Donovan Dooley shares how running opened his eyes to the impacts of climate change in California.

I used to think of climate change as something distant — an issue confined to news articles and political debates, full of statistics and scientific projections. But that changed two years ago when I stepped into the world of ultra-running.

Through countless hours of running across California’s coastal forests and grasslands, I’ve been able to understand and connect to the environment in a deeper, more personal way. I’ve learned that the land beneath my feet is not just scenery — it’s a complex, living system, constantly shifting and adapting to the pressures we place on it.

Recently, the LA wildfires devastated communities across California, and while I live far north of the flames, the impact still reached us all. My usual favorite trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains, once a place of refreshing serenity, felt suffocating through the thick smoke. Running through the smoke-filled air, I was struck by how deeply environmental and human well-being are intertwined.

Two years ago, I had no idea how delicate and responsive the environment is to our actions. The more time I’ve spent on the trails, the more I’ve realized the environment is under immense strain — from biodiversity loss and climate change to recent setbacks in pro-climate policy.

If ultra-running has taught me anything about the world, it’s that we are all like runners on a trail — passing through, leaving footprints for those who come after us. The forests, mountains and oceans will outlast us — but the choices we make now will shape the world that future generations inherit. The trails I love today won’t last unless we make a conscious effort to protect them.

I hope we can create a future where we take care of the environment like we do ourselves and our loved ones. Because out on the trails, I’ve learned that the environment isn’t separate from us. We are a part of it. And its fate is ours, too. With a Perspective, I’m Donovan Dooley.

Donovan Dooley is a high school student and environmental advocate living in Belmont.