Marathon Environmental Awareness: Running Responsibly in Natural Spaces

As runners, we frequently use trails, parks, and natural spaces for training. Understanding how to minimize environmental impact while enjoying these spaces ensures they remain available and healthy for future runners while respecting ecosystems and other users.
Trail etiquette when running on shared paths includes yielding appropriately to other users. Generally, runners should yield to hikers and horses, and uphill travelers have right of way over those descending. Moving to the side and verbally announcing your presence when approaching from behind prevents startling others. Running single file on narrow trails rather than side-by-side preserves trail width and allows easier passing. These courtesy practices maintain positive relationships between runners and other trail users, preventing conflicts that could lead to trail access restrictions.
Staying on designated trails prevents erosion and habitat damage. Cutting switchbacks or creating social trails damages vegetation and accelerates erosion that degrades trails over time. Even when trails are muddy or have puddles, running through the wet sections rather than around them prevents trail widening. If a trail is so muddy that running it would cause significant damage, choosing an alternate route for that day protects the trail. Many runners don’t realize that a few individuals creating shortcuts or running off-trail can cause damage requiring extensive volunteer labor to repair.
Littering, even biodegradable items, degrades natural spaces and creates problems for wildlife. Energy gel packets, water bottles, or food wrappers must be packed out—there’s no excuse for leaving trash on trails or in nature. Even organic items like banana peels or apple cores should be packed out rather than discarded, as they’re not native to many ecosystems and can attract wildlife or introduce non-native seeds. If you carried it in full, you can carry it out empty. Many runners adopt a practice of picking up trash they encounter during runs, leaving trails cleaner than they found them.
Wildlife considerations require maintaining appropriate distance and behavior. Never approach or feed wild animals, which habituates them to humans and often leads to problems requiring wildlife removal or euthanasia. If you encounter wildlife on trails, give them space to leave and wait patiently rather than trying to pass closely. During nesting seasons for ground-nesting birds or sensitive wildlife periods, some trails may have temporary closures—respecting these protections preserves wildlife populations that make natural spaces valuable. Dogs, if allowed on trails, should remain leashed according to regulations and under your control to prevent harassment of wildlife or other trail users.
Headphone use in natural spaces deserves reconsideration beyond just safety concerns. Part of the value of running in nature is connecting with the environment—hearing birds, wind, water, and natural sounds that provide stress relief and present-moment awareness. Running with music or podcasts in natural settings misses much of what makes those environments special. Consider leaving headphones behind in nature, saving them for urban or treadmill running where environmental connection is less relevant. This practice enhances your experience while maintaining awareness of surroundings for safety.
Supporting trail maintenance and conservation organizations gives back to the spaces we use. Many trails exist because of volunteer labor from trail maintenance groups. Donating money or time to these organizations helps ensure trails remain in good condition and available for future use. Some races include trail maintenance components or donate portions of fees to conservation—choosing to support these events directs your race budget toward preserving spaces you value. As runners who benefit tremendously from access to natural spaces, we have responsibility to contribute to their preservation rather than simply consuming what others maintain.