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We Can't Run Away From This: Racing to improve running’s footprint in our climate emergency
What if running in beautiful places was paradoxically contributing to the destruction of those precious environments and causing irreversible global harm to people and animals too? In We Can’t Run Away From This , ultrarunner Damian Hall examines the impact of running in our climate and ecological emergency. Packed with insights from experts, it is an enlightening read which will prompt us all to really think about our kit, food and travel, and to identify simple changes we can make to our running and wider lives. But Damian also asks if concentrating on our individual footprints (pun unintended) is really the answer. We can’t run away from this any more, and this book will give every runner ideas about how to live and exercise more sustainably.
- GenresNonfictionEnvironment
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2022
25 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Damian Hall
33 books7 followersA record-breaking ultramarathon runner who represented Great Britain aged 40 and continues to record competitive results in the world’s toughest races (mostly powered by tea). He’s featured in several films, books and the national media.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 3, 2022
Damian Hall is an Ultra-runner with an ultra attention to detail! Never again will you purchase a new running t-shirt or shoes without contemplating the environmental cost of your gear. This book explores the environmental cost of your equipment and tech, and is relevant to many other sports outsides of running. Also included are many possible ideas on ways to reduce your footprint, and how to deal with the climate anxiety that so many of us can feel at times. At times the content can be quite depressing, such is the nature of the topic, however this is counteracted by the upbeat way the book is written, and by the end may leave you feeling a little more optimistic about our relationship to consumerism.
A must read and very timely book for all those interested in climate change, and how their chosen sport may influence the future of our planet.
A must read and very timely book for all those interested in climate change, and how their chosen sport may influence the future of our planet.
October 3, 2022
Damian Hall is an Ultra-runner with an ultra attention to detail! Never again will you purchase a new running t-shirt or shoes without contemplating the environmental cost of your gear. This book explores the environmental cost of your equipment and tech, and is relevant to many other sports outsides of running. Also included are many possible ideas on ways to reduce your footprint, and how to deal with the climate anxiety that so many of us can feel at times. At times the content can be quite depressing, such is the nature of the topic, however this is counteracted by the upbeat way the book is written, and by the end may leave you feeling a little more optimistic about our relationship to consumerism.
A must read and very timely book for all those interested in climate change, and how their chosen sport may influence the future of our planet.
A must read and very timely book for all those interested in climate change, and how their chosen sport may influence the future of our planet.
September 15, 2022
Most people will be aware of the climate crisis, but fewer truly realise the impact of their innocent outdoor hobby. Damian Hall unpacks the situation, analysing all aspects of running - shoes, clothing, race travel, medals and nutrition and compares the relative impact of our personal carbon footprints and those of the running industry with countries across the world.
This is not just a book of doom and gloom though - whilst there is a lot of devastating information, there are success stories and models of companies and race directors trying to reduce their and our impact, and it is to be hoped that these inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Damian freely admits that he has changed his own lifestyle but also that he himself is not perfect and weaves together his personal experiences of trying to live a lower impact lifestyle (and his shoe problem!) with humour and scientific evidence.
Not a comfortable read, but an interesting and impactful one, packed with suggestions for further reading and what the best simple changes we can make are, and a must-read for any runner or lover of the outdoors.
This is not just a book of doom and gloom though - whilst there is a lot of devastating information, there are success stories and models of companies and race directors trying to reduce their and our impact, and it is to be hoped that these inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Damian freely admits that he has changed his own lifestyle but also that he himself is not perfect and weaves together his personal experiences of trying to live a lower impact lifestyle (and his shoe problem!) with humour and scientific evidence.
Not a comfortable read, but an interesting and impactful one, packed with suggestions for further reading and what the best simple changes we can make are, and a must-read for any runner or lover of the outdoors.
March 9, 2023
One of those books that makes you re-think everything you do and how/ if we can make the things we love doing any better. I hope this book reaches as many as possible and truly makes a change before it’s too late.
March 3, 2025
Running is one of those hobbies that costs almost nothing to get into — all you need is a pair of sneakers and a path on which to jog — but that quickly adds up in costs as you get more invested. Shoes, gear, race entries, travel, gels, earbuds, etc. become essential parts of your kit. Similarly, you might think that it’s one of the most eco-friendly hobbies, as all you’re doing is moving more quickly than you usually would, right? Sure, until you’re flying halfway around the world to run in your bucket list marathon.
In this book, ultra runner Damian Hall examines the hidden environmental costs of his hobby, from single-use plastic gel packets and water cups to intercontinental flights and support vans, to the addiction to buying another new pair of running shoes. Well-researched and full of facts and figures, this is an uncomfortable read for runners (and can translate across any hobby that “requires” gear and travel) but also offers plenty of ways to enjoy a more eco-friendly variation of the sport.
