I recently wrote an article about the sharing economy for Re-Action Collective (btw – if you haven’t checked out Re-Action and all of their members, you definitely should!). That piece was focused on the importance of community sharing – neighbors helping neighbors kind of thing – but I believe that sharing can be really valuable in the running and outdoor space more specifically.
Sharing benefits our wallets and the planet. By sharing, we buy less, benefiting our wallets. By buying less, we also benefit the planet. Fewer items need to be produced, which can be a dirty business, and fewer items get landfilled.
So how can we bring sharing to the running/outdoor space? A few options to consider:
Try-Before-You-Buy
When I first picked up ultra-running, I had never run with a hydration pack before. I had no idea whether it would chafe or what brand was most comfortable for my body or what to think about in terms of fit. Going to a local outdoor store was an option, but you can’t really know how the pack will fit full of water and gear and deep into a hot humid run until you try it in those conditions. I didn’t. And I now own multiple.
I wish that instead of buying an item that ultimately didn’t fit my needs perfectly, I had borrowed a couple from friends so I could see what styles worked best for me.
This is a relatively simple option to implement. Need to try a new kind of gear? Ask your friends or your local running club/group. See if anyone has a hydration pack or whatever the item is you want to try before you buy one. And then when you do buy, look for second-hand options!
Kit Swaps
Another related option is to have a kit exchange for clothing or gear that people no longer need. How many times have you worn a running shirt a few times only to realize that it’s just not right for you – too heavy, too light, chafes the armpits, makes a funny sound when you run? Or you got new running shoes that felt great in the store but by run number two you realize that the tongue rubs the top of your foot in just the wrong place? Sure you can donate that stuff that is almost new, but as we know, most donated clothing ends up landfilled or incinerated. But what if another runner could use it instead?
Reach out to your local running community – maybe it’s a local running shop, a group of friends, or a running club – and organize a kit exchange. This is an opportunity for everyone to bring their lightly used clothing, shoes, and gear and pick up something new-to-them. As they say, one man’s trash is another’s treasure. By organizing a kit swap, you can help runners turn trash into treasure.
Borrowing
This is the option I talked a lot about in my article for Re-Action and it’s the simplest. Are you running a race that has an insanely long required gear list of items you’ll only use once or twice? Reach out to friends to see if anyone has the items you can use for the weekend. Chances are that all of your friends don’t need their 3 spare headlamps or emergency blankets that weekend.
Or are you trying a new activity that you’re not sure will stick. Maybe you’re attempting to run with poles for the first time but really you’re a road runner. Or maybe you’re attempting orienteering but don’t know if you’ll need a compass after the event. Don’t go buy expensive running poles or even a cheap compass. See if you know someone who can let you try theirs for the day.
Sharing is one of my favorite ways to reduce our impact because it’s so simple. You don’t need a carbon calculator (though you certainly could measure how much you saved) and you don’t need a fancy app (though that’s an idea…). You just need your local community and you need to ask.
The Green Ostrich 