you

know, Let's try and attach something

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that people are finding difficult, as

in taking action and, and, and moving

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their, their intention into action.

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Let's take that difficult thing and

attach it to something that people love,

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attach it into a community where they

feel positive, where they feel a sense

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of belonging, where, where there's, you

know, really tangible things that they

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can do, and that's a real opportunity

to kind of close that, close that gap.

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Yeah.

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From, you know, the people that

want to do more and, and, um, But

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don't really know where to start.

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And so, you know, and, and it

was also about bringing people

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together in a collective.

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I mean, we, we all know, we

all know deep down individual

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actions are not the answer.

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Yeah.

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But like, you can't sort of

hide under a stone and wait for

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everybody else to do something.

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And so for us, it was like.

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The individual action is more about a way

of helping people feel more positive and

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then involving them in collective action,

which is where, you know, we, we feel the

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real power is in our community, um, to,

to, to champion positive change in the

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wider industry and to lobby, um, against

brands and businesses and events that in

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our industry that we don't feel are doing

enough and to do that with a collective,

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positive, engaged, uh, community.

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Um, So that was where, you know, that

was what drove us to the, and the

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green runners is essentially all around

helping people take, take action.

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So it's not about being perfect,

but it's about doing something and

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we, to make that easier and more

tangible with, for people, we, um,

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developed our kind of four pillars.

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So we have a pillar around, and

Likki, you know this, you've joined.

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Yeah.

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I was going to ask you in a minute about

your pledges, but we, we have four pillars

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around how we, um, how we fuel, how we

move, how we kit up and how we speak out.

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And when you become a member, you

make a personal pledge to do something

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under each of those four pillars.

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Um, something that suits you, that meets

you where you are in, in your journey.

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Um, and then, you know, you become

part of that collective and we, we as a

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collective, um, organize other actions

and activities and initiatives that,

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that people, our members can get behind.

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But, um, it's, yeah, like,

I'm, I'm, I'm intrigued.

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How did you find that process of,

of making pledges and thinking

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about what you wanted to do?

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Well, um, I think that, you know, those.

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Those, those pledges are very

important because, um, I think I'm,

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I'm, I mean, doing this podcast, I'm

very, uh, familiar and, uh, taking

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action, uh, to try to help solve the,

uh, climate change problem already.

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So I'm very conscious about

a lot of different things.

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I love things that you are, uh, making

people pledge in with the pillars,

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but, um, but there's still improvement.

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So that's very good.

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So maybe, you know, before, um,

me telling you what my pledge.

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As all my pledges are, maybe we

can go in a little bit more into

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details of the four pillars.

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So the first pillar is

how we, how we move.

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Is it, is it, is it the first pillar?

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How we move?

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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There's no particular order, but how

we, I mean, this is a really key one in

329

:

our industry because it's, it's really

about how we travel to and from events.

330

:

Um, if we're talking about

it just in running and, and.

331

:

You know, we obviously want to

make it very focused on running

332

:

because that's our community.

333

:

But what we have also found is

that you start with running and

334

:

it snowballs into, you know, your,

your, your way of life, obviously.

335

:

And that, that's certainly what's

happened for me, but yeah, really

336

:

there are, you know, there's a lot of.

337

:

The trail running industry, particularly

the road, make the major marathons, you

338

:

know, there's a definite kind of running

tourism, um, there's a desire to go to

339

:

these big popular races, um, that might

be on people's bucket lists and, you know,

340

:

it was, we, we've, you know, there's many

people that travel all around the world

341

:

several times a year, um, just to, to

land and run a race and fly out again.

342

:

And, you know, like I say, the important

thing about the Green Runners is that,

343

:

you know, and reassuring people is that

nobody's going to suddenly, you know,

344

:

we're not asking people to suddenly

stop, stop overnight or, but, but

345

:

it's about thinking about that, how

important those overseas races are.

346

:

Is there something more local

I could do on my doorstep?

347

:

Could I just do one of those a year

and make all the other ones more local?

348

:

Um, and on a day to day basis, perhaps

thinking a little bit more about, You

349

:

know, how, how you travel to run to a,

to run club if you go every week or,

350

:

um, car sharing to, to local races.

351

:

So lots of kind of, you know, very

simple changes that we can all make

352

:

on a day to day basis, but also in

the way we think about, um, racing and

353

:

all kind of like, you might've heard

Jasmine Paris talking about Barkley.

354

:

Yeah.

355

:

Yeah, she, she just had her incredible,

um, You know, finish at Barclay Marathons,

356

:

obviously over in, in the States, you

know, and I, I honestly, like, I know one

357

:

of the things that will have been really

spurring her on in those like last 99

358

:

seconds before the cutoff was like, Oh my,

for God's sake, I don't want to fly here

359

:

again and have to give this another go.

360

:

It was like, that was a really, obviously

difficult decision for her and, you

361

:

know, the only, only race she's chosen.

362

:

To fly to in the, in the last sort of

three or four years, um, you know, it has,

363

:

has been Barkley because that was her,

her, her real kind of, you know, dream

364

:

focused race and, um, and it has been

incredible in terms of, um, in, in terms

365

:

of the platform that she's, she's been

able to have off the back of that as well,

366

:

to be able to talk about, um, the Green

Runners and, and her ethos to running.

367

:

So, um, yeah, so it's really,

it's, that one's really about,

368

:

you know, being more mindful with.

369

:

The events we choose, our day to

day running in terms of our, our.

