Last night, Jude and I took ourselves off on a leisurely evening run through the scenic Devon countryside, making the most of the glorious evening whilst my son was out at his weekly Cadets meeting. But it turned out to be a bit of a rubbish run (inspired by the slightly bonkers Aussie, Beau Miles!). Not the run itself, that was actually pretty good.
So there we were, the sun was setting, birds were chirping, and the air was still warm. My perfect conditions for a peaceful jog. But after going a bit off piste and running down a very muddy, and probably sh!tty farm track. Not being able to cross the river and definitely not running up the stupidly steep hill back into the village, I realised my legs were not the only things getting a workout. Nope! My arms were now grappling with an unexpected load of rubbish!
What a Sh!t Show
It seemed like every few meters, there was another discarded drinks can. A rogue plastic bag doing its best tumbleweed impression. And even a lone sock (seriously, how does someone lose just one sock?!). Instead of running on by I decided to collect as much as I could. And after Jude had run to the top of the hill, he dutifully came back down to my level, and collected armfuls too!
Such a shame to see this amount of rubbish along just a 1km stretch of Devon country lane. But you know, every cloud has a silver lining, or in this case, every piece of litter has the potential to become a catalyst for positive change!
Right, here’s the deal, let’s make a pact to not treat our beautiful planet like a giant rubbish bin. If you absolutely must part ways with your rubbish, do it responsibly! Find out the nearest bin or recycling centre, and give your rubbish the proper send-off it deserves.
Feel the Burn, Help the Planet!
So, if you ever find yourself facing a daunting hill on your evening run, just grab a handful of roadside rubbish and think of it as an opportunity to burn calories and save the planet simultaneously. It’s a win-win situation!
Pull on those trainers and pack a rubbish bag (reusable of course), and let’s make every run an eco-run. Who knew jogging could be so empowering?