Earth Day 2018: so what, exactly, is “plogging?”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh4lrDzHBnh/?tagged=plogging 

If picking up garbage from trails and sidewalks while out on your daily run doesn’t strike you as either cool or useful, think again: plogging may be the biggest trend to come out of Earth Day, which took place Sunday. 

Like many good things (think Ikea, the sauna and hygge), plogging originated in the Nordic countries, specifically Sweden, and combines the words for picking up (plocka) and jogging (jogga). The idea started two years ago, when groups of people out running decided to also pick up garbage, and somehow the idea took off. 

The practice has taken social media by storm. There are dozens of Instagram accounts from around the world, featuring beautiful, activewear-clad people displaying their plogging plunder: bags filled with trash and recycling (sorted, of course). 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh4ppa3HdCY/?tagged=plogging

Apparently runners really can take all the credit for dreaming up plogging. If you type “plog” or “plogging” into the Earth Day Network’s site, nothing comes up. (You’re welcome.) 

After all, one of the reasons we run is to enjoy the natural environment, and if you run outside regularly, it’s hard not to notice that the environment is under attack. Now that spring has finally arrived and runners are emerging from hibernation (or the gym) to take advantage of the warmer temperatures, melting snow and ice have revealed all the littler and garbage left over from winter. What could be more appropriate than runners cleaning it up while enjoying their favourite pastime?

1st plogging session done. We collected 10 bags of rubbish over 5 miles! @PloggingGB @UKRunChat #ukrunchat #Plogging pic.twitter.com/HSLVFCYQTv

— Dr Nicola Jennings ??? she/her (@JenningsNicola) March 23, 2018

Not only is it good for the environment, but plogging might actually benefit your training, too. If the thought of all that stopping and starting has you scratching your head, The New York Road Runners site  suggests thinking of it this way: “Every piece of litter picked up is an opportunity to throw a lunge or a squat into your workout.” Heck, you could even consider it a form of cross training. Some have even suggested that plogging burns more calories than regular running.

pic.twitter.com/V3cZBgYLx3

— PloggingTurkiye (@PloggingTurkiye) February 26, 2018

There may even be mental benefits. The evidence has been mounting for years that regular running releases hormones that enhance feelings of happiness; add in the good feelings that come from doing something to help the environment, and plogging becomes a virtual cure-all for the stress of modern life.

The site recommends following all the usual safety precautions when running, like wearing reflective clothing (especially if plogging in the evening or early morning), and gloves to protect your hands from broken glass and other debris. And you’ll obviously need a collection bag or two.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh4bWHFgr9c/?tagged=ploggingnorway

The best part is, you have 363 days to practise your plogging skills for next year’s Earth Day, which is April 22, 2019. So corral your running club pals and consider a plogging outing.