370

:

I'll travel for this one.

371

:

Um, go ahead.

372

:

Um, yes, we talked to Tina Muir last

year and, um, one of the things that

373

:

we were talking with about with her

was that, uh, it's, it's these big,

374

:

um, big races that attract so many

people from all parts of the globe.

375

:

And yet it's those very organizations

that can probably do more about systemic

376

:

change, uh, than, than, than anybody else.

377

:

And so there's that kind

of conflict, isn't there?

378

:

Between.

379

:

Between the two, um, but, uh, as you say,

it's trying to be mindful about that.

380

:

And, um, you know, because if you try and

deny it, you're just complicit, really.

381

:

Yeah, and I think, you know,

nobody wants to, um, take the

382

:

joy out of these, you know, the,

these bucket list events either.

383

:

Yeah, it's like, you know, these are some

of the things that really motivate us

384

:

and, and are inspiring and certainly are

growing our sport when it comes to kind

385

:

of, you know, ambassadors and, and the,

the elite runners, so, you know, there are

386

:

different ways to get to them and there's

definitely, you know, An approach of kind

387

:

of thinking less, less, but more quality.

388

:

You know, I, I went to a race a couple

of years ago in Switzerland and, and

389

:

we made it a family holiday around it.

390

:

I got the train.

391

:

It was, you know, the whole

experience was just incredible.

392

:

Um, I've never been on a

train that goes uphill before.

393

:

It was, you know, tiniest little rickety

train in the mountains in Switzerland.

394

:

Um, yeah, it was, it was delightful.

395

:

Um, and, you know.

396

:

A few years, you know, 10 years

ago, I probably would have thought

397

:

nothing of just jumping on a plane.

398

:

I wouldn't have seen any of that.

399

:

And, you know, and I would have been

in and out in 48 hours or whatever.

400

:

Yeah.

401

:

Uh, for this pillow, I think I'm already

pretty good because I never fly somewhere

402

:

to be part of the race because, uh,

I'm a runner, but a very casual one.

403

:

Like I don't have, I'm not, I'm just

trying to compete against myself.

404

:

So.

405

:

That's it.

406

:

Yeah.

407

:

So that's, that's good enough.

408

:

If I finish a marathon,

I'm very, very happy.

409

:

I don't need to do all the big majors.

410

:

And I live in the city, so it's

easy for me to not, there are a

411

:

lot of races around me and, uh,

I Cannot even do all of them.

412

:

And so I don't travel too far to uh to

participate to a race Um, but there's

413

:

still improvement I can do and though

One of the pledge . i'm trying to

414

:

To run to where I train, you know,

like to run my training sessions.

415

:

Now, um, I start to run

to the training session.

416

:

Uh, which is double, um, you

know, double gain, double win

417

:

because I get to train more.

418

:

And, uh, I'm using any

means of transportation.

419

:

So.

420

:

So that's my improvement, my slight

improvement in that area, for that pillar.

421

:

Yeah, perfect warm up before a

run time play, a warm up run.

422

:

Yeah, and there's lots of little things,

you know, we've sort of focused on, on

423

:

air travel because that's the biggest,

but you know, even, even on local

424

:

races, it's, um, you know, car sharing,

encouraging your group to, to car share.

425

:

We've had little.

426

:

Little wins about people kind

of like, you know, just little

427

:

things they've done in their club.

428

:

Like actually we put the place to

meet for car share rather than the

429

:

place where the run is going to be.

430

:

And just by that little shift in

kind of like, in terms of nudging the

431

:

conversation, they've, they've, you

know, they've encouraged much more, many

432

:

more people to car share and just break

down that stigma of, you know, perhaps

433

:

the people that didn't want to before.

434

:

So yeah, it can be, it can

be very little things too.

435

:

We hear of lots of people that talk

about training runs and they basically

436

:

just catch a train out to somewhere

and then like run home, which I

437

:

think is a, another really lovely

way to kind of build indifference.

438

:

Lots of adventures, you know,

that's a wonderful idea.

439

:

Yeah, it sounds, it sounds really good.

440

:

And I mean, this, like, what I'm

hearing from like how you describe this

441

:

pillar, and I suppose it's probably

applies to the other players too, is

442

:

really just having intention, just

being a little bit more aware of how

443

:

you construct your training and like

what you're deciding to go for races.

444

:

And just being, yeah, more mindful,

intentional about what kind of

445

:

choices are involved in each of those.

446

:

And so it's not so much like you,

like you were saying, it's not so

447

:

much just completely stop traveling

forever, but instead it's being,

448

:

okay, well, is this, is this race,

like my train bucket list race?

449

:

If so, that's great.

450

:

If not, then maybe there are other

options for me that I don't need

451

:

to necessarily go around, like fly.

452

:

a hundred percent Joe.

453

:

Um, and the second pillar is a

very, very big one, at least for me.

454

:

The second pillar is how we kit up.

455

:

Can you tell us a little

bit more about that?

456

:

Runners do like their kit.

457

:

Runners do like their kit, and one of

the original, um, one of the co-founders.

458

:

Um, and probably one of

the kind of first kind of.

459

:

Inspiration behind The Green Runners 2

and Damien's book is a runner called Dan

460

:

Lawson, I don't know if you know of him.

461

:

He's a GB, um, DB track, 24 track

runner actually is his kind of like,

462

:

really his big thing, but he, he's done

many, many things, um, an incredibly

463

:

inspiring man and he, and he had a

business called Rerun, um, clothing at

464

:

the time when we set up, um, The Green

Runners, um, which was really about

465

:

a place where people could donate.

