To mark Earth Day this April, we’re sharing personal essays from individuals who are doing their part to protect our planet. Simon Harris is calling on Australia’s running community to lace up for the country’s threatened forests. His most recent event, the takayna trail ultra-marathon, saw 175 runners raise over AUD$400,000 to help protect Tasmania’s at-risk takayna rainforest during a two-day event. Here, Simon shares his thoughts on the ‘incredible story’ we’re currently creating.
I know everything feels a bit doomy at the moment, but I actually think the moment we live in now is one of the most exciting times to be alive because we get to change the fate of our world. I mean… what an incredible story we’re currently creating together.
I love that we’re collectively using our imaginations and working together so we can create a world that works better for nature and humans. It’s complicated, I know, but we’re working on redefining the way we live and shaping a future that doesn’t just allow us to survive, but to thrive. That’s beyond exciting to me.
While there are plenty of things I could worry about, worrying is a waste of my time. It takes me away from the people and animals and work I love, and the magic of life itself. I realized years back that I can’t fix everything, so instead of worrying about all the things I can’t fix, I now work hard to focus my time and energy on a few key issues that matter to me.
One of those issues is defending our threatened wild places.
One thing that motivates me in this work is getting people out into nature. I’ve seen the power of people reconnecting to the wild, reminding them why it needs protecting. More specifically, I love running. Running is a vehicle I use for getting people outdoors to learn, fundraise and organize around this idea of collective action for nature. When people are immersed in nature, they’re often struck by their own power and agency to do something to protect it.
The takayna trail started out for me as just a seed of an idea; something small I could do to try and support the Bob Brown Foundation in ending native forest logging in Australia’s largest temperate rainforest, the Tarkine. The premise is simple: Run through the rainforest, raise money in the process. Participants get to visit a stunning wilderness area, exercise, get their endorphins pumping, and they get to make a tangible difference to the future of this great place.
“Overwhelm isn’t helping you or the planet. Try and focus on one thing you can do, go all in and ignore everything else. You can’t do it all, and nobody is expecting you to.”
- Simon Harris
This year, that difference came in at around AUD$400,000—which is so much more than I ever could have imagined.
I’m currently working on bringing the Footprints climate action camp for trail runners (and walkers!) to Australia. Led by Dakota Jones, Footprints has already had some great wins in the US. Again, the premise is simple: 15 exceptional people come together for five days in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia to bond, develop environmental knowledge and leadership skills, and connect with grassroots organizations and localized projects that are active in conserving and protecting our wild lands. It’s important for me to create a space for people to build and strengthen connections, as well as confidence in their own ability to act.
It might sound cliché, but nature has taught me that the best things in life truly are free. When I think about my most treasured memories, all of them are in nature or the outdoors with people I love, and generally cost me nothing.
I’m just one person, doing a very specific thing. But I think the key to making a difference lies in first doing your best to not feel overwhelmed with what’s happening in the world. Overwhelm isn’t helping you or the planet. Try and focus on one thing you can do, go all in and ignore everything else. You can’t do it all, and nobody is expecting you to.
Try and make a habit out of getting out into nature as much as you can, too. Because you can’t protect what you don’t understand.
As told to Oliver Pelling
The theme for Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in Our Planet.’ Find out more about how you can take action for Earth on the Earth Day website.
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Simon is a part-time farmer and fundraiser with an obsession for protecting wild places residing in rural South Australia. He's happiest sat by an open fire with friends camping under the stars. Whether it's trail running in a national park, rock climbing in a new spot or chasing his pigs and chooks around the farm, the outdoors is where he needs to be.
