Here is the article that was finally published in Marathon & Beyond, in the Mar/April 2009 Issue.
Chicago, October 7, 2007
I’m out here with 35,000 of my
closest friends. 10,000 others had the incredible good sense to stay home and
chuck the whole thing. Not me. I paid my entry fee and by God I’m going to get
my money’s worth. I’m sweating profusely, and the race hasn’t even started. It
occurs to me that this day may turn out to be a bad one for many or perhaps even
all of us.
The gun goes off and our journey begins.
Up until mile 11 or 12, I’d been running mostly in the morning shadows of
Chicago’s tall buildings, and it hadn’t felt all that bad. Of course, I’d been
taking plenty of water and electrolyte tablets. It never occurs to me that I
may be using too much water and that some of those behind me will arrive to the
tables only to find no remaining water. At the point where we begin spending
most of our time in the sun rather than the shadows, we really begin to suffer.
I instinctively slow my pace a bit, but I see others slowing more, and some are
already walking. At some point I see the first real victim: a runner lying down
on the side of the road and being helped by some spectators.
In the last few miles of the race I
slow down some more, but so does everyone else around me. I witness more and
more carnage, right up to the finish line. What a relief to put that bag of ice
on my head! I meet up with my family, and we hear that the race has been
canceled because of the weather. Can they do that?
I had been one of the lucky ones.
I’d managed to finish just before the race had been called. The temperature had
hit a very un-Chicago-in-October-like 88 degrees Fahrenheit, a record. I don’t
run well in the heat, and this is probably the hottest it’s been for any of my
80 or so marathons. I sincerely hope that I do another 80 or more before I hit
another one that’s this hot.
There has been much controversy
about the decision to cancel, as well as the way it was handled. Much has been
written about the entire debacle. My own opinion is that the decision to cancel
was the correct one. Contingency plans for these mega-races, however, probably
require further scrutiny. I am hopeful that all race directors can benefit from
the experience in Chicago.
On this same day I had friends and
acquaintances running and suffering under similar conditions at the Twin Cities
and Towpath Marathons. In recent years there has been record or near record
heat for other large and small marathons, including London and Boston. The
question must be asked: are these weather events normal, random variations, or
are they the result of global warming?
If we were to say yes, they are a
manifestation of global warming, then how should we respond when someone states
that an unusually cold day disproves the whole thing? I believe the correct scientific answer is that
it is not possible to tell. But just for fun, let’s examine the question a bit
more.
The Debate, as I see it
This editorial was going to state
unequivocally that the planet is getting hotter, that human activity is the
cause, and that it is in our interest, as runners and as human beings, to work
to correct it. This was before the idea was proposed to Marathon & Beyond Editor Rich Benyo. Rich surprised me by being
skeptical about the whole thing. In a series of back and forth emails, he
questioned whether the earth is truly getting hotter (it depends on which
measurements you choose to accept, and over which period of time), and also
whether human activity is the cause (the exact “relationship” between carbon
dioxide and other gasses to global temperatures is far from established). Rich
produced information from other skeptics, including Michael Crichton and Bill
Wenmark, to support his arguments. As one who also prides himself on being
questioning, skeptical and open-minded about things, it occurred to me that I
was indeed accepting without much contest the scientific majority view,
sometimes stated as a “consensus” on the subject. Crichton stated that whenever
we hear that there is scientific consensus, we should probably all be incredulous
to some extent.
Everyone would like to see this in
simple terms. The earth is either getting warmer, or it isn’t. If it is, humans
are either causing it, or they aren’t. In my research I learned, unfortunately,
that the answers are not so clear. Yes, most agree, the planet is getting
warmer. Remember Global Cooling, as postulated by some scientists in the
1970’s? Actually, over some time periods, it is doing that too. It all depends
on what time frame and scale you’re using. It also depends on measurement
methods, coverage area, and a whole lot of other stuff. The term, “climate
change” has been substituted for “global warming” of late, and this is even
more vague. Of course the climate is changing; it always is. Could a record
high temperature on a certain day (like October 7, 2007) in a specific location
(like Chicago) be a direct result of global warming / climate change? Record
highs and lows occur all the time. Some climatologists do tell us that extreme
weather, especially on the warm side, is becoming more common. But there is
dispute here as well.
Is human activity causing the earth
to warm? Al Gore and others show what appears to be a clear relationship
between carbon dioxide and global temperatures. Yet some point out that the
link between greenhouse gasses and climate has yet to be established. And, they
continue, even if carbon does cause the earth’s temperatures to rise, climates
are pretty darn complicated; this would likely be only one of many factors in
the mix. Other possible causes may include variations in solar radiation or
geothermal activity.
Crighton and others point out that
if the United States were to adopt the International treaties and roll back our
production of greenhouse gasses, the financial costs would be tremendous. There
would be a major impact to our economy and to our entire way of life. The point,
as I understand it, is that all this cost would be for something that isn’t
even “proven”.