466

:

Unwanted, um, running kit specifically

because, um, Um, you know, we know

467

:

that every single pair of trainers

that has ever been made is still

468

:

sitting out there somewhere, a lot

of decomposed, um, all those millions

469

:

and millions of pairs of trainers.

470

:

Um, and as you say, there's a sort

of narrative around once you've done

471

:

three, 400 miles in them that you

should be changing them and, you know,

472

:

and so it's all this, these kinds of

conversations that we're really trying

473

:

to change with the kit up pillar and For

me, again, it's sort of like, I think,

474

:

you know, if we take it to the extreme,

people can be very negative about it.

475

:

Like, Oh, you know, well, we,

you know, we all need good kit.

476

:

And of course we do.

477

:

Um, you know, we've become

consumers and not owners.

478

:

We don't think about really

looking after our kit.

479

:

We don't think about really

owning the right kit for us

480

:

that we know is going to last.

481

:

We don't repair it.

482

:

We don't think about how many times we've.

483

:

Chuck it in the washing machine after

every single run when it doesn't

484

:

really need it and then it wears out.

485

:

You know, we're just, we're, we're just

consuming and going through kit like it's,

486

:

you know, going out of fashion and let's

face it, running is not a fashion show, so

487

:

it doesn't need to be fashionable either.

488

:

Um, so, you know, this pillar really

is, again, it's all about helping people

489

:

to be mindful about thinking about the

right kit, um, and to encourage people

490

:

to purchase sensibly, look after it.

491

:

And, um, and then when it does come to

its end of life for you, um, pass it on

492

:

to somewhere more responsible, you know,

even the running kit that goes to charity

493

:

shops, usually ends up in landfill.

494

:

In, in a developing country, um,

so there are lots of other more

495

:

responsible places we can get rid of it.

496

:

Pre lubbed clothing are doing a

fantastic job of selling things on.

497

:

There's lots of ways of locally

giving it to, um, charities who are

498

:

encouraging, um, encouraging communities

to get into running, disadvantaged

499

:

communities that don't have kits.

500

:

So, you know, there's lots of

ways of also then passing it on

501

:

and keeping it in the system, um,

rather than just disposing of it.

502

:

I think my, um, my way of improving

my practice on about how I kit up

503

:

is to say no to goodies because, uh,

including t shirts, because when you,

504

:

you sign up for a race, you often get

lots of useless Goodies and t shirts.

505

:

I have tons of t shirts now.

506

:

So what I try to say to do now is to

say no, thank you I think that's you

507

:

know, the thing is produced anyway

But it's it's a way for me to you know

508

:

to make the organizer aware Actually,

I could write to them and say yeah.

509

:

Yeah, I should write to them.

510

:

Yeah Yeah, 100 percent and then it

comes into your speaking out pillar too.

511

:

That's, that, that's absolutely

what I do and, you know, again, you

512

:

can do it in a very positive way.

513

:

It's just, uh, offering them an option.

514

:

In fact, one of the, um, one of the

organizations we often talk about

515

:

when we do write to, to, to an event

that, um, you know, asks you to put

516

:

in the t shirt size before you can

even book your spot, you know, is,

517

:

is a company called Trees Not Teas.

518

:

Um, and TreesNotTeas kind of work

with race organization, organizers

519

:

and, um, and offer the option when

you sign up to a race to plant

520

:

a tree instead of taking a tea.

521

:

Cool.

522

:

Um, and so, yeah.

523

:

And the benefit of that, the benefit

of that organization is if the race

524

:

company sign up to it in advance,

they also know how many t shirts they

525

:

need to print, so they aren't just

printing them anyway, and then they're

526

:

going to have a lot of excess waste.

527

:

So yeah, they're a good bunch.

528

:

Tree, trees, not teas, check them out.

529

:

And if you know, if you are signing up

to a race, doesn't have that option.

530

:

That's something to, to, to, um, perhaps,

um, invite them to have a look at.

531

:

I quite like the idea of also, because

this is this trail that I've kind of

532

:

left behind me with all these t shirts

and whatever, whatever that I have,

533

:

but I do keep them and, um, but it

gives me the opportunity to go retro.

534

:

Uh, so if I'm wearing my, um, there's

a, as a race, it's a 10 mile race in

535

:

Herefordshire called the Muddy Woody.

536

:

And, uh, I, when I did it

in about:

537

:

bright orange t shirts with green and

all sorts of funny patterns on it.

538

:

And it always gets

comments when I wear it.

539

:

So because it's got this date of how many

years ago showing my age and all of that.

540

:

But, uh, it's, it's quite nice because

it just, you know, and then of course

541

:

you can get onto a conversation,

uh, about, you know, the fact

542

:

that I'm still wearing this thing.

543

:

Um, but perhaps we don't need

to be, you know, continuing

544

:

this trail of destruction.

545

:

Yeah, I love that.

546

:

I love that.

547

:

I'm a big fan of, um, pre love sports

who, who essentially, you know, sell

548

:

secondhand gear because I love the

idea that like every T-shirt has had

549

:

a little story and a, and a journey.

550

:

Yeah.

551

:

And I think that makes it all all more

exciting when you, um, and, and they, by

552

:

the way, also, um, pre love sports are,

are also, they also make our badges for us

553

:

badge that you, that you shared earlier,

leaky, they, they print them onto.