Sometimes we forget that the classic mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” is an ordered list (not “reduce, reuse, and recycle” but “1. reduce 2. reuse 3. recycle”) , and this is the main takeaway of which Hall reminds readers in the book. While he discusses sustainable innovations in running gear, his emphasis throughout is that the most important thing we can do is reduce the amount we use. Reduce the number of new pairs of sneakers, reduce the number of flights we take or drives we make to reach races, reduce the amount we consume before anything else. While there are great organisations that take donations of used running gear to pass on for reuse, even they advocate for using your own gear for longer, learning how to repair it, and not falling for the marketing that tells you that you need the newest and fastest when what you have is still perfectly good.
Really comprehensive and maybe a bit stat-heavy for readers who are newer to climate conversations, the book is lightened by Hall’s jovial tone and corny humor. An essential read for runners, but anyone with gear or travel-heavy hobbies will benefit from evaluating their own footprint. It also introduced me to the term “climate shadow” - a carbon footprint measures the direct emissions of things like your car’s mpg or the amount of meat you eat, while a climate shadow encompasses broader concepts like whether your investments support are divested from fossil fuel industries or whether you vote for climate-advocating politicians. An interesting term that was new to me, so I definitely appreciated that.
In this book, ultra runner Damian Hall examines the hidden environmental costs of his hobby, from single-use plastic gel packets and water cups to intercontinental flights and support vans, to the addiction to buying another new pair of running shoes. Well-researched and full of facts and figures, this is an uncomfortable read for runners (and can translate across any hobby that “requires” gear and travel) but also offers plenty of ways to enjoy a more eco-friendly variation of the sport.
Sometimes we forget that the classic mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” is an ordered list (not “reduce, reuse, and recycle” but “1. reduce 2. reuse 3. recycle”) , and this is the main takeaway of which Hall reminds readers in the book. While he discusses sustainable innovations in running gear, his emphasis throughout is that the most important thing we can do is reduce the amount we use. Reduce the number of new pairs of sneakers, reduce the number of flights we take or drives we make to reach races, reduce the amount we consume before anything else. While there are great organisations that take donations of used running gear to pass on for reuse, even they advocate for using your own gear for longer, learning how to repair it, and not falling for the marketing that tells you that you need the newest and fastest when what you have is still perfectly good.
Really comprehensive and maybe a bit stat-heavy for readers who are newer to climate conversations, the book is lightened by Hall’s jovial tone and corny humor. An essential read for runners, but anyone with gear or travel-heavy hobbies will benefit from evaluating their own footprint. It also introduced me to the term “climate shadow” - a carbon footprint measures the direct emissions of things like your car’s mpg or the amount of meat you eat, while a climate shadow encompasses broader concepts like whether your investments support are divested from fossil fuel industries or whether you vote for climate-advocating politicians. An interesting term that was new to me, so I definitely appreciated that.
October 12, 2022
Wow, that was some read.
Written by ultrarunner Damian Hall, 'We Can't Run Away From This' explores and lays bare the fact that running can damage the environment in the most unexpected ways.
In this well written and thoroughly researched book, Damian explores the impact that engaging in the seemingly innocent hobby/activity of running has on the environment. Individual chapters look, in great detail, at various aspects of the sport and indeed could equally well be applied to many other activities, which are likewise dependent upon gear purchases, major manufacturers, travel and sponsored athletes. If there is a regret then this book, aimed at runners, will not be more widely read, as it contains learnings for all of us. It makes you think, really think, about what you do and the impact it has, spurring you onto considering and initiating a change in your life.
Damian first focuses on running shoes or daps as he calls them, challenging why you need to own numerous pairs and always yearn for that next most have pair, prompted by manufacturer and marketing blurb that promises a reduction in PB time. The environmental cost of each pair and lack of recyclability is really bad news. Eye opening start to the book, which continues in this hard-hitting way. Prepare for factual overload at times.
The next chapter looks at the humble or in reality not so humble Tee, and why these highly environmentally damaging pieces of clothing continue to be handed out at events, often never to be worn and/or thrown away to landfill. We should be saying no! It is the same with the so called 'Goodie Bag' often handed out at events - there's nothing good for the environment about it.
In further chapters Damian examines the whole clothing industry, which companies are really trying to make a difference, which are just playing lip service and green washing and which continue to do little - a difficult task for a sponsored athlete.
