Our coaching services are delivered with a purpose; our athletes train and compete with a purpose.
Athletes for Nature is a tribal movement of outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate nature's importance and take action to protect it.
Nature
- the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth -
Trail runners, as well as all other outdoor athletes, are well-primed to care about nature; this is our playground! We need to be more aware and respectful of not just nature but the full biodiversity that inhabits it. Not only is time spent in nature crucial for our physical and mental health, but we are reliant on a healthy planet for a healthy human race. We must care for the environment we utilise. Everything we do as a means of living or pleasure has a direct impact on nature.
Not everyone has the privilege of accessing sport which provides numerous health and social benefits. Sport can enable a better and more sustainable future for all by addressing global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation, as supported by the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We encourage our athletes to undertake as many of the following action steps each time they head out in training or when competing:
Acknowledge the traditional owners
Learn about the past inhabitants of the land and waterways you traverse, including significant landmarks, and respect cultural customs.
Protect wild places
If you plan on running on this planet, you should also protect it.
Be respectful, do not be destructive and leave only footsteps.
Learn about the impacts on nature
A large proportion of plant and animal species and ecological communities continue to be at risk of extinction due to human activities. Subscribe to The Lentil Intervention podcast to learn more
Go plant-based
Plant-based diets are more environmentally sustainable than diets rich in animal products as they use fewer natural resources and are associated with much less environmental damage.
Encourage more people to immerse in nature
Not only is time spent in nature crucial for our physical and mental health, but we are reliant on a healthy planet for a healthy human race.
If you see rubbish, pick it up
We all enjoy playing in a clean and safe environment so next time you head out for a walk or run in the forest, on the footpath or along the beach, pick up rubbish along the way.
Support events that minimise their impact on nature
Sporting events can have a significant environmental impact so it is essential we support those events that make a conscientious effort to minimise it.
Donate to the Sports Gear Revived campaign
Head to Sports Gear Revived to learn about how you can change your habits:
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse/Repurpose, Repair, Donate, Recycle, Make Better Choices
Inspire others to participate in physical activity
Physical activity has multiple health, social and economic benefits that can make a significant contribution to community well-being and quality of life.
Give something back to nature, and the communities
Simple individual actions, such as beach clean-up, tree planting, wetland reinstatement, minimising waste to landfill, composting and conserving water, will make a purposeful and valuable contribution.
Consider your transport options
Travelling to and from training locations is commonly the biggest source of CO₂ equivalent emissions for an athlete; consider your transport options when getting to nature.
Take actions that are unique to you
Individual evidence-based actions matter. What may seem insignificant, as a collective amounts to meaningful change.
Find what you’re passionate about and do it – action influences others to take action.
At Kaitiaki Endurance Sports we endeavour to:
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Champion the Athletes for Nature action steps
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No longer redesign the Team Apparel on an annual/seasonal basis; when possible, garments are made of organic and/or recycled fabric
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Mentor aspiring endurance sports coaches and athletes
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Athletes' Monthly Membership is a tax-deductible donation to The Lentil Intervention Incorporated, a New Zealand-registered charity CC59096, the umbrella entity of Athletes for Nature, Sports Gear Revived and The Lentil Intervention Podcast
Every tonne of CO₂ equivalent that is not released into the atmosphere is helping our planet and human health a little bit more.
If we want hope for the future, we need to take action. We need to do more than just protect what remains of our planet’s biodiversity, we need to restore it.