554

:

t shirts that they get given

that they can't sell on.

555

:

So if they get a t shirt that is

like, you know, full of holes or isn't

556

:

sellable or is in too bad a condition,

they then, um, put those aside and

557

:

print the badges on them for us.

558

:

And the third pillar is the nutrition.

559

:

Is that right?

560

:

Yeah.

561

:

How, how we fuel, I guess we, we talk

about this one really, because it's kind

562

:

of, it's, um, what we eat and what we

drink and thinking about the kind of.

563

:

Packaging and waste as well as just, you

know, so I think, you know, one thing

564

:

that makes us a little bit different

from a group like the vegan runners

565

:

is we don't, you know, we, we, um, we

aren't about every runner having to be

566

:

vegan, but there's no doubt about it.

567

:

That is obviously a really.

568

:

Positive, um, thing that we can all do

in terms of, um, taking steps towards

569

:

that or being more mindful about, um, in

increasing plants in our, in our diet.

570

:

And lots of, lots of studies and TV shows

and things out there to show that it

571

:

doesn't, um, impair your, um, your health.

572

:

performance as a sports person

at all, um, as long as you take

573

:

it seriously and do it properly.

574

:

Um, but yeah, it's also, you know,

for us as a big thing around, um,

575

:

around drinking, you know, there's a

lot of these mass participation events

576

:

have a lot of single use plastic.

577

:

Um, you know, and it's an easy, it's

an easy target when you go to something

578

:

like Brighton Marathon or London Marathon

events and you see all these bottles

579

:

discarded, I mean, it's It's a really

tricky one, but you know, it's another

580

:

reason for me why I love trail racing.

581

:

Yeah, you're totally self sufficient.

582

:

You carry a little rucksack and

you have your refillable flasks

583

:

in it and you don't have to take

anything and nothing single use.

584

:

For me, there's no reason why that

couldn't be the same in those races, but,

585

:

um, you know, so there's lots of, lots

of ways I think we can try and, yeah,

586

:

reduce ruse packaging, um, within that.

587

:

Um, and then also, you know, championing

for, for business, for, um, there's a

588

:

lovely brand, new, uh, nutrition food

brand called One Good Thing that has

589

:

no wrapper at all, it's like wrapped

in a kind of edible, um, Um, um, uh,

590

:

I can't remember what it's made off

the top of my head, but you know,

591

:

one, one good thing OGT and they're

delicious actually, they're really good.

592

:

Um, yeah.

593

:

So, you know, I don't know about you,

Rob, when you've done some of these

594

:

events, but the number of times you.

595

:

Go along the trail and see

discarded gel packets everywhere

596

:

along the pathways and, you know.

597

:

Yes, I've been.

598

:

I'm sure people don't do it intentionally,

but when you're running, shoving them

599

:

in your pocket, sometimes they fall out.

600

:

Yeah, I think the, um, I've done,

because, Ironman has been one of the

601

:

big events that I've been doing for the

last 10 years and, uh, um, it was not so

602

:

much an issue on the, on the bike ride.

603

:

You, it's still, it really annoyed me

that you're cycling along and you see

604

:

bottles and, and they do sometimes fall

out if you're, you try and pick them out

605

:

while you're riding, they fall over and

it's actually dangerous to stop and, uh,

606

:

and go back and retrieve them really.

607

:

But, um, You do see a lot of discarded

gels, all that sort of thing that are

608

:

clearly, I think, being done on purpose.

609

:

And that, that really is, is

frustrating, particularly when the

610

:

organizers do say, look, you know,

you, the locals have closed their roads

611

:

for us, and we should respect that.

612

:

And so, I've actually taken to, when

I'm doing my races, to try and avoid

613

:

having things like that, and just having

things just in my little pouch on the

614

:

crossbar so that I can just pick them

out and eat them without having to worry

615

:

about wrestling it out of a wrapper.

616

:

Uh, so, you know, even if it is

something like a chocolate bar or

617

:

something, or like a bounty bar,

um, that has been in a wrapper, at

618

:

least I know that I'm not going to

discard that on the, uh, on the road.

619

:

But the worst part of it

is the, is the running.

620

:

Part, because there's all these feed

stations and you're just running

621

:

through a sickly mess by the end

of the, um, by the end of the day.

622

:

Uh, and I find that really

disturbing about those races.

623

:

Yeah.

624

:

And it's so easy to, you know,

again, it's just so easy to change.

625

:

It's such a simple thing when you go to,

when you go to an event, you know, ask

626

:

you to bring your refill, refillable.

627

:

Cup and you take, you scoop your

own water and just refill it.

628

:

And it's, you know, it's all part,

it's all part of the experience.

629

:

You have a conversation with the

people at the aid station and you

630

:

get, you know, and, and it's, it's.

631

:

It's all those human connection points

that we also just, you know, miss out

632

:

on if we're just grabbing and going and

not interacting fully in the experience.

633

:

Yeah.

634

:

When I think of the last marathon

in Paris, there were 50 participants

635

:

and there was a water station

every 5k and I don't know how

636

:

many bottles everybody took, but

I took two at each water stations.

637

:

So that means I have taken at least two.

638

:

Eight water bottles.

639

:

That's a lot.

640

:

And then you multiply by 50, 000 people.

641

:

That's a huge number.

642

:

That's horrible.

643

:

That's enormous.

644

:

Yeah.

645

:

Yeah.

646

:

Yeah.

