Uwharrie Mountain Run 2006 Men’s 40-Mile Winner Sean Andrish

Protecting our natural resources for future generations to enjoy

Uwharrie Mountain Run: Elevation Positive, Climate Neutral

As trail runners, we have a special obligation to protect and preserve the natural resources that we enjoy.  While the conservation efforts we all support are both important and successful, they are diminished by climate change – typically called global warming – which threatens not only our trail resources, but all life on this planet.

Most scientists agree that the underlying cause of global climate change is the use of fossil fuels.  Burning these fuels releases carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the earth’s atmosphere.  Increasing levels of carbon dioxide causes the atmosphere to trap more heat, which elevates the earth’s temperature.  Even small increases in the earth’s temperature can alter weather patterns, sea levels and ocean currents, producing significant and destructive changes to our coastlines, forests, farmlands and water resources.

The good news is that we can do something about this problem.  We can look at our Carbon Footprint and take steps to reduce it. Specifically, we can find ways to decrease our individual fossil fuel use and we can support projects that trap or sequester carbon dioxide to slow its release into the atmosphere.  Carpooling, changing our thermostat, and funding green energy sources help reduce fossil fuel usage.  Planting trees, enriching phytoplankton and storing carbon dioxide underground sequester carbon dioxide.  Hundreds of carbon offset projects worldwide need our support.

Last year we introduced a 3-phase plan to make the Uwharrie Mountain Run a climate-neutral event. 

  1. In 2007, we met our goal to offset carbon dioxide emissions caused by participant travel. 
  2. In 2008, we’ll expand our goal to include other aspects of the event like aid station expendables and awards. 
  3. In 2009, we’ll address all aspects of the event including participant lodging and waste generation. 

Race participants can support our goal in two ways.  First, please make every effort to carpool to the event.  Second, consider making a voluntary contribution of $3 above the registration fee to help offset your carbon footprint.  All funds collected will be used to purchase carbon offsets through Driving Green www.drivinggreen.com and to purchase tree seedlings for the LandTrust of Central North Carolina www.landtrustcnc.org. 

Based on last year’s participant travel, we need to offset approximately 43 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2007.  We are offering participants the opportunity to support our goal in two ways.  First, please make every effort to carpool to the event.  Second, consider making a voluntary contribution of $3 above the registration fee to help offset your carbon footprint.  All funds collected will be used to purchase carbon offsets through Driving Green www.drivinggreen.com and to purchase tree seedlings for the LandTrust of Central North Carolina www.landtrustcnc.org. 
Uwharrie Mountain Run: Elevation Positive, Climate Neutral As trail runners, we have a special obligation to protect and preserve the natural resources that we enjoy. While the conservation efforts we all support are both important and successful, they are diminished by climate change – typically called global warming – which threatens not only our trail resources, but all life on this planet. Most scientists agree that the underlying cause of global climate change is the use of fossil fuels. Burning these fuels releases carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the earth’s atmosphere. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide causes the atmosphere to trap more heat, which elevates the earth’s temperature. Even small increases in the earth’s temperature can alter weather patterns, sea levels and ocean currents, producing significant and destructive changes to our coastlines, forests, farmlands and water resources. The good news is that we can do something about this problem. We can look at our Carbon Footprint and take steps to reduce it. Specifically, we can find ways to decrease our individual fossil fuel use and we can support projects that trap or sequester carbon dioxide to slow its release into the atmosphere. Carpooling, changing our thermostat, and funding green energy sources help reduce fossil fuel usage. Planting trees, enriching phytoplankton and storing carbon dioxide underground sequester carbon dioxide. Hundreds of carbon offset projects worldwide need our support. Beginning this year, we will take steps to make the Uwharrie Mountain Run a climate-neutral event. ­ In 2007, our goal is to offset carbon dioxide emissions caused by participant travel. ­ In 2008, we’ll expand our goal to include other aspects of the event like aid station expendables and awards. ­ In 2009, we’ll address all aspects of the event including participant lodging and waste generation. Based on last year’s participant travel, we need to offset approximately 43 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2007. We are offering participants the opportunity to support our goal in two ways. First, please make every effort to carpool to the event. Second, consider making a voluntary contribution of $3 above the registration fee to help offset your carbon footprint. All funds collected will be used to purchase carbon offsets through Driving Green www.drivinggreen.com and to purchase tree seedlings for the LandTrust of Central North Carolina www.landtrustcnc.org. In the spirit of the Uwharrie Mountain Run, we appreciate you taking the time to learn about our offset program and hope you will consider supporting it. We owe a big thanks to David Elam, race participant and environmental scientist in Chapel Hill, who suggested we adopt this program and provided the leadership to make it happen.Uwharrie Mountain Run: Elevation Positive, Climate Neutral As trail runners, we have a special obligation to protect and preserve the natural resources that we enjoy. While the conservation efforts we all support are both important and successful, they are diminished by climate change – typically called global warming – which threatens not only our trail resources, but all life on this planet. Most scientists agree that the underlying cause of global climate change is the use of fossil fuels. Burning these fuels releases carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the earth’s atmosphere. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide causes the atmosphere to trap more heat, which elevates the earth’s temperature. Even small increases in the earth’s temperature can alter weather patterns, sea levels and ocean currents, producing significant and destructive changes to our coastlines, forests, farmlands and water resources. The good news is that we can do something about this problem. We can look at our Carbon Footprint and take steps to reduce it. Specifically, we can find ways to decrease our individual fossil fuel use and we can support projects that trap or sequester carbon dioxide to slow its release into the atmosphere. Carpooling, changing our thermostat, and funding green energy sources help reduce fossil fuel usage. Planting trees, enriching phytoplankton and storing carbon dioxide underground sequester carbon dioxide. Hundreds of carbon offset projects worldwide need our support. Beginning this year, we will take steps to make the Uwharrie Mountain Run a climate-neutral event. ­ In 2007, our goal is to offset carbon dioxide emissions caused by participant travel. ­ In 2008, we’ll expand our goal to include other aspects of the event like aid station expendables and awards. ­ In 2009, we’ll address all aspects of the event including participant lodging and waste generation. Based on last year’s participant travel, we need to offset approximately 43 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2007. We are offering participants the opportunity to support our goal in two ways. First, please make every effort to carpool to the event. Second, consider making a voluntary contribution of $3 above the registration fee to help offset your carbon footprint. All funds collected will be used to purchase carbon offsets through Driving Green www.drivinggreen.com and to purchase tree seedlings for the LandTrust of Central North Carolina www.landtrustcnc.org. In the spirit of the Uwharrie Mountain Run, we appreciate you taking the time to learn about our offset program and hope you will consider supporting it. We owe a big thanks to David Elam, race participant and environmental scientist in Chapel Hill, who suggested we adopt this program and provided the leadership to make it happen.
In the spirit of the Uwharrie Mountain Run, we appreciate you taking the time to learn about our offset program and hope you will consider supporting it.  We owe a big thanks to David Elam, race participant and environmental scientist in Chapel Hill, who suggested we adopt this program and provided the leadership to make it happen.