Even if you’re a couch potato like me, you』ll know the benefits of running - poundingthe pavements, working up a sweat, burning off some calories and generally keeping fit. But if you’re a real fitness junkie, the ultimate running challenge is to take part in a marathon.
即使你像我一樣是個電視迷，你也會知道跑步的益處——在人行道上有節奏的奔跑，出一身汗，燃燒卡路裡，保持身體的健康。然而，如果你是一個真正的健身愛好者，終極的跑步挑戰是參加馬拉松！
It seems every major city and town around the world hosts an annual marathon, with thousands of athletes running a gruelling 42.1 kilometres. Whilst many runners』 motivation is to beat their personal best and cross the finishing line without collapsing, they’re also doing it for a good cause – to generate funds for charity. But like other major events, the marathon also generates a massive carbon footprint. Thousands travel - some by plane - to the location, and waste from food packaging and goody bags gets left behind by spectators and runners. For example, during the London Marathon in 2018, 47,000 plastic bottles were collected, although some were recycled.似乎，世界上每個主要的城市都會舉辦一年一度的馬拉松比賽，成千上萬的運動員要極度耗力的跑42.1公裡。雖然，許多跑步者的動機是超越自己的最佳狀態，在（確保自己身體）不崩潰的情況下衝過終點線，但（與此同時）他們這樣做也幫助了公益的事業——為慈善機構籌集資金。和其他重大賽事一樣，馬拉松比賽也會產生大量的碳足跡。成千上萬的人——（其中）有些是坐飛機——前往（比賽）現場的，而食包裝和禮品袋所產生的垃圾則被觀眾和參賽者拋在他們身後（留在了比賽現場）。例如，在2018年的倫敦馬拉松比賽中，一共收集了47000個塑料瓶，而只有一部分是回收（再循環利用）的。
This is becoming a big issue for cities – how to host a worthwhile event, encouraging people to exercise and help charities, whilst protecting the environment? Several cities have developed formal plans to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable ideas. One event in Wales, for example, introduced recycling for old running kit and ethically sourced the race t-shirts.這對（舉辦賽事的）城市（來說）成為一個大的難題——如何舉辦一個有意義的賽事,鼓勵人們鍛鍊（身體），幫助慈善機構,同時又保護環境呢?目前，一些城市已經制定了正式計劃來減少（賽事對）環境影響和促進（環境）可持續發展。例如，在威爾斯的一次賽事中，（主辦方）回收利用了舊的跑步裝備，並以合乎道德的方式採購了比賽T恤。
It’s something that this year’s London Marathon tried to tackle by reducing the number of drink stations on the running route, giving out water in paper cups and offering some drinks in edible seaweed capsules. They also trialled new bottle belts made from recycled plastic so 700 runners could carry water bottles with them during their run. London Marathon event director Hugh Brasner told the BBC: "There's a raft of initiatives we are using this year that we think will lead to some huge behavioural changes in the future."今年，倫敦的馬拉松比賽也試圖解決這個問題，他們的方法是減少跑步路線上的飲水站數量，（沿途）分發紙杯裝的水，並提供一些由可食用的海藻膠囊裝的飲料。他們還使用了由回收的塑料製成的新的瓶子腰帶，這樣700名跑步者（專業賽手）可以在跑步時隨身攜帶水瓶。倫敦馬拉松賽事總監休·布拉斯納告訴BBC:「我們今年採用了大量的舉措（來減少賽事對環保的影響和破壞），我們認為這些舉措將導致未來（類似的賽事或大型活動）有一些巨大的行為變化。」
Meanwhile, some people still think running a marathon could be our best foot forward in helping the planet. Dr Andrea Collins from Cardiff University told the BBC: "Training for a marathon makes you more sustainable in day-to-day activities. I started walking or running to work every day and shunning public transport altogether. Being environmentally friendly while training kind of sticks with you and becomes a way of life." So while you may not be the elite runner in a marathon, let’s hope the event, in terms of sustainability, certainly is!與此同時，一些人仍然認為跑馬拉松是我們幫助地球邁出最好的一步。卡迪夫大學的安德裡亞·柯林斯博士告訴BBC:「馬拉松訓練讓你在日常活動中更有可持續性。我開始每天步行或跑步去上班，完全避開（使用）公共運輸工具。訓練時要環保，這是一種堅持，是一種生活方式。」雖然，你可能不是馬拉松比賽中的精英選手，但我們希望，從（鍛練）可持續性的角度來看，這項賽事一定是!
Marathon2019-RouteMap