You joined The Green Runners. You made your pledge. You pinned on your badge (or perhaps stitched it, if you are more sartorially inclined). What next?
It’s time to meet your fellow members from across the globe—discover what drives them, the actions they take, and why they strive for progress over perfection.
Jodi
Kicking off our Badge Bimble Thursdays, featuring the true stars of The Green Runners — our members! First up: Jodi, one of our freshest recruits and already rocking the badge like a pro.
“Here I am taking part in the Pewsey Downsaround 26 mile event, organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association.
This is my first TGR badge bimble. I joined The Green Runners as it felt overwhelming knowing where to start when trying to change my attitudes and actions to become more environmentally conscious.
TGR made it feel more achievable: making me think about the four Pillars and what I could do that would make a difference.
The problem with making changes is that it can feel a bit ‘all or nothing’. I want to be able to do something meaningful and keep building on that: not fall at the first hurdle because I feel I’m not doing it all perfectly. Here are my pledges (see below).
TURN RACES INTO HOLIDAYS to avoid unnecessary travel ‘just for the sake of a race’ & lift-share whenever possible
CHOOSE NUTRITION OPTIONS WISELY go for plastic-free / recyclable & homemade run fuelling options first. Explore alternatives & recipes
REPAIR, RE-USE & SHARE running kit wherever possible: stop buying new just because it’s exciting and shiny (yeah, even hats! Start a swap/sales group for Far Runners Faringdon
Use my position as Run Leader/Coach to PROMOTE GREEN RUNNERS and green running in my run local group Far Runners Faringdon to influence club & members’ attitudes & behaviours “
Joseph
“My name is Joseph, I live in France and I’ve been a member of the Green Runners for two years now! I mostly race on road, track and cross-country, plus the occasional short trail; I prefer training in nature though!
Plogging is one of my pledges […] I remembered to grab that brown paper bag and to pick what I spotted.
Last weekend I wasn’t feeling well and I thought that proper training would be impossible, so I thought I should do something different for once. Plogging is one of my pledges, but every time I remember I want to do that, I’m already 20 minutes into my jog, a couple kilometers from home, looking at rubbish on the trail without any bin in sight or bag at hand. Not this time! I remembered to grab that brown paper bag and to pick what I spotted. Nothing special really–mostly paper towels and plastic bits and packages… and a pair of gardening gloves. Though it was a bit desperate at times (near the city) the forest trails were mostly very clean. I’ll definitely do that again on easy runs and try to come up with a better system than carrying a fragile brown paper bag!”
Peter
“I joined The Green Runners after realising just how important it is to look after our one and only planet.
I’ve been running since the 1980s and am a regular club runner with Heanor Running Club. More recently, I’ve been involved with GoodGym in Nottingham—I really enjoy giving back to my community, whether it’s shifting things, painting, or plogging.
Now, as a Green Runner, I’m trying to make small changes that I believe can add up.
I’m making my kit last longer—using Pair Ups for worn uppers and getting shoes resoled to keep them out of landfill. I’ve also started (politely!) saying no thank you to race T-shirts.
I know I’m not perfect—but I’m a work in progress, and there’s plenty more still to do”
Sebastian
“My name is Sebastian Bönner. I am a 45-year-old (trail) runner from Bonn, Germany, and I joined The Green Runners a little over three years ago.
As an enthusiastic outdoor athlete and someone working in the outdoor industry, protecting our environment has always been important to me.
The effects of climate change are clearly visible even here in the heart of Europe—far beyond melting glaciers and rising sea levels.
Since running is my passion, it was an easy decision to join The Green Runners as soon as I heard about them.
My pledges:
- Biking or walking whenever possible—otherwise taking the train
- Choosing second-hand or sustainable gear
- Eating a vegan diet focused on local and seasonal ingredients
- Supporting others on their sustainability journey
One of my favourite events is the Drachenlauf in Siebengebirge:
26km, 1,000m elevation, stunning views over the Rhine — and a Leave No Trace policy with mandatory reusable cups.”