647

:

And that's, as you say, it's some, it's

so, I bet you didn't finish communic.

648

:

No, no.

649

:

Yeah, no, I didn't.

650

:

So as you say, it's something

that's not, that should not

651

:

be that difficult to change.

652

:

No.

653

:

And to me, again, part, I think

part of it, I don't, I dunno

654

:

where it sort of comes from.

655

:

I guess again, part of it is

this performance narrative.

656

:

You know?

657

:

It's like, oh, I can.

658

:

Slow down, can't afford to stop and

fill up a bottle or, you know, it's

659

:

like gonna not shave those few seconds

off my, off my personal best time.

660

:

And I, I, you know, this, that sort of

narrative is not helpful in terms of mind

661

:

mindset and, and more mindful running.

662

:

Um, you know, but I also think it's

just this general kind of loss of.

663

:

Agency, individual agency and you know,

actually, you know, that's, again, I

664

:

talk about the packs when I take my own

food and my, you know, usually just my

665

:

homemade sandwiches and my own water

and yeah, I'm self sufficient and.

666

:

So it should be, you know, I

can, I'm a 50 year old adult.

667

:

I'm perfectly capable of packing enough

water and food for a, for a race.

668

:

Um, yeah, I think that's part of the,

part of the mindset shift that, you

669

:

know, we should be trying to encourage.

670

:

Yeah.

671

:

Some runners can do it for, for ultra.

672

:

trail, so why can't we

do it for a marathon?

673

:

Yeah.

674

:

I've been involved with the, um, uh,

some of the Roseland August Trail runs

675

:

in Cornwall, uh, that, um, I've, um,

it's the only ultra that I've done.

676

:

I've done it a few times.

677

:

Um, the one I've done is, is a 32 mile.

678

:

So it's the shortest possible

one you can do as an ultra.

679

:

And, um, I think the nice thing about that

one, it is very kind of parochial and.

680

:

Um, so I remember once at about

25 miles, I was overtaken cause I

681

:

was having problems with my feet.

682

:

Uh, I was absolutely destroyed by all

these hills that I was running them down

683

:

and these two girls just ran past me

chatting in tutus and um It was like a

684

:

local just a little local 5k really to

them um, but the the nice thing about

685

:

that feel to the race is that um, People

don't want to you know You Um, a lot

686

:

of them are the locals and they, uh,

they want to respect the environment

687

:

that they're running through, um, but

the broom wagon people who, um, follow,

688

:

follow behind and make sure people are

keeping to the times, um, they tend

689

:

to sort of clear up, uh, and, and,

and, you know, take off, take anything

690

:

off the route that they possibly can.

691

:

Um, so if you're able to help them

so that they don't have to do so much

692

:

work by being mindful of that, it,

it, it kind of all helps to, you know,

693

:

have that community spirit to the day.

694

:

Isn't it?

695

:

Yeah, just being, being a

bit kinder all around, hey.

696

:

Yeah.

697

:

Um, okay, let's talk about the fourth

pillar and, uh, actually the fourth

698

:

pillar is one of the reason why we're

having this conversation because the

699

:

fourth pillar is about speaking up.

700

:

Absolutely.

701

:

And, um, probably the most important

pillar of all, um, I think it's very,

702

:

you know, I often have conversations

with people on runs and at races

703

:

and they kind of go, Oh, hi.

704

:

Yeah, I agree with that and

yeah, I do, I, I do that.

705

:

Oh no, I do actually repair my trainers

and then I sort of say to them, well,

706

:

you know, you should be a green runner

and they kind of say, well, well, I'm

707

:

not really that outspoken and you know,

I'm a more moderate person and I think

708

:

there's this perception that speaking

out has to be radical, but speaking

709

:

out doesn't have to be radical at all.

710

:

Speaking out is as you guys do

is just having conversations.

711

:

Wearing your green runner

badge when you go to a race.

712

:

It's just, you know, helping to,

to make people feel, be aware.

713

:

And, and, and, um, you know, that's,

I think sometimes we think it's the

714

:

hardest pillar of all, but really

it should be the easiest because

715

:

it's just about talking to people.

716

:

Um, And inviting them to be a part of it.

717

:

And for me, this is, you know, when,

when I talk to runners like that, I

718

:

kind of, I want to sort of say to them,

well, then we need you because we're

719

:

much more powerful as a collective.

720

:

I guess the speaking out is also about

what we can do as a collective, um, as

721

:

well as, As just individuals and, you

know, this year is a big one voting,

722

:

obviously we've all got chances,

individuals to vote, which we know is, you

723

:

know, one of the biggest things we, we can

do to speak out, but also as a collective

724

:

in terms of the running industry.

725

:

Sort of until we reach that tipping point

of enough people asking for no t shirts

726

:

or enough people asking for no water

bottles or enough people saying it's not

727

:

good enough that these shoes don't fit.

728

:

Don't last more than, than 300 miles,

you know, we, we need to encourage

729

:

people to be Running protagonist to help

us kind of create that tipping point.

730

:

Um, and that's what being part

of the Green Runners community

731

:

and a collective will help us do.

732

:

You know, we can, we can have some

of the conversations that people

733

:

might be afraid to have on their own.

734

:

And, and you guys have made it quite

easy to start a conversation because

735

:

with this badge, uh, you can easily

stitch it like, you know, I'm wearing

736

:

something black and, you know, because

it's of the, of the color contrast.

737

:

It's.