So, after all the emails, reading
and general debate, what am I left with? To be sure, my eyes have been opened,
and a bit of doubt has crept in. To an extent, I no longer see it as a “closed”
issue. There is still plenty of room for debate and further study. I also
understand that the answer may never be completely cut and dried. There will
always be other factors.
But then I think about our shrinking
polar ice caps and glaciers, our rising sea levels, the changes in vegetation
and the data produced by scientists about rising global temperatures. And I
also think about some of the extreme heat I’ve had to deal with during my runs,
including that day in Chicago. I’ve seen too much over my lengthy lifetime to
believe that the climate changes haven’t turned radical in the most recent
years. I think about how our output of carbon dioxide and methane (not just from
runners!) are going through the roof. Correlation doesn’t prove causation, but
it certainly raises the question of it. Debates continue among politicians, the
media, individuals and scientists. But I believe, and most scientists believe
that the evidence overwhelmingly supports the case that human activity is
causing the global climate change. Even if the real answer lies somewhere
between the two sides of the debate, this still supports the case.
In the scientific world, those who
make extraordinary claims are required to produce extraordinary evidence. The
debate has been about whether the evidence provided to support human-induced
global warming is indeed sufficient. But let’s put that aside for a moment and
examine what I think is the bottom line here: what if they’re right, and what
if they’re wrong?
If the environmentalists, and the
majority of scientists are correct, and humans are indeed causing the climate
to change drastically, then we are truly in deep trouble. We would, I think,
need to act immediately to begin to correct the situation. In this case, we may
or may not be at a “tipping” point, where adding to the problem will cause
events to spiral out of control. The costs, which may have been overstated
anyway, would be nothing compared to the costs of a global disaster.
If the environmentalists are wrong,
we may be changing our way of life almost unnecessarily. I say almost, because
even without human induced climate change, there is still good reason to change
some things. The burning of fossil fuels causes a myriad of other problems,
among which are dependence on foreign governments for fuel, various leaks and
spills, air and water pollution, and the exhaustion of non-renewable resources.
Cleaning up our act is the right thing to do, no matter what. Yes, it’s
expensive and painful to do things correctly. Isn’t that always the case? As
fuel costs increase, as resources are exhausted, as pollution increases, we’re
going to have to do something anyway. Why not do the right thing?
Where does this leave us? A little
mixed-up, perhaps. Ultimately, however, some of us may feel like we ought to do
something useful.
What You Can Do
Have I convinced you? Chances are
you had already formed some opinions on the issue. This article may have either
reinforced what you already believed, or made you angry or angrier. Either way,
you may not have changed your beliefs. I hope I’ve at least given you food for
thought. One thing I may be able to do, however, is convince you to get
involved.
Far be it for me to suggest that
you join the Sierra Club, install a windmill in your backyard or march on
Washington. (I’ve done only the former.) Not that I don’t believe these actions
will help. I could make the case that by becoming an environmental activist,
you would be acting in your own best interest as a living, breathing entity on
this planet, not to mention a person who spends time running outdoors and
racing occasional marathons. But these things are simply beyond the scope of
this, or possibly any, running related article. Actually, far be it for me to
tell you that you ought to do
anything specific, running-related or not, to help fight global warming. What I
will do, however, is suggest a few things for you, as a runner, to think about.
First and foremost, getting
involved means getting informed. Read books and articles on the subject of
global climate change. Search the web, an excellent source of information,
whilst bearing in mind, of course, that anyone can say anything there. For
starters, here are just a few web sources that I believe are good:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
http://www.crichton-official.com/speech-ourenvironmentalfuture.html
http://www.climatecrisis.net/
And here are a couple books:
An
Inconvenient Truth, by Al Gore
The
Weather Makers, by Tim Flannery
The
Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming
Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud**And those who are too fearful to do
so, by Lawrence Solomon
Fight Global Warming Now: The
Handbook for Taking Action in Your
Community by Bill McKibben
There are plenty more. Check them
out for yourself.
Secondly, consider the planet when
you plan your running-related travel. Yes, it’s fun and exciting to travel to a
race in a different city, state or country. But perhaps you should also
consider those races that are closer to home; they may be just as much fun. Or,
when you do plan to run a faraway race, you can do something that many of us do
anyway: try to combine the running event with travel that you would have been
doing anyway, such as a vacation or a business trip. This way at least you’re
not making an additional trip for the running alone.
Likewise, think about whether it’s
really necessary to drive somewhere for your regular training runs. Some of us drive
to the track for speed-work, to some venue for group runs, or to simply run at
a different locale. Is it possible, instead to simply run from home? I’m making
a few changes here: I now usually run to and from the track, even though this
makes for a longer warm-up and cool-down than I’d like. I also forego many of my solitary runs at
locations away from my home. I still do some driving and running in order to
meet friends for our group runs.
