Running to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
By: Michael Horner
Tags: Carbon Emissions, Environment, Difference, Running, Inspiration

I’m a big fan of taking personal responsibility for situations going on around you. I’m not a big fan of looking to the government to solve all my problems.

Need more money? Reduce the amount you consume and increase the amount you create.

Want to reduce your chance of getting coronavirus? Wear a mask whenever in public, social distance when inside buildings, eat right, and exercise.

Want to help create a healthier climate and reduce the amount of man-made contributions to climate change? Simple, run to and from work once a week instead of driving. If you don’t like running, change that to biking or walking or crawling.

The fact of the matter is that we can all contribute to a healthier climate. By taking personal responsibility and finding a way yourself, you may just create the added benefit of being healthier yourself.

Carbon Footprint Reduction Made Simple

What’s your carbon footprint? Photo by Evie S. on Unsplash

I really don’t want to oversimplify this whole situation, but it seems that we are relying on government officials way too much to do something.

When is the last time you thought to yourself — you know the government is really efficient, let them take care of the problem? I can’t remember ever saying that.

Since I believe that we can do something personally to help our planet be healthier, I decided that rather than stand on a corner and protest I would find simple ways to reduce my carbon footprint.

I’m a runner who also happens to run a business, write, do a weekly podcast, and ensure I’m being a good spouse, so my method started with running.

Using the calculator at www.carbonfootprint.com, I entered my vehicle data, the total amount of miles I drive back and forth to my office daily, and then received my carbon footprint for driving.

My footprint for an average month is 0.10 metric tons of CO2e. My annual footprint would be 1.20 metric tons, well below the United States average of a shocking 16.49 metric tons. The worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 metric tons, so I’m below that average also. My statistics are here.

I got to thinking about how I could make a difference by running to and from work at least once per week. This would reduce my carbon footprint to 0.08 metric tons per month, 0.95 metric tons per year.

That’s simply running back and forth to work one time per week, for me that is a very simple 12 mile run (6 miles from my house to work) once per week.

Imagine if 100 people were to take on that challenge?

2021 Run to Work Challenge

Take the 2021 Run to Work Challenge. Photo by Fitsum Admasu on Unsplash

I’m just going to throw this out there as a challenge.

One time per week, take personal responsibility for the health of our planet. Instead of jumping behind the wheel of a car, or jumping on a train/subway, or rushing to catch a bus, put your running shoes on.

Those that are doing something personal to make a positive change have a lot more voice than those that are just jumping up and down and shouting for the government or somebody else to do something.

There’s a lot of things I love, two that have anything to do with this article.

I love running. And I love running in the great outdoors in clean air and drinking clean water when I am finished.

I also love taking personal responsibility for the things I love.

I may just increase the number of miles I run once per week when I leave my car in the driveway. After all, I do have to drive to meetings occasionally. May as well offset those miles also.

Who’s in? Who’s ready to do something for the planet and take personal responsibility.

Take the 2021 Run to Work Challenge.

Drop me a note at livinganultralife@gmail.com and let me know you’re going to take on the challenge. I’ll also be talking about this on the Living an Ultra Life podcast.