We protect what we love

FRIDAY . 30 . 07 . 21 .

Hi wonderful folks! To wrap up Plastic Free July, we're absolutely delighted to introduce Karin Traeger, The Plastic Runner, FWP friend and genuinely amazing person. We have no doubt that you will enjoy this weeks read.

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My name is Karin Traeger (aka The Plastic Runner) and I am super stoked to share some stories in this weeks newsletter!

Karin smashing the Grampians Peaks Trail (which she completed in 2 days, 1 night 😮 ).

While I am originally from Chile, a long thin country full of mountains and nature, I have been lucky to call Australia my home for the last six years.

And oh god...I have really enjoyed this amazing country :)

From saving furry friends in Costa Rica to surveying coral bleaching, the environment has always been my passion...but also, so was the running! 

I look back from smoking and unfit to running 100km ultras, and I can’t believe all the fantastic places and people this sport has given me. Yes, I was a smoker and I have no shame in recognising it. But, we all have our journeys! 

Running has been my companion in this adventurous life since I was 24. I have explored unknown cities and new countries, met incredible friends and also created The Plastic Runner. 

Showcasing a bunch of amazing people who mix their love of running with their love for the environment

The Plastic Runner started while training for my first 100km race. During my long runs, I noticed the shocking amount of litter at my local trails. I started picking up what I could until one day I ran out of pockets...and decided I needed more hands! Three years later, we have done over 30 'plogging' events, where people combine running and walking with cleanups. Staying active while also helping the planet = Mission accomplished! So far, we have collected more than 1,200 kgs of litter from parks, riverbanks, trails and other places.

Want to know more? Check out our website for the events

calendar at www.theplasticrunner.com

A CHALLENGE I SUPPORT

The #ZeroWasteRun

This next 5th - 8th of August, Mina Guli will be running the #ZeroWasteRun challenge. It is a global run aiming to bring awareness about plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans. Mina and I will be sharing a run over those days to promote this amazing initiative!

If you want to join, head to www.minaguli.com. The registration is free and you get a printable bib! Also, don’t forget to pick up at least a piece of litter on those runs and share it with us tagging either @minaguli or @theplasticrunner on Instagram. 

A GOOD READ

“Big Magic” from Elizabeth Gilbert

I just finished listening to “Big Magic” from Elizabeth Gilbert (yes….listening! I am a multitasker by nature, hehe, so why not audio-read while running?). Elizabeth Gilbert also wrote the wildly popular, and well-known book, 'Eat, Pray, Love', but this one is quite different.

Big Magic is about having a creative life and finding your magic. That little spark in your life that will take you to accomplish your dreams and passions. While the book talks more about her experience in the creative industry, finding that “big magic” is not an exclusive thing. Everyone can live a creative life with a purpose. Because we all have a little magic inside 😃

You can download the audiobook from Audible, or pick up a hard copy from your local bookstore (the team at FWP highly recommend's continuing to support local businesses via e-commerce during periods lockdown). Berkeleou Books are offering in-store pick-up only.

A GOOD LISTEN

The “Invisibilia” podcast

If I could name my next pet Podcast, I would. It’s so hard to choose one single podcast to recommend to you….but the one that comes to mind is “Invisibilia”.

Every episode talks about an idea, a concept to challenge the status quo, a journey, etc. The last episode was about using the concept of “Slow TV” in the radio environment. Some episodes are weird...others are just mind-blowing. It's like a surprise box that won’t disappoint!

A CAMPAIGN I SUPPORT

"Yarra Riverkeepers", Victoria

I am lucky enough to work for an incredible organisation that advocates for one of the most critical waterways in Victoria - our Yarra River! 

From education, regeneration projects, litter research, cleanups, advocacy and more, the Yarra Riverkeeper Association is a passionate organisation aiming to protect one of our primary freshwater sources. Yes, the Yarra River, also known as Birrarung, contributes to 70% of our drinking water in Melbourne and the Yarra catchment. 

If you want to learn more, volunteer, or share your Yarra stories,

visit the Yarra Riverkeeper website.

That's all from me. Signing off

- Karin Traeger

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A brief note from your FWP newsletter gal, Elanor -

I frequently hear the analogy "we're all in the same boat" to explain the current global health pandemic, and I can't help but rebut that!

The truth is, we're not. To continue to draw on this overused (but familiar) 'ocean/boat' analogy, I think everyone is in the ocean, but everyone is in different size boats, with different support crew and enduring different storms.

With this in mind, show kindness, take care, be gentle on yourself (and to others), and remain connected during these scary, changing and rough times.

And as always, we want to say a huge thank you for taking the time for wild places. We know that this is our usual closing line, but it's never a 'copy and paste' job - we truly mean it! We are grateful for your continued support.

Karin, Elanor & the For Wild Places crew.

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We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the lands where this newsletter was compiled.

Always was, always will be.

By For Wild Places

We're a group of adventurers who love to

protect wild places we run on