Next up is the impact of events, particularly major ones, and the often ill-considered impact they have, the waste they generate and how participants travel to them. Chapters on training, travel, diet and nutrition all come under the microscope, as does the obvious fossil fuel dependency of the sport as much of the gear and nutrition packaging relies upon plastics. The book concludes by demonstrating how positive influence can make a difference.
Damian presents an honest portrait of himself and doesn't try to say he's squeaky clean but does present ideas about how to possibly reduce your own footprint and what has worked for him.
If you read one book this year, make it this one...............and act upon it.
Written by ultrarunner Damian Hall, 'We Can't Run Away From This' explores and lays bare the fact that running can damage the environment in the most unexpected ways.
In this well written and thoroughly researched book, Damian explores the impact that engaging in the seemingly innocent hobby/activity of running has on the environment. Individual chapters look, in great detail, at various aspects of the sport and indeed could equally well be applied to many other activities, which are likewise dependent upon gear purchases, major manufacturers, travel and sponsored athletes. If there is a regret then this book, aimed at runners, will not be more widely read, as it contains learnings for all of us. It makes you think, really think, about what you do and the impact it has, spurring you onto considering and initiating a change in your life.
Damian first focuses on running shoes or daps as he calls them, challenging why you need to own numerous pairs and always yearn for that next most have pair, prompted by manufacturer and marketing blurb that promises a reduction in PB time. The environmental cost of each pair and lack of recyclability is really bad news. Eye opening start to the book, which continues in this hard-hitting way. Prepare for factual overload at times.
The next chapter looks at the humble or in reality not so humble Tee, and why these highly environmentally damaging pieces of clothing continue to be handed out at events, often never to be worn and/or thrown away to landfill. We should be saying no! It is the same with the so called 'Goodie Bag' often handed out at events - there's nothing good for the environment about it.
In further chapters Damian examines the whole clothing industry, which companies are really trying to make a difference, which are just playing lip service and green washing and which continue to do little - a difficult task for a sponsored athlete.
Next up is the impact of events, particularly major ones, and the often ill-considered impact they have, the waste they generate and how participants travel to them. Chapters on training, travel, diet and nutrition all come under the microscope, as does the obvious fossil fuel dependency of the sport as much of the gear and nutrition packaging relies upon plastics. The book concludes by demonstrating how positive influence can make a difference.
Damian presents an honest portrait of himself and doesn't try to say he's squeaky clean but does present ideas about how to possibly reduce your own footprint and what has worked for him.
If you read one book this year, make it this one...............and act upon it.
October 6, 2022
This book is truly astounding. I had never even thought to consider the impact that running was having on the climate and Damian's book was truly shocking about the scale of damage of a sport that most would think is not too impactful. The book is thoroughly researched and referenced and full of information of the impact of our running shoes, clothing, brands, diet, races, travel and training. I really enjoyed how up front he was with his own impact and how he has tried to mitigate it as well as providing incredibly useful tips on how the reader can reduce their own impact. For what is a depressing subject, Damian is able to lift the tone with his jokes and quips which does keep the reader interested and help to break up what is a complicated subject.
I would say that is a must read for anyone who is a runner, as well as all outdoors enthusiasts and people who are climate aware as the lessons from this book can be applied to many other areas of life.
I would say that is a must read for anyone who is a runner, as well as all outdoors enthusiasts and people who are climate aware as the lessons from this book can be applied to many other areas of life.
October 10, 2022
I consider myself pretty environmentally aware and do my bit where I can so I didn’t expect to be so shocked by this book. Some of the facts about the sports industry, races and impact of running is horrifying.
There’s some great tips to help reduce our personal impact through better choices as a runner but also how to campaign too - encouraging race directors and running clothing companies to consider their environmental impact.
If you consider yourself a runner you should definitely read this and be more aware.
There’s some great tips to help reduce our personal impact through better choices as a runner but also how to campaign too - encouraging race directors and running clothing companies to consider their environmental impact.
If you consider yourself a runner you should definitely read this and be more aware.
October 6, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. As a vegetarian and someone who doesn't drive often I've always thought I was doing a pretty good job, until I learnt how bad travelling to races can be!!! This book has definitely given me food for thought and has encouraged me to focus on what races I go to and where possible, to go by public transport.
October 19, 2025
A worthy endeavour
October 6, 2022
I must admit, this book gave me a headache... but in a good way. It is ram packed with hard-hitting facts and figures that really shocked me. This is an uncomfortable read, but one which everybody should find time to read.
Damian Hall doesn't just bombard you with the statistics - he is also very level-headed, a down-to-earth guy who wants to know how we can all help. He gives out loads of practical advice and makes it easy to make a difference in your life. Since reading this book, I know I certainly have.
