What is plogging, the fitness trend transforming city workouts by combining exercise with environmental awareness
Plogging is a fitness trend in New York City that combines running with picking up litter. The word comes from Sweden, joining “plocka upp” (Swedish for “to pick up”) with jogging. The idea is simple: run and collect rubbish as you go. As New Yorkers look for activities that support their wellbeing while improving the local environment, plogging provides a hands‑on way to do both.
How it moved from an idea to the streets
Plogging arrived in New York City in 2019, introduced by the New York Road Runners (NYRR) as part of an Earth Day campaign. The idea spread in Manhattan and soon reached the other boroughs. Plogging often takes place before major races such as the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, the RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon, and the New York City Marathon, using those occasions to involve more people and draw attention to cleaning urban spaces.
The New York Road Runners remain central to organising plogging sessions, handling logistics and supplying kit like bags and gloves. Aly Criscuolo, the Director of Sustainability at NYRR, says these efforts tidy the streets and help build community among participants. The New York Post regularly covers these activities as part of its reporting on urban fitness trends and environmental practices.
A workout that pulls double duty
Plogging sessions typically involve a gentle jog with frequent stops to pick up rubbish, so you get cardiovascular exercise while doing civic work. Jason Fitzgerald, coach and host of the Strength Running Podcast, notes that the pauses can lead to a lower heart rate than steady running. That can increase fat‑burning efficiency and aid recovery after exercise. The repeated squatting involved in picking up litter acts like resistance training, strengthening muscles and supporting metabolism.
Participants also report benefits for bone strength and a reduced risk of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. If you’re new to plogging, it is sensible to start on familiar routes, since sessions usually take longer than a regular jog because of the stops.
Bringing people together and raising awareness
The mental and social benefits of plogging are notable. Combining aerobic exercise with the focused task of collecting rubbish can lift mood and, as the New York Post notes, help reduce symptoms of depression. Participants such as Tina Muir, a retired marathon runner and sustainability advocate, say there is a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing their efforts help the local area and the environment.
Plogging also creates social ties and can ease loneliness. Muir says that when people take part in activities that are good for the environment, that behaviour