If you haven’t heard of Plogging, it is a mash-up of the Swedish phrase “plocka upp” (meaning “to pick up”) and our English word “jogging.” Essentially, it’s combining your run with picking up litter. When I was at the Boston Run Show this past March I participated in a Plogging Event, hosted by Tina Muir.

I’m an Ambassador for The Boston Run Show, so I go every year and help out with the event and also give out free tickets to it starting in September, so look out for those. This event has grown immensely since it started in 2023, and next year we will be at the Gillett Stadium.

I had never plogged before, and this was the first time the Run Show had an event like this, so I knew on paper what it was. I had no idea what it was going to be like.

Dave and I showed up and there were a good amount of people there, so that was encouraging. Tina talked a bit about what we were going to do and the route to follow. We were all then given biodegradable trash bags (which I had never seen before), and also gloves and off we went.

This kind of thing is more about picking up garbage than running, so it’s really more of jog a bit and stop and pick up trash. It was great doing it as a group, and I was really surprised (and encouraged) by the amount of people in cars and walking along that were applauding us and thanking us. I was also surprised by the amount of cigarette butts I picked up! I guess since most places don’t allow smoking and you don’t see it on tv and in movies (or I should say, rarely) I didn’t think many people smoked anymore. Boy, was I wrong about that! For every piece of paper, old sock or Starbucks cup I picked up I must have picked up 3-5 cigarette butts. Now I see them all the time!

Why Plog?

How many times have you been out on a beautiful trail or city street, only to be met with discarded plastic bottles, snack wrappers, or even random pieces of clothing? I wasn’t brave enough to pick up the old underwear, but I saw them!

Like I said, you aren’t going to be doing speed work or tempo runs when you plog. Your aim needs to be picking up garbage, not getting in training. But, you are bending and squatting and pulling…so think of it as cross training!

The benefit is that you can feel like you are doing something to beautify the areas you run in both for yourself and for those who live in the area. It also is a great example to others, when you stop to pick up trash instead of just stepping over it.

Tina encouraged all the runners to pick up at least 1 piece of trash on every run. If all of us did that, and others (not just runners) saw us do that, it could make a difference where you live and run.

This event definitely made me think more about the garbage all over, and I see it now when I run. The problem in some areas, at least in Buffalo, is that in the worst areas there are no garbage cans! I’m not sure the reasoning behind that, but it’s really a shame that even if people want to pick up garbage there is no where to put it.

Plogging As a Movement

You can find plogging groups popping up in cities and towns all across the United States. We have a plogging group here in Buffalo, and the race directors for Buffalo Marathon weekend put a plogging run together the day before the marathon.

Tina has been instrumental in raising awareness about plogging and sustainable running practices. She emphasizes that it’s about taking small, consistent actions that collectively make a big difference (kind of like running!) Her work through “Racing for Sustainability” helps race directors put on eco-conscious events, and her book, Ready to Plog? Some Quick Tips:

Gear Up: A pair of gloves and a small, lightweight bag are all you really need. You can use a gallon sized baggie, which would allow you to pick up trash and hold it while running to find a garbage can if one isn’t readily available.

Stay Safe: Be mindful of your surroundings, especially if you’re on roads. Avoid picking up anything sharp or hazardous. I don’t pick up undergarments, glass (unless it’s in really big pieces) or food.

Start Small: Even picking up just 1-2 pieces of trash per run makes a difference. Don’t feel like you need to clean up the whole block in one go!

Spread the Word: Share your plogging adventures on social media with #Plogging and inspire others!