It has made me think differently about wanting to enter races, and I actually now find it a lot easier to ignore marketing emails from companies selling yet more running kit (in a slightly different colour)…
It is vital that as many people as possible read this book, and runners in particular. A sport which most people would assume is an environmentally-friendly as it gets – and you couldn’t be more wrong. Please read this book and then pass it on to a friend or family member. This message needs to be heard.
Damian Hall doesn't just bombard you with the statistics - he is also very level-headed, a down-to-earth guy who wants to know how we can all help. He gives out loads of practical advice and makes it easy to make a difference in your life. Since reading this book, I know I certainly have.
It has made me think differently about wanting to enter races, and I actually now find it a lot easier to ignore marketing emails from companies selling yet more running kit (in a slightly different colour)…
It is vital that as many people as possible read this book, and runners in particular. A sport which most people would assume is an environmentally-friendly as it gets – and you couldn’t be more wrong. Please read this book and then pass it on to a friend or family member. This message needs to be heard.
November 16, 2022
This was a hard read - and I don't mean that in a bad way. The subject matter is SO serious and affects us all, whether we be runners or not. Climate. Hall takes the different aspects and treats them chapter by chapter - shoes and kit, travel, diet, etc. His research is deep and well presented. He also leavens the read with observations about changes he has made in his own life choices, and also some light humour. The book also has good suggestions for further reading, and each chapter lists some actions we could all consider taking. The big takeaways are that travelling to distant races, particularly if you fly, is unsustainable; and that we all consume too much - shoes, clothing, and meat and dairy products - all having very large a carbon footprints. Recommend reading this important book, but be warned - it will probably shock you, hopefully in to considering your life choices.
October 3, 2022
It’s GREEN, Damian Hall has a big following amongst trail runners, with a Forward by Killian Jornet (with an even bigger following) but will this get people reading it? I certainly hope so because I think it’s a great book but be prepared for a rocky run.
First a quick Full Disclosure – I don’t know the author, but I am closely related to one of the experts and inspirations who appears a number of times in this book. That seems slightly ridiculous to say when I could equally well have said ‘I’m a runner and a fellow human who has a strong vested interest in living on a liveable planet’, so you should read this book!
Even having read lots about climate change, what it is and what we can do, this book made a big impression on me. Whether you’re a seasoned climate change reader or new to it, if you’re a runner (or just jog a bit in running kit like me, and many other sports people too) this book will bring the whole big issue (or as Damian calls it, the Kerfufflefuck) close to home. It might feel a bit too close to home for comfort, which is what makes an impression – it’ll be very relevant to you. That rocky run you should be prepared for? The author, with a lot of research and expert help, spells out exactly how bad running is, or more correctly the whole business and lifestyle around it. Sometimes it just feels like it’s too much, I fear it will put readers off, but then there’s more bad news and it’s horrifying (and very close to home). Stick with it, just like a long run you’ll get to the end, and you can recover. And by recover I mean get stuck into the ‘What can we do about it?’ which comes at the end of each chapter, and is full of useful ideas, advice and signposting to resources. I think everyone will find something they can do which will be good for the planet and good for them, and that applies to event and race organisers as well as us runners.
Anyone could read this book and take some good messages and actions from it but the point is that it’s relevant to runners and the running business and gives us the ideas to make changes. The author is also very clear that whilst we should make individual changes the bigger problem is the system we live in and there’s a lot in the book about how to push for system change.
Despite the doom and gloom (maybe because it is well researched and referenced) it’s very readable, there’s loads of practical advice and I was left with a feeling that there’s lots we can all do. A feeling that both in the doing and in the result of our actions we’ll feel a whole lot better that we’re running in the right direction. For that I for one am thanking Damian Hall for writing this book, and I’ll be recommending it to my running friends and club, and to you.
First a quick Full Disclosure – I don’t know the author, but I am closely related to one of the experts and inspirations who appears a number of times in this book. That seems slightly ridiculous to say when I could equally well have said ‘I’m a runner and a fellow human who has a strong vested interest in living on a liveable planet’, so you should read this book!
