How to be a better runner for the environment

Running isn’t just about the next race. It’s about protecting the places we train, race and recover. Join us and make your running count.

Inspiration is where every marathon journey begins. It’s the moment you decide to show up, commit to the training, and become part of something bigger than yourself. We know, we’ve been there. The excitement is real. 

But we also know that today running is about more than pace or distance. It’s also about the places we run, the communities we move through, and the future of the sport we love. 

Respecting the course and the climate

Shockingly, research shows that 86% of the world’s marathons are projected to face declining chances of ideal running conditions by 2045 due to temperatures rising. As conditions shift, caring for the environment becomes part of protecting running itself – calmly, collectively, and with purpose. 

At the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, we believe modern runners don’t just chase finish lines. They show respect for the course, the city, and each other. They leave nothing behind except sweat and memories. They are starting to make small, impactful choices that’ll make a real difference. Things like:

• Refusing unnecessary packaging

• Choosing reusables

• Putting gel wrappers and cups into the right bins 

Real change doesn’t happen once a year on event day. It’s built through everyday habits, shared by thousands of runners, all year round.

How to get involved (and make a difference)

Make this month your starting line for action. Through our partnership with Pledge for the Planet, Our Kickstart Mission invites you into a 21-day sport and sustainability competition, launching 9th March. 

As part of the mission, we’re kickstarting healthy habits for people and the planet, and we’ve got some big collective goals in sight. We’re asking the questions:

• How many laps around the world can we clock with our Kms?

• How many skips of waste can we keep out of landfill?

• How many emissions can we reduce?

Our Kickstart Mission is where small sustainable actions add up, progress and collective impact is celebrated, and every runner has the chance to protect the places we play.

No perfection required – just progress, together. The future of running isn’t just faster. It’s more conscious, more connected, and more caring.

Together, we don’t wait for change. We create it. Let’s run the talk!

Find out more about our Kickstart Mission ‘Run the Talk’ (and how you can get involved)here.