Athletes can do their parts in 'going green'

Everywhere you turn, the talk is about "going green."

Magazine articles, newspaper pieces, casual conversations -- green is the favored topic/color. Suddenly, being concerned about the environment is popular.

Part of it probably has to do with the price of gasoline, but the very real aspects of global warming may be the bigger reason.

Whether it is a coerced or a considered decision, "going green" is a good thing. We have a responsibility to the environment that goes way beyond what we pay at the gas pump.

So what can athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and sports participants do?

As always, conserve.

If your pursuits consume fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel, oil, etc.), find a way to cut back. Hunt or fish closer to home. You don't have to give up that bass boat and fish from the bank, but pick your fishing spots and stay there a bit longer. You might be surprised how much gas you save.

There seems to be something wrong about hauling gas-powered vehicles like motorcycles and 4-wheelers long distances to ride trails when you can find pretty good stuff much closer to home.

I do pretty much the same thing when I put my bike in the back of my truck and meet buddies half way across town, but until our main thoroughfares are safer, I'll probably keep doing that (try getting from Friendsville to Walland on a bike).

I do see a lot more people commuting on bicycles and motorcycles and at least one local doctor can be seen running around town on a little step-through scooter.

Sitting in a vehicle and running the engine to stay warm or cool consumes far more fuel than you ever thought -- but then you've probably realized that since you're watching the gas gauge more these days.

Plan all your trips with mileage in mind. Combine trips and plan your errands.

Recycle.

Our landfills are filling up at an incredible rate and a big culprit is individual packaging. Have you ever bought those 12 ounce, six-pack style sports drinks? Yeah, me too.

It's far smarter to buy big bottles and then pour them into reusable, manageable-sized containers. Better yet, buy the powdered version and mix it yourself.

You like bottled water?

Think about the packaging there as well. Again, pour it up yourself from big containers.

And when you are finished with all those plastic containers, don't forget to recycle them. Recycling stations are convenient, easy to use, and located all over Blount County.

One phenomenon that I can't quite get over is reading newspapers online. None of my kids get newspapers delivered to their homes, but they all read newspapers online voraciously.

I'm still old-school enough that I like my Daily Times on newsprint and sitting in my lap. The fact of the matter is that reading online is far more environmentally sound than ink and paper.

But if you're like me, you can still recycle these pages when you're finished.

Joe Black, PT, SCS, ATC, is a physical therapist and athletic trainer at Appalachian Therapy Center. Write to him at: Joe Black, c/o The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, TN 37802.