Hibr

Running for a greener Lebanon

A huge source of frustration for any runner is the lack of space, or a street with a parade of cars unwilling to budge, spewing out a host of gray clouds. The runner who does manage to snake through the Beirut traffic unharmed and reach the Corniche can breathe a sigh of relief once there: “Yes, I am still alive!” However, that sigh will be followed by an inhalation of a host of lethal chemicals. Nonetheless, for a growing community of devotees, running is a sport worth sweating for.

Beirut’s determined runners

A Sunday in mid-February at 6.30am, clouds have gathered and rain is imminent. Yet a large group of sports-clad people have amassed in front of the Hard Rock Café. Showing few signs of tiredness, they file onto buses that will take them to the starting point of February’s Half Marathon in Hazmieh.

Elsewhere on the Ain Al Mraisseh Corniche in Beirut, the majority of runners appear to be men. Power walking is the seemingly preferable alternative for women. Dana, 22, however, prefers to jog. Twice a week she finds the time to jog along the Corniche. In between gusts of short breath she claims the best thing about running here is the “amazing view and long stretch”. Further down the coastal strip, Elie, 48, and Solo, 34, are in full action and drops of sweat stream down their sports gear.

Running for the environment

Both Elie and Solo participated in the Cedar Green Marathon on March 27 between Hamra and Byblos, which aimed to change the current culture of apathy toward the environment. The two men said that the thrill of the cheering crowd and sense of community were key factors that drove them to sign up.

Roger Bejjani, founder of the Inter-Lebanon Road Running and Athletics Club (Inter-Lebanon RRA), organized the Cedar Green Marathon out of a determination to help foster a green movement in Lebanon through running. To reduce CO2 emissions, bibs and t-shirts were made from biodegradable material. Security personnel, ambulance staff, and the media were encouraged to follow the runners on bicycles, accompanied by a team of volunteers from Bike Generation.

Describing the marathon as “the first of its kind in the region”, Bejjani hopes the 42.1 km race will encourage the simmering eco-energy in Lebanon.

Achieving unity through running

When asked about the benefits of running, Bejjani mentions the low cost. All you need, he notes, is to grab a pair of sneakers, find a path and get running. Additionally, once the sneakers are on, sectarian and class identities are blurred, creating a sense of affiliation and unity. In other spheres this may not be achieved.

The running community may be as multi-faceted as there are brands of running shoes but each year the Inter-Lebanon RRA notices a 10-15% increase in members. Once decked out in training outfits and sneakers, these runners feel part of one, unified community. With a determination to push for a greener Lebanon, this group may be the force needed to achieve more runnable streets.