Even if you’re a couch potato like me, you’ll know the benefits of running – pounding the 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.
即使你跟我一樣都是個喜歡賴在沙發上看電視的人，你應該也會知道跑步的好處，當你在慢跑時，你能跑出一身汗、燃燒一些卡路里，接著如果你想的話，你也能一直保持著良好的運動習慣。但假使你是一個運動狂人的話，你可以去參加馬拉松這種極限運動挑戰。
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.
世界上大部分的主要城市或鄉鎮現在似乎都會舉辦一年一度的馬拉松，上千位運動員會去跑那讓人筋疲力盡的42.1公里，同時，許多跑者的動機是為了不斷超越自己，讓自己在穿過終點線時不會崩潰，他們也是為了慈善而跑，為了替公益團體募款。另一方面來講，也是一個大災難，馬拉松產生了大量的碳足跡。數以千計的外來者，從某一地搭飛機到另外一地，浪費了許多禮品包來包裝食物，在觀眾與跑者使用完就隨意丟棄，舉個例子，在2018年的倫敦馬拉松期間，就有47000個塑膠瓶被收集起來，雖然有些是可以回收的。
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.
這已經變成一個城市的大課題，要如何舉辦一個合宜的活動，在保護環境的同時，鼓勵人們運動且順便做公益？許多城市已經致力發展正向的改進計畫來減少它們對環境的影響，也促進這些可持續的想法，舉例來講，有個在威爾士的活動，在跑步的裝備上採用了可回收的素材，從道德上的來源取得比賽T-Shirt。
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."
在今年的倫敦馬拉松試著減少路線中的飲水站，使用紙杯裝水，並且提供可以喝的海藻膠囊。他們也試用了新型的可回收瓶裝袋，於是700名跑者可以在跑步時提著它們的水，倫敦馬拉松的領導者，Hugh Brasner 告訴BBC說，在今天採用的這些政策，我們認為這個舉動將會引領我們未來的巨大行為變化。
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!
同時呢，有一些人仍然認為去參加馬拉松可以幫助我們的星球跨出一大步。卡迪夫大學的Andrea博士告訴BBC，馬拉松的訓練可以讓你在平常生活中更有持續性。我開始每天走路或跑步去上班，並且遠離大眾交通工具，對環境友好，讓它伴隨著你訓練，最後變成你的一種生活方式，雖然你可能不是馬拉松的菁英選手，但這個方式當然也是一個可持續進行的方式。
單字
● Even if 即使
● couch potato 沙發土豆，指窩在沙發上看電視的人
● pound the pavement 跑步
● work up a sweat 出一身汗
● burn off calories 燃燒脂肪
● keep fit 保持健康
● fitness junkie 健身狂人
● marathon 馬拉松
● athlete 運動員
● gruelling 讓人筋疲力盡的
● motivation 動機
● collapsing 崩潰
● personal best 個人最好成績
● finishing line 終點線
● a good cause 公益事業
● charity 公益團體
● carbon footprint 碳足跡
● goody bag 禮品包
● spectator 觀眾
● plastic bottle 塑料瓶
● sustainable 可持續的，能長期維持的
● promote 促進
● raft 筏
● initiative 提倡、初步行動
● running kit 跑步行頭
● drink station （馬拉鬆比賽沿路的）飲水站
● capsule 膠囊
● best foot forward 邁出最好的一步
● a way of life 生活方式
● elite runner 精英選手
翻譯來源：BBC Learning English： Making marathons environmentally friendly
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