Less Is More: What Living Sustainably Can Teach Us
This blog post is written by Tina Muir—a climate advocate, former elite marathoner, and founder of Racing for Sustainability, a nonprofit dedicated to driving environmental and social responsibility in the running industry.
I am used to being considered the party pooper in the room. The person who celebrates with excitement as friends share what is in their heart, and then quietly follows that up with, “And could we consider making this small change to do it this way instead?”
I am proud of the work I do, proud of the little voice of conscience I become on shoulders. Many unconnected friends have joked that they ask themselves, “What would Tina do?” in a variety of situations, that’s the biggest compliment.
And yet, I feel the weight my presence brings. I know people feel self-conscious around me. I know sometimes I affirm their greatest fear—I prompt in them the one thing I work so hard to prevent: the belief that they are not good enough.
As an environmentalist, I am the physical manifestation that prevents claims of naivety. I am the physical reminder of the consumerism and capitalism that surrounds us. My face reminds people that yes, they are being manipulated, and it is best for our planet if they don't purchase or use that item. I am sure they resent me for it at times.
The thing is though, despite the impression the environmental movement takes, there is much more that it gives, that it brings, that it provides, and today, I wanted to highlight that side of it. What it gives back to your life is so much more meaningful and fulfilling. It might not be physical items that clutter a home or give a burst of delight, but gifts that leave you with a lasting smile, knowing that life is a gift despite whatever journey it takes us on.
Tina plogging in New York City during United Airlines NYC Half race week.
Money Saved
We live in a world that tells us we are not complete. Messaging we receive all day every day tells us happiness comes from unwrapping something new, that purchasing this product will tip us over into being happy (and we will stay there forever), and this item will solve your problems.
We know deep down none of that is true. And once we have the courage to believe it, we can use that lens to consider our purchases. We can begin to say no thank you and redirect our hard-earned money towards something that fills our cup. The money saved through not purchasing that extra 2026 race-day top or the latest model of watch, or choosing to make coffee at home means money set aside for extra experiences. That gives back the ability to create memories with loved ones that can be reflected on for years to come.
That Broadway ticket no longer seems as expensive. The comedy show seems worth the dollars. The race you have dreamed of running with a friend becomes realistic. You can actually go enjoy the meal at that restaurant you have wanted to try for years.
Your money can be spent on experiences and memories with those you love, you know, the things we will reflect over and smile back at.
Unexpected Friendships
Tina leading a plogging event near the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub during United Airlines NYC Half race week.
My favorite thing to tell first time ploggers is the great and exciting opportunity they have when meeting people they otherwise would never have met. Our regular runs tend to be with our regular running friends (or for those of us who train mostly alone, our regular solo time), but plogging is the one run where you may find yourself alongside someone who is significantly faster (or slower) than you. It is not physically possible to run fast and plog.
It is also naturally at a pace that allows everyone to be conversational (ideal for those of us who struggle to run slow enough on easy days). I love seeing the friendships that came out of plogging events, for that snapshot in time brought together two humans (or more) who were committed to giving back in that moment and found another person who also wanted to do their part.
Someone you meet at plogging will be someone to keep in your life. Like you, they chose to give their time to do something positive, so the chances are, they will continue to be a positive influence in your life too.
Hydration
After running the Marathon de Paris last weekend, where every runner had to carry their own hydration, I saw how many runners approached the race with trepidation and very low expectations of what their race could be. I saw those same runners stand in the finish area of the race with beaming smiles and pleasant surprise for how well it went carrying their own hydration product.
Runners learned that rather than choking down water every 5K at a fuel station and wrestling the big cortisol spikes associated with the chaotic dance of trying to grab a cup as you run by, they got back a calm presence in their race. Runners could sip their favorite product with electrolytes to stay hydrated instead of tempting dehydration after spluttering water as they chugged trying to catch up.
The unexpected win of the Paris Marathon for many runners was regular, intentionally consumed hydration. An environmental initiative that led to a changed mindset on what hydration in races actually means.
A Bedtime Smile
Many of us go to bed with anxiety and fear for what is ahead the next day. Participating in a positive movement towards a sustainable planet means the gift of a smile on your face as you reflect over the day. You chose to do something that mattered, something that gave back, supported the healing of our planet. So much of what we do feels like it doesn't matter, we are just a cog in a wheel, our choices have little impact on the world. But once we take that leap of faith and make the conscious choice anyway, it invites us to make another positive choice, and another. We notice we go about our day feeling good, feeling our most alive and human.
One conscious choice isn’t going to save the world, but it sure feels better than going to bed with the weight of the choices we made that we know deep down are harmful and not synergistic with the person we want to be. Many conscious choices together add up and give back in a way that powers more ahead.
Attention Back
I often find myself wrestling with a distracted mind, jumping from activity to activity to avoid deep work and concentration. By committing to runs without music, podcasts, notifications, or headphones, it gives me that processing time to work through all I have in my day, and then spend some time connected to my surroundings.
That connected time then gives me the confidence to put my phone in “do not disturb” mode, to take those precious periods of focused time to get done what I need to do. The more I stuff my day with modes of distraction, the harder it is to find those blocks of concentration, and the more my brain tends to overthink at night.
Time in nature without distraction gives me back the ability to process ahead of time, so towards the end of the day, I have done the work to relax in my evenings and be present.
A Clear Mind and a Clear Space
We know the reality, and every once in a while (or often!), it overwhelms us. The more stuff we buy, the more our space is cluttered. The more cluttered our space becomes, the more we feel claustrophobic. One of the greatest gifts a more conscious life gives, the kind of life that involves saying, “No, thank you,” means less of those suffocating moments where stuff overtakes your world. Those items simply do not end up in your home anymore and what is in your home is what matters to you, what brings you fulfillment and joy.
It gives you freedom and space, something many of us crave more than anything.
These are but a few examples, and once we begin to consider what we could gain by living a more simple and thoughtful life, the urge to chase more money, more items, more stuff, fades away. As the Artemis II astronauts recently showed us, our Earth, this floating spaceship, is a wonder to behold. We might not get back to a place where we can live in a simple world again, but we can carve out a life filled with meaning and purpose. A life that is enough, filled with people who feel like enough. It’s going against the grain, but there are plenty of us here, and it feels good, come join us.
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