Even having read lots about climate change, what it is and what we can do, this book made a big impression on me. Whether you’re a seasoned climate change reader or new to it, if you’re a runner (or just jog a bit in running kit like me, and many other sports people too) this book will bring the whole big issue (or as Damian calls it, the Kerfufflefuck) close to home. It might feel a bit too close to home for comfort, which is what makes an impression – it’ll be very relevant to you. That rocky run you should be prepared for? The author, with a lot of research and expert help, spells out exactly how bad running is, or more correctly the whole business and lifestyle around it. Sometimes it just feels like it’s too much, I fear it will put readers off, but then there’s more bad news and it’s horrifying (and very close to home). Stick with it, just like a long run you’ll get to the end, and you can recover. And by recover I mean get stuck into the ‘What can we do about it?’ which comes at the end of each chapter, and is full of useful ideas, advice and signposting to resources. I think everyone will find something they can do which will be good for the planet and good for them, and that applies to event and race organisers as well as us runners.
Anyone could read this book and take some good messages and actions from it but the point is that it’s relevant to runners and the running business and gives us the ideas to make changes. The author is also very clear that whilst we should make individual changes the bigger problem is the system we live in and there’s a lot in the book about how to push for system change.
Despite the doom and gloom (maybe because it is well researched and referenced) it’s very readable, there’s loads of practical advice and I was left with a feeling that there’s lots we can all do. A feeling that both in the doing and in the result of our actions we’ll feel a whole lot better that we’re running in the right direction. For that I for one am thanking Damian Hall for writing this book, and I’ll be recommending it to my running friends and club, and to you.
January 31, 2023
A good book if you've already engaged with the human impact on climate change and are looking to learn more about the sports industry contribution.
A bad book if you're looking to engage with the climate and biodiversity emergency and take action. Damian's unapologetically frank take on the ten key areas for decarbonising the industry may be overwhelming for those new to climate conversations. Entry-level, this is not!
Lots of references throughout, and it's clear to see the amount of research that Damian has put into this. His passion and frustration shines through from cover to cover (just maybe not his humour - really, really terrible jokes!)
Rated 3 as I found this a good read personally, albeit a little stat heavy for me (will appeal to the numbers folk though!), but conscious the doom could be quite heavy and disengaging for those not used to such a honest account of climate change and it's causes.
A bad book if you're looking to engage with the climate and biodiversity emergency and take action. Damian's unapologetically frank take on the ten key areas for decarbonising the industry may be overwhelming for those new to climate conversations. Entry-level, this is not!
Lots of references throughout, and it's clear to see the amount of research that Damian has put into this. His passion and frustration shines through from cover to cover (just maybe not his humour - really, really terrible jokes!)
Rated 3 as I found this a good read personally, albeit a little stat heavy for me (will appeal to the numbers folk though!), but conscious the doom could be quite heavy and disengaging for those not used to such a honest account of climate change and it's causes.
May 12, 2024
This book is good about explaining the importance of individual action. Damian makes more transparent of a runner to the ecology and encourages the reader essentially to buy less. There is nothing to argue with. At the same time he is overdramatise sometimes. For instance, he states that a marathon organisers used X plastic cups without mentioning the impact on the global level. I constantly had the feeling that the author wants me to convince in something rather than educate. Sometimes at the cost of telling incomplete information about the impact of a an action. Which in some ways feels like manipulation.
March 3, 2023
This book starts with how runners are impacting the planet; as a vegan who doesn’t fly to races, and who makes his kit last as long as possible, this wasn’t too uncomfortable to read… however, I didn’t get through the book free of guilt.
There is always more we can do to reduce our impact on the world… and even then, we can’t control what some of the biggest polluters do.
Despite it all, I ended up feeling inspired, and hopeful.
There is always more we can do to reduce our impact on the world… and even then, we can’t control what some of the biggest polluters do.
Despite it all, I ended up feeling inspired, and hopeful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2023
A necessary look at some of the environmental impact of running (and other outdoor activities to an extent) and what can be done about them. Having much personal and professional interest in the subject, a lot of the environmental facts and figures weren't particularly new to me, though the information on who's doing how much to help was interesting. Whilst I don't particularly care for the slightly forced colloquialism-laden style, I do think it's a book with a lot of important messages and that the casual tone will land well with a broader audience.
November 15, 2022
Another terrifying book about climate change. This book is aimed at runners but the information and ideas could be used by anyone. Helpful list of suggestions at the end of each chapter and the resource pages are great.
February 14, 2023
Comprehensive but engaging exploration of the carbon footprint of running and top tips to reduce yours, as well as the changes needed to regulate the oil, fashion and food industries to make good choices easier.
October 6, 2024
Excellent read and definitely made me think even more about the impact of running (especially my own). Also, an excellent compilation of related links to encourage us to go down those interesting rabbit holes, when not out running!
February 9, 2023
A powerful book that shares the facts clearly without preaching or telling us that we are Bad People, and which ends with a message of hope
May 24, 2024
Funny, thorough, important.
May 6, 2023
Eye-opener!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews