Yes, we know what you’re thinking, but before you jump to any conclusions, let us tell you a little more about this ‘rubbish’ trend first.
When you venture out on a jog or walk in the morning, you must’ve come across plastic bags, bottles or other rubbish thrown around. Many would agree that this is a huge turn off. But what do we do about it? Let’s face it; most of you would just turn a blind eye to it. However, ploggers like Gunjan Patil have made picking the rubbish up an important part of their daily workout regimen. “I am not going to just run past the trash I see on the way. Some might find it gross and unhygienic to pick up but we need to take responsibility of keeping the surroundings clean,” says Gunjan, who works in advertising.
Still wondering what
plogging
is? This is a new fitness trend which began in
Sweden
and is now catching up among fitness enthusiasts in the city as well. Plogging is a combination of jogging and the Swedish ‘plocka upp,’ which means to pick up, in this case, litter.
The appeal of plogging is its simplicity. To stay fit whilst supporting an environment-friendly cause, all you need is running gear and a bin bag.
Nikhil Shah
, a software engineer and founder of the group
Pune Running
, has been picking up waste for several months during his daily jogging routine along the Nanded City and Sinhagad road stretches. But it was just a week ago that he learnt about the term plogging. “Most of the runners and cyclist are concerned about the environment. We are not doing this just because it is trending, but because we feel it is our responsibility to keep the area clean. Plus, it’s so easy! You just collect the litter and put it in the nearest bin; it makes you feel good that you’re making a difference,” he says.
Husain Mukadam, a student, who learned about plogging when #plogging started trending on social media, informs, “When I read about it, I suddenly felt guilty for not doing this. I immediately started to incorporate it into my runs. It is not difficult to carry a bin bag and collect trash while running. This way, you are not only improving your health, but that of your surroundings too.”
The practice also adds variety to your daily workout and is physically rewarding for runners. Kunal Badgujar, an IT professional, says, “I have been plogging for quite a while now. Whenever you run, you are consciously thinking about picking up trash on the way. So, you automatically slow your pace, which is good for your health and heart. Moreover, plogging combines running with squatting or lunging when you collect litter. This makes it a pretty satisfying workout.”
Manjiri Shedge, a communications manager, believes that this kind of workout is like high intensity interval training. “Bending down to pick up litter is like doing squats and added pit stops in your workout have elements of mobility training. All in all, plogging boosts your body and soul together.”
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