738

:

It's quite, um, eye catching, so it's

quite easy to start a conversation with

739

:

that, you know, and I'm going to do

that, uh, for my next race this Sunday.

740

:

And I'm also going to, to, to, well, I'm

going to basically, uh, wear my badge

741

:

for, um, every race, but particularly,

, in August, because I'll be running the,

742

:

the, one of the, the Olympics, uh, the

marathon for the Olympics, but the one

743

:

that is open, uh, for the general public.

744

:

So I'm going to wear that.

745

:

The Green Runners will be at the Olympics.

746

:

Yeah, amazing.

747

:

Amazing.

748

:

Yeah, the badge definitely works well

and it's, um, it's lovely actually

749

:

because when you go to a race and

you see somebody else with their

750

:

green badge on the start line, you

know, it's, it draws you together

751

:

with people and, you know, you then.

752

:

You know, that you are meeting

and sharing some miles with

753

:

like minded folk, hopefully.

754

:

And, um, you know, that, that for me has

always been a really, a really positive,

755

:

joyful kind of human experience of being

drawn to, to some, another green runner.

756

:

Um, yeah, it's something we get asked

about, talking of kind of being drawn

757

:

to, to green runners is like, you know, I

think it's something we get asked a lot.

758

:

It's like, Oh, You know, can I,

can I meet up with, you know, do

759

:

you, do you go for runs together

as a, as a community, as a club?

760

:

I mean, our community is,

is all over the world.

761

:

I mean, we are predominantly UK, um, but

we do have, have, um, green runners all

762

:

over the world, but one of the things

we are looking to, to, to implement this

763

:

year is more local green runner meetups.

764

:

Seeing how we can, um, use our community,

um, and, and perhaps look at some

765

:

kind of like local Green Runner leads

so that actually, um, local groups

766

:

of green runners can get together in

places where they can meet each other

767

:

and run and perhaps meet at a train

station That, that's easy to, easy to

768

:

access and, and, and have a run from.

769

:

But you know, that part of, um, in real

life connection I think is important too.

770

:

But, um.

771

:

But just going back to the speaking out

pillar, the, I mean, I think the other,

772

:

the other thing that you, you probably,

if you follow us on social media and

773

:

things, you'll see that we do do is that

we do, we do speak out against brands

774

:

and businesses, never individuals, but

against brands, businesses, events, um,

775

:

who we feel aren't doing good enough,

particularly in the sports washing

776

:

space and fossil fuel sponsorship and,

um, places where we really feel the

777

:

Of greener running is being undermined

and not, and being misrepresented, you

778

:

know, hugely our sport is being hugely

misused, um, by fossil fuel businesses.

779

:

Like UTMB.

780

:

What did you, what's the story with UTMB?

781

:

Yeah, the UTMB has, has been

great, really, uh, you know,

782

:

a great, um, initiative.

783

:

So we, we obviously called them out

about their, um, Dacia, Dacia, or Dacia.

784

:

I never really know how to say it.

785

:

Dacia sponsorship, they became

the headline sponsor last year.

786

:

So, you know, everywhere was like

Dacia logo next to UTMB, which is,

787

:

uh, you know, and, and that pinnacle

race for so many people, it's, um,

788

:

you know, hugely popular, I mean.

789

:

There's obviously lots of other

challenges around it, the race, in

790

:

terms of their series and encouraging

people to fly, but you know, that, that

791

:

was something that really upset a lot

of people that, um, you know, such a

792

:

well respected kind of pinnacle event

that was all about people enjoying

793

:

the trails and being out in nature

and having this incredible experience.

794

:

Um, was, you know, was being cited

right next door to a brand that produces

795

:

S, you know, gas guzzling SUVs, um,

and is currently kind of killing the

796

:

world that we run through, um, it

just felt so incongruous, so, um,

797

:

yeah, we called them out over it and

actually, you know, it's been a really.

798

:

Um, interesting journey, we've had lots

of discussions with, um, um, they've

799

:

been very open and proactive to talking

like two days before the start of the

800

:

race, they were, you know, all of our

team, including the owners were on a

801

:

call with some of the green runners,

um, you know, asking for feedback and

802

:

because it really got traction and

picked up traction amongst the, the

803

:

elite runners that run that field,

run that course, um, and this year, in

804

:

fact, they've actually, uh, dropped.

805

:

That's here from their

headline sponsorship.

806

:

So they are still sponsored by

them, but I don't know what's

807

:

gone on behind the scenes.

808

:

They've obviously done some negotiating

to sort of, um, change the contract in,

809

:

in some shape or form, but, um, it's

certainly, their name is certainly not

810

:

up there in lights like it was last year.

811

:

So it's, you know, these, it's, it's

a really positive step to show that

812

:

actually, You know, collective action

works, calling people out and then, and

813

:

then, then supporting them and having

conversations and offering to help and,

814

:

you know, point people in the right

direction, which is, I guess, what,

815

:

what the Green Runners is all about

is like, yes, let's use collective

816

:

action to, um, raise awareness, but

then let's, Let's work together to

817

:

do something about it and, um, you

know, and help support people as well.

818

:

So we were, we're really encouraged by

that and we hope it will go further.

819

:

Yeah.

820

:

I just, I just find it so, so intriguing

kind of like in this, when you talk

821

:

about this pillar, the, the difference

between the idea of speaking up when

822

:

I hear this in comments, like about

me speaking, but really it's, it's

823

:

not just about me speaking up, it's

also about having the community.

