The Green Runners

The Green Runners
Club logo
Founded22 April 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-22)
Websitethegreenrunners.com

The Green Runners is a running club formed to promote climate action in the running community.[1][2]

Discussions between ultrarunners Dan Lawson and Damian Hall about how the sport contributes to climate change, through travel, clothing and equipment led to protests at COP26 in Glasgow 2021. Runners recited an ode, written by Darren Evans, to world leaders there.[3]

Disappointed with the response, a community was formed, and The Green Runners officially launched on 22 April 2022 (Earth Day) with the first member Jasmin Paris.[4][5] Members are encouraged to make action-based pledges on the four pillars:

  • How we move
  • How we kit-up
  • How we fuel
  • How we speak out

and receive a distinctive badge, crafted from repurposed race T-shirts.[6]

The Green Runners have partnered with England Athletics on several sustainability initiatives, including sportswashing in running, and the wastefulness of the sportswear industry.[7] The club spearheaded a petition calling on Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc to remove its headline sponsor, a car manufacturer, and received 3,000 signatures.[6]

In 2023 and 2024, The Green Runners was nominated for Grassroots Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards. Club member Innes FitzGerald won Young Athlete of the Year in 2023.[8]

  1. ^ "The Green Runners call for climate action in the sport". BBC News. 24 September 2024.
  2. ^ Boswell, Rachel (20 September 2024). "The Green Runners launches Race for Change to speed up climate action". Runner's World.
  3. ^ "COP26 - Runners against Climate Change". YouTube. 27 October 2021.
  4. ^ Calvert, Howard (22 April 2022). "Celebrate World Earth Day by joining The Green Runners". Runner's World.
  5. ^ Pearson, Rick (29 July 2022). "How the Green Runners are making the planet fitter". Runner's World.
  6. ^ a b "OUR STORY SO FAR". The Green Runners. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  7. ^ Evans, Nicola (14 September 2023). "Help us in our new partnership with The Green Runners and win a £30 voucher". England Athletics.
  8. ^ "The Green Runners nominated for BBC Green Sport Award". England Athletics. 2 October 2024.