How pledges and local adventures drive Martin’s running
Every week we shine a light on the people who make up The Green Runners community. This time it is the turn of one of our core members, Martin Elcoate – a runner, writer, and volunteer who helps with activism and runs our Bluesky community.
Why Martin joined The Green Runners
Martin has always cared about the environment, so when The Green Runners formed, joining felt like a natural choice. He was particularly inspired by Damian Hall’s passion for showing how individual action can drive real change.
As Martin puts it:
“I have a long-term love and concern for the environment, so when The Green Runners was formed it made sense to join the community. In particular I was inspired by Damian Hall’s passion to make a difference through individual action.”
Martin’s pledges for 2025
Every year Martin refreshes his pledges to reflect his values and goals. For 2025 they are:
Move: Run locally as much as possible and avoid flying solely to race.
Kit: Only buy new kit where necessary, repairing what he can.
Eat: Continue not eating red meat, reduce dairy, and commit to at least one vegan day each week.
Speak out: Promote Green Running and low-carbon choices, and volunteer with The Green Runners.
For Martin, these pledges are more than goals. They are sources of creativity.
“I seek to be inventive in terms of the Move pillar. Inspired by Alastair Humphreys, I set about to explore my local OS map. I also have a love of training runs, making the most of my local train station.”
Current adventure: Devon coast to coast
Martin’s latest challenge brings these pledges to life. He is running across his home county of Devon from the south coast to the north coast, breaking the route into sections using the local train line. Each stage starts at one train station and finishes at the next, with the train home providing a low-carbon return.
So far Martin has run from Exmouth to Barnstaple, covering 105 km in the process. His final leg will take him all the way to the north coast, where he plans to finish with a paddle in the sea.
This project shows what our How We Move pillar is all about: low-carbon travel, local exploration, and the joy of discovering adventure close to home.
Highlights on the run
Martin’s biggest racing highlight to date was completing the entire 107-mile Jurassic Coast from Poole to Exmouth. Alongside the stunning views and endurance challenge, his Green Runners badge sparked important conversations with fellow runners about climate and running more sustainably.
“My racing highlight to date was running the entire length of the Jurassic Coast. It was an amazing journey. My TGR badge sparked quite a few tired discussions about the climate as we moved along the trail. But to be honest, I really loved the solitude.”
Where to find out more
You can follow Martin’s adventures, including his coast-to-coast challenge and past projects such as Running in Squares, through his Linktree: linktr.ee/MartinElcoate.
Take your next step
Martin’s story shows how pledges can inspire real adventures. Why not create your own local challenge, explore your nearby train line, or evolve your pledges for the year ahead?