824

:

Surrounding me to feel

comfortable doing so as well.

825

:

Like, I mean, like this, this is what

it really sounds like when you're

826

:

talking about this and the, as you,

once you feel comfortable within a

827

:

community, it's a lot more normalized

to go and speak up and to say things.

828

:

Let's say things as a group with

the group, you have like even more.

829

:

Um, power to, uh, you know,

affect change in the world.

830

:

So I think, I think there's like

this really neat, like juxtaposition

831

:

between like you as an individual

wanting to speak up or maybe not feel

832

:

uncomfortable doing so, but then also.

833

:

Being surrounded by people, um,

that make it, that makes it easier.

834

:

Actually, Jeremy, what, what you

said speaks, speaks to the stat

835

:

that I was going to actually talk

about in that, um, 80 percent of, of

836

:

people would like to do something.

837

:

Um, but of those 80%, they only

think that the group is 20%.

838

:

And it's a strange Pareto

principle about it.

839

:

But the fact is, if you know that

it's actually 80%, then it makes

840

:

it so much easier to talk about it.

841

:

And when you do start initiating

those conversations, you're

842

:

usually pleasantly surprised.

843

:

Yeah, exactly.

844

:

And that's why, for me, it's really

important that if there are, you know, if

845

:

there are runners out there who do think

like this, then, you know, Come and join

846

:

us and wear that badge because the more

we see that out there, the more we, we

847

:

will feel supported in that, in the, and

to have those difficult conversations

848

:

and, and, you know, to really feel

like we can, we can make an impact.

849

:

I mean, just in the UK, there's like, I

think the last stats were about, they're

850

:

like seven and a half million runners

just in the UK, you know, and so you

851

:

think you're in this sort of, oh, we're

doing, I'm doing something really small.

852

:

In a really small niche, you know,

but it, it isn't, what if, you know,

853

:

what if all those, all those people

started to, you know, started to

854

:

do something through their running.

855

:

And, and for me, it's been, you

know, it did start through running

856

:

because I felt that was a tangible

place I could do something.

857

:

And now it's, it's transcended

into, into my whole life.

858

:

And, you know, it's.

859

:

And it's been so joyful.

860

:

It's saved me money.

861

:

It's opened my eyes to a

new way of seeing the world.

862

:

I've met different people.

863

:

It's, you know, I think sometimes, I don't

know, sometimes people think the greenies

864

:

are the kind of like sandal wearing

tree huggers the joy out of everything

865

:

I do in the corner, aren't they?

866

:

I, it's just not like that anymore.

867

:

And like, you know, it's, It

can't be like that anymore.

868

:

This is like, you know, at one

point, you know, we were talking

869

:

about, Oh, we'll have green runners.

870

:

It's the future of running.

871

:

It's like, no, no, it's, it's the now.

872

:

Yeah.

873

:

It's the now of running.

874

:

And this is, you know, this is, it's

the now of human behavior, to be honest.

875

:

Um, and, uh, yeah, so it's, it's, yeah.

876

:

But I, I, and that, you know, the point

you make Jeremy, I think about having that

877

:

support, you know, we see that in so many

other initiatives that we're working with.

878

:

So we're, we're doing a

partnership with England Athletics.

879

:

Um, they have 1700 affiliated clubs all

around the, um, all around the country.

880

:

And so we're trialing, uh, a

partnership with them where we have

881

:

kind of green champions from the

Green Runners community helping to,

882

:

um, cascade their kind of policies.

883

:

So the England, England Athletics is

the kind of governing body that sets the

884

:

policy, but actually it needs to be really

owned by each local club and community.

885

:

And that's what we're helping to do.

886

:

Powerful combination of like.

887

:

Governing bodies doing the right thing,

setting the right standards, setting

888

:

people, giving people the right ambition,

but then kind of it actually happening

889

:

on the ground, owned by the community

in a really, you know, positive way that

890

:

picks up on the energy in that local area.

891

:

For me, that's a really

powerful combination.

892

:

And, you know, some of our, some of the

clubs that are in that trial of, you

893

:

know, One of the Green Champions kind

of said to me the other day, he said,

894

:

you know what, I've been trying for

nearly three years to get sustainability

895

:

on the agenda with our, our club.

896

:

And it isn't until we get an initiative

like this, which is governing

897

:

body and community wide, that I've

actually been able to land it.

898

:

And, you know, he, he, he

struggled to speak out.

899

:

And so, but now he's kind of, he feels

like he's got the support of, uh, of

900

:

the, of so many people behind him.

901

:

Um, and it's happening.

902

:

That, that holy grail, I guess, of

kind of like the two pronged approach,

903

:

the kind of top down and bottom up

approach is kind of, you know, is

904

:

something that I believe we can showcase

in Green Runners and like, it needs

905

:

to happen in lots of other spaces.

906

:

I was just gonna say that, um,

there was, um, one of our, uh, club

907

:

members, um, was involved with the

start of, um, park run is I just

908

:

wondered whether Chrissy Wellington,

uh, was, is, um, member of our club.

909

:

Um, she was, was involved at the

sort of, uh, outset of, uh, park Run.

910

:

I just wondered whether you

had any initiatives with,

911

:

um, with that organization.

912

:

Do you know, we, we would love to, we

would absolutely love to, and I, actually

913

:

I do, Chrissy lives not far from me here,

actually, but, um, but, um, and, uh, yeah,

914

:

no, we would love to talk to Parkrun.