Finally, get involved with green
racing. I understand that most Marathon
& Beyond readers are probably more interested in running in, rather
than running (as in organizing), races. But even you non-organizing types can
still help by volunteering. By all means, volunteer at any race you can, but as
you do so, also try keep the environment in mind. By this I mean be aware of
opportunities to make your race greener. There are many prospects for this,
large and small, at virtually every event. This may mean making suggestions,
such as those outlined in the Green Racing sidebar, to the race director. Or it
may mean doing smaller things that may not be in your job description, like
recycling plastic bottles or just picking up litter.
For those who do organize races,
the rest of us are in your debt. Please consider making your event an environmentally
friendly one. Refer to the Green Racing sidebar to find some ideas.
For those planning to run a
marathon, here is one other thought: vote with your feet. When you choose a
marathon to run, you weigh many factors: large or small, close or far, flat or
hilly, roads or trails. To this list add another deciding factor: green or not so
green. Lean towards green. Check out http://runnersworld-greenteam.com/
for a list of green races.
Oh, and just one other thing: pick
up that darned empty GU package you just dropped on the trail!
...................
SIDEBAR: Green Racing
Marathon
& Beyond Publisher Jan Seeley made a presentation called Greening Your Event at a Race Directors’
Conference during the AT&T Austin Marathon weekend activities. Jan and Rich
Benyo may agree or disagree on some of the finer points of the climate change
debate, but I believe they, along with most folks would concur that everyone
can benefit from more environmentally-friendly race events. Below I have
summarized some of the information that Jan presented. I have also included
ideas from Road Race Management’s publication, Guide to Greener Running Events, Edited by Keith Peters.
A marathon has an environmental
impact. Consider:
Prior to the race:
·
The race committee may travel to other race
expos to promote their event, and they also mail and otherwise distribute brochures
and other information.
·
The runners will wear out as many as three pairs
of shoes whilst training.
·
During the day or days prior to the race,
runners arrive from all corners of the country and the globe.
·
Vendors and runners travel to the expo, where
the runners receive goody bags, t-shirts and other paraphernalia.
·
Runners may attend a buffet-style pasta feed
with disposable plates, cups, and plastic-ware.
On race day:
·
Runners, volunteers, spectators and race
officials travel to the race venue.
·
Runners visit porta-potties and discard extra
clothing and water bottles.
·
There are usually official and press vehicles to
accompany runners.
·
Refreshments in disposable containers are
provided at aid stations.
As the race concludes:
·
Runners receive medals, space blankets and
refreshments.
·
There is often a post-race party with more refreshments.
·
A postcard/results book is mailed to all
entrants.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s
think green and see what happens.
Prior to the race:
·
Brochures and other information can be printed
on recycled paper, or perhaps not printed at all in favor of on-line
registration and email information distribution.
·
Eco-friendly shirts, recycled/recyclable race
numbers, bio-degradable or cloth goody bags can all be provided. Goody bags can
also be reused as drop-bags.
·
For other race-related purchasing, local vendors
should be considered.
·
An all organic pasta dinner can be provided. Biodegradable
or reusable plates, etc. should be used.
·
Race officials can provide a link on the web
site to help participants hook up with others to carpool to the race, such as http://www.rideshare.us.
·
Information can also be provided to enable
runners the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions of their race related
travel.
·
At the expo, old running shoes and clothing can
be collected and distributed to charities.
·
Green vendors and speakers should be encouraged.
·
Buses can be provided for transportation between
hotels and the expo, dinner and the starting area.
·
Race numbers can be reused from prior years.
On race day:
·
Alternative fuel options for spectator, race
officials, and runner transportation should be considered. The number of
vehicles on the road can be reduced by employing lead cyclists and paramedics
on bicycles.
·
Preferred parking/VIP access for carpoolers can
be provided.
·
The runners themselves should be encouraged to
be eco-friendly during the race.
·
Install greener porta-potties that use
environmentally friendly chemicals rather than formaldehyde.
·
Reusable or biodegradable water containers
should be used.
·
Recycling and composting bins should be provided.
As the race concludes:
·
Try to serve organic food at the finish line.
Austin features a farmers market at theirs.
·
Leftover food can be donated to charity.
·
Consider locally-made rewards.
Jan provides a few additional Green
Ideas: Accept green donations from your participants to go to green
organizations. Contribute race proceeds to environmentally-friendly local
entities. Partner with additional environmentally conscious organizations in
your community. Finally, invite an environmental expert to evaluate your race
and give you a “report card.”
Where to start? The Council for Responsible Sport (CRS) and the
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have published
guidelines for sustainability and ecology requirements. These are summarized in
the Guide to Greener Running Events.
In addition,
·
Implement the ideas presented here, beginning
with those that are most practical.
·
Order The
Road Race Management Guide to Greener Running Events, edited by Keith Peters. It is available at http://roadracemanagement.com/.
·
Read The ‘Greening’ of a Marathon by Mike
Lungren. Marathon & Beyond, Issue 3.5, 1999, pp. 38-44.
·
Join
the Greenteam, “a community for race events, runners and active individuals who
care about the environment and a longer and healthier course for the planet.”
For more information, go to http://runnersworld-greenteam.com/.
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