Together We Protect

To protect the places we love to run, walk and jog, working together is vital. That’s why our experts are here to help you make the right choice when it comes to buying kit and exploring new routes responsibly.  

We spoke with store manager, Claire Sebburn and store expert, Matt Withey, on the importance of conserving our environment and how they can help you shop more consciously in-store. 

Claire:   

For me, it’s running off the beaten track and being surrounded by green. There’s something that feels magical when the landscape and weather changes around you throughout the route.   

I’m very lucky to live in Brecon, where it's green everywhere. You only have to walk five or ten minutes and you’re in a field, or halfway up a mountain, and it's just fantastic. And the views, especially when you get to the top of the mountains, are amazing.   

Matt:   

I love running with my family. My dad was a huge influence on me - he’s probably out now running with his dog! So, him, myself, my brother and sister and sometimes my mum would go for runs, and it was something we could all do together. 

Claire:  

To me, being conscious means finding opportunities to reduce my impact on the planet. I try my best to incorporate my values in-store, too. We’ll always question if we need something before ordering it in and we’ll reuse and recycle store materials whenever we can. 

Matt:

Personally, being environmentally conscious means working together to protect the places we love to visit. If we all do our bit to protect the planet, the places we’re most fond of can be enjoyed by future generations to come.  

Claire:

We love asking customers about their adventures and advising on how we can help them reuse what they already own. Our guidance helps them to have the best time possible while also reducing the amount of unused kit that ends up in landfills. 

Matt: 

We're finding that more customers are coming in and asking questions about shopping more consciously, and this is music to our ears! Making better choices is something that we're always trying to encourage. For example, where we can, we’ll introduce customers to Our Planet products. It was created so that customers can more easily shop for planet-friendly products.  

Shop Our Planet

Claire: 

If you want to explore and don't have a means to get out, is there someone you can share a lift with? And can you park up at a starting point that’s closest to you? 

In terms of kit, think about what you’d like to do. Are you using it for one purpose, or do you need it to be more versatile? For example, the running shoes you’ll need for running the trails will differ to those made for road running. 

Matt: 

If you’re planning a training run, instead of driving to the nearest mountains, why not try and find some new routes in your local area?  

Another tip is to make sure you have the right kit that's durable and good quality. If it's not good quality, you might end up replacing it a few months down the line, whereas something else could last a long time and really be worth the investment.  

Claire: 

For me, it’s knowing that your most-loved shoes can be recycled and reinvented. Back in my grandmother’s day, everything was repaired. People didn't go out and just buy new things or throw them in the bin. And I think we need to bring people back around to that. Recycling your worn kit and old shoes is just another way to give something another life. 

Matt: 

My favourite thing about Recycle My Run is that it’s so easy. All you need to do is bring your old pair in, and we’ll send them off to our trusted recycling partners. Plus, if you’d like to upgrade with a shiny new pair, we’ll give you £20 off in-store. 

Recycle My Run