April 23, 2024
For these runners, every day is Earth Day
By Joy Rojas
Earth Day happens every April 22, but for these runners—three of the 10,000 participants of the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run organized by Runrio on April 21—looking after our planet is a lifetime commitment.
“I always make sure that my trash is segregated and that I dispose of it properly, not throw it just anywhere,” says Jerome Colcol, a 10K runner. “I've joined a lot of running events, and there are so many single-use paper cups left on the road. So much goes to waste. I hope runners learn to use reusable bottles instead.”
Travel makes Swiss runner Sacha Wolf appreciates Earth’s natural beauty and resources. As such, he reduces his consumption of meat and is sensitive about wasting food. “I also don’t drive a car,” says Sacha, who ran 21K. “In Switzerland, I would say 60% of the people always use public transportation. Runners need a healthy environment because they rely on clean air to breathe.”
An anesthesiologist at Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Mae Juliet de la Cruz has been a longtime protector of the planet. ‘It’s my advocacy to plant and recycle,” says the 5K runner. “As much as possible I try not to use plastics. At the hospital, our canteen has prohibited plastics. We bring our own mugs, spoons, and forks.” At her farm in Boso Boso, Antipolo, she maintains the cleanliness of a nearby lake, which is home to fish and turtles.
Wiping off sweat from her arm, she says, “For those who don’t believe in global warming, we can feel it already! It was so hot out there!”
For his part, Runrio president and CEO Rio de la Cruz tries to implement sustainable solutions to
to reduce post-race trash significantly—if not completely.
At this year’s Earth Day run, water stations at every 1.5 kilometers of the 5K, 10K, and 21K routes did away with the usual plastic or paper cups. Instead, runners were requested to bring their own hydration bottles and get refills along the way.
“As part of our advocacy, at least once a year, we try to lessen our carbon footprint every time we organize a race,” says Rio. “It’s hard to make it 100% plastic-free or waste-free—but we are trying our best through small things, small steps. And not just Runrio but we are encouraging runners to also help us. Like, instead of throwing your water cups on the road, you can throw them in designated waste bins. That way, it’s easier for us to clean up after.”
Runrio’s partnership with Tzu Chi Foundation for this year’s Earth Day run can help the race organizer achieve his goal of putting together Earth-friendly running events. As the advocacy partner of the Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run, Tzu Chi manned two tents selling eco-friendly items like fresh fruits, vegetarian sandwiches, clothing made from a material of discarded fabric and recycled plastics, and upcycled products like floor mats and stool covers made of excess sports sock materials.
To minimize litter on site, volunteers set up large trash bins near sponsors’ tents. At the end of the event, they collected 214 kilograms of plastic bottles, 242 kilograms of fruit peels, and 20 kilograms of cartons. These were brought to Tzu Chi’s recycling station for recycling and composting.
Rio is also looking into turning over empty post-race PET bottles and sponsor tarpaulins to Tzu Chi for recycling. And he’s interested in giving out singlets made of repurposed PET bottles, the same material used to make Tzu Chi uniforms.
Runners can expect other pioneering “firsts” when Tzu Chi ties up with Runrio for its Charity Run for Education on July 21 in Diliman, Quezon City.
“Master Cheng Yen started the spark on environmental protection back in 1990. Since then, volunteers have been promoting environmental protection and the plant-based lifestyle,” says Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy-Jiang. “We want all the runners to commit to doing more for the environment, to doing more for our Earth.”
Ten thousand runners participated in Runrio’s annual Earth Day Run. Held on April 21 at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds, the road race featured 21K, 10K, and 5K distances. Tzu Chi Foundation was the advocacy partner of this year’s Earth Day Run. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
The Earth Day Run was the perfect opportunity for Tzu Chi volunteers to inform runners about Tzu Chi’s missions. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
The Earth Day Run was the perfect opportunity for Tzu Chi volunteers to inform runners about Tzu Chi’s missions. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
The Earth Day Run was the perfect opportunity for Tzu Chi volunteers to inform runners about Tzu Chi’s missions. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
The Earth Day Run was the perfect opportunity for Tzu Chi volunteers to inform runners about Tzu Chi’s missions. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Runrio president and CEO Rio de la Cruz is always finding ways to reduce the carbon footprint of his running events. “It’s hard to make it 100% plastic-free or waste-free—but we are trying our best through small things, small steps.” 【Photo by Harold Alzaga】
“I always make sure that my trash is segregated and that I dispose of it properly, not throw it just anywhere,” says Jerome Colcol, a 10K runner. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
In addition to cutting his consumption of meat, Swiss runner Sacha Wolf doesn’t drive a car. “In Switzerland, I would say 60% of the people always use public transportation. Runners need a healthy environment because they rely on clean air to breathe,” says Sacha, who ran 21K. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
After finishing 5K, Mae Juliet de la Cruz purchased Tzu Chi's stool cover made of excess sport sock material. The Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center anesthesiologist limits her use of plastics, brings her own water bottle, mug, and utensils to work, and keeps a lake near her farm in Boso Boso, Antipolo clean. 【Photo by Jeaneal Dando】
Runners who crossed the finish line received a finisher’s medal, a tangible reminder of a good race and the need to take better care of Earth—our only home. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Among the eye-catching items for sale at Tzu Chi’s tent were the colorful floor mats and stool covers made from the excess material of sports socks. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Runners disposed of their trash in large bins set up by Tzu Chi volunteers. From empty PET bottles to banana peels, the collected waste went to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Runners disposed of their trash in large bins set up by Tzu Chi volunteers. From empty PET bottles to banana peels, the collected waste went to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Runners disposed of their trash in large bins set up by Tzu Chi volunteers. From empty PET bottles to banana peels, the collected waste went to Tzu Chi’s recycling station. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Good job! Tzu Chi volunteers gather for a group photo with the recyclables they collected from Runrio’s Galaxy Watch Earth Day Run. All in all, they collected 214 kilograms of plastic bottles, 242 kilograms of fruit peels, and 20 kilograms of cartons. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】