915

:

I think we'd probably just feel like we

have to get to the right point where,

916

:

you know, Parkrun are obviously extremely

protective about their, uh, their brand

917

:

and their independence and, you know,

their ethos of, of being very community

918

:

owned and always free and, um, Yeah, so I

hope, but I, I, I feel like we definitely

919

:

align, um, and, you know, park running

is such a simple concept, isn't it?

920

:

Yeah.

921

:

Um, unfortunately we do have park run

tourism, which is not probably the best

922

:

under the, uh, how you move pillar.

923

:

So maybe we'll, maybe we'll have

a chat with them about that.

924

:

Eco tourism, perhaps we need to move

it to park run eco tourism, but, um,

925

:

you know, but they, they certainly,

um, they certainly do a lot of good.

926

:

So, um, Yeah, it would be,

it would be great to, to, uh,

927

:

talk to them at some point.

928

:

And of course, if you just happen

to be somewhere and you think, Oh, I

929

:

could go and do a park run, it's, it's,

um, it's a other outlet, isn't it?

930

:

So it's a positive thing in that respect.

931

:

Yeah, absolutely.

932

:

Um, and if you, you know, if, if,

uh, if you know, you can go there and

933

:

actually that event is, you know, by

its nature, ticking a lot of boxes

934

:

of what a greener event should be.

935

:

Yeah.

936

:

It's local.

937

:

It's in a local environment,

usually a park or somewhere

938

:

where people can get to easily.

939

:

Um, you know, it's very non

judge, non performance based.

940

:

It's challenging that narrative

of performance and racing.

941

:

It's very inclusive.

942

:

It's, you know, you don't need to have

the best quality kit to go there and

943

:

you feel like you're going to stand

out if you haven't got the best kit.

944

:

So I think, you know, by its nature

and its ethos, it's, it's a lot of the

945

:

things they do are very aligned with.

946

:

So before we wrap up, maybe we can

just, um, tell people how easy it is to

947

:

become a green runner no matter where

you are, uh, because I'm in France

948

:

and I'm probably a green runner now.

949

:

So it's just going to the website and

sign up and it's, it's very, it's,

950

:

it's not very expensive I think to

become a, to, to receive the badge.

951

:

So it's very easy and simple.

952

:

Yeah.

953

:

We, we obviously want, you know,

it's very important that it's,

954

:

um, Inclusive and easy for anybody

and everybody that wants to join.

955

:

And, um, that's why we aren't

actually a running club.

956

:

So we're a, we're a

community interest company.

957

:

We're a CIC, nonprofit, volunteer run,

um, And we aren't a club because we

958

:

see ourselves as like a community that

can attach to any existing run club.

959

:

So you can put that badge over your

existing, you know, onto your existing

960

:

run club vest, or if you're not in a

club onto any t shirt that you've got.

961

:

Um, and yes, you can, um, Hop over to

our website, which is thegreenrunners.

962

:

com and find out all about our, you

know, a bit more about our pillars there.

963

:

There's lots of resources and stories

and blogs, um, and you can, you can

964

:

join there from, you know, the, there's

a few options to choose from, but the

965

:

starting membership is five pounds a

year, um, and, uh, which just helps

966

:

to go towards keeping the lights on

basically, paying for the website.

967

:

Um, and, uh, yeah, but, um, no,

we're, we're, we're a volunteer

968

:

led community like yourselves.

969

:

So, um, a lot of passionate people

doing what they can, when they can.

970

:

Wonderful.

971

:

Fantastic.

972

:

Thank you.

973

:

Yeah.

974

:

Thank you very much.

975

:

Thank you so much, guys.

976

:

Yes.

977

:

Thank you.

978

:

It's been a pleasure.

979

:

You've been listening to Carbon

Sessions, a podcast with carbon

980

:

conversations for every day with

everyone from everywhere in the world.

981

:

We'd love you to join the Carbon

Sessions so you too can share your

982

:

perspectives from wherever you are.

983

:

This is a great way for our community

to learn from your ideas and

984

:

experiences, connect, and take action.

985

:

If you want to add your voice to the

conversation, go to thecarbonalmanac.

986

:

org slash podcasts, and sign up

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987

:

This podcast is also part of

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988

:

For more information, to sign up for

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989

:

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990

:

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991

:

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992

:

Be sure to subscribe and join

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993

:

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The climate is the fundamental issue of our time, and now we face a critical decision. Whether to be optimistic or fatalistic, whether to profess skepticism or to take action. Yet it seems we can barely agree on what is really going on, let alone what needs to be done. We urgently need facts, not opinions. Insights, not statistics. And a shift from thinking about climate change as a “me” problem to a “we” problem.

The Carbon Almanac is a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between hundreds of writers, researchers, thinkers, and illustrators that focuses on what we know, what has come before, and what might happen next. Drawing on over 1,000 data points, the book uses cartoons, quotes, illustrations, tables, histories, and articles to lay out carbon’s impact on our food system, ocean acidity, agriculture, energy, biodiversity, extreme weather events, the economy, human health, and best and worst-case scenarios. Visually engaging and built to share, The Carbon Almanac is the definitive source for facts and the basis for a global movement to fight climate change.

This isn’t what the oil companies, marketers, activists, or politicians want you to believe. This is what’s really happening, right now. Our planet is in trouble, and no one concerned group, corporation, country, or hemisphere can address this on its own. Self-interest only increases the problem. We are in this together. And it’s not too late to for concerted, collective action for change.