The global running fever continues to grow. The Strava application, one of the most used by popular athletes to record and share their activities, surpassed 36 million users in 2018. That same year, Strava runners traveled more than 1,520 million kilometers together, enough to go around the world 38,000 times. Can you imagine how much garbage these runners could pick up by doing a little bit of Plogging?

What is it? It is a new sustainable initiative born in Sweden that combines sports such as Running with care for the environment. The more than 20,000 people who practice it every day—in more than 100 different countries—collect the garbage that is on the floor when they go out for a run.

The word Plogging It comes from Swedish Plockaupp (pick up) and English Jogging (jogging). The driving force behind this activity was the Swede Erik Ahlström, who left his village in 2016 to settle in Stockholm, began to clean the places he frequented when he played sports. Soon after, the Ahlström routine spread across Sweden through popular events and today, thanks to social networks, it is a global phenomenon.

Los Ploggers recommend some tricks to get hooked on this practice, which only requires a bag, sneakers and half an hour a day. These are the most relevant:

Haz Plogging in a group. This activity, like other individual sports, is more fun if you get together with other people to practice it.

Combine it with other exercises. When collecting debris from the floor, do it with squats or push-ups on one leg. By squatting you will improve joint mobility in your hips, adductors and ankles.

Change the arm bag. Do this often to avoid contractures from always carrying the weight on the same side. Also wear gloves so you don't get your hands dirty.

Run fast and short runs. To improve cardiovascular performance, it is good to run for less than 10 kilometers and add intensity to the session by climbing, jumping or making changes of pace.

It includes competition dynamics. Compete for teams with others Ploggers to see who collects the most garbage in the least time. At the end of the session, count the waste and take it to the nearest recycling point.

Try other sports. El Plogging It is not exclusive to Running. You can also practice it if you like to walk, row or ride a bike.

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Share your activity on social networks. Take photos of your sessions and upload them to social networks with the hashtag #plogging. This can inspire others by contributing to the spread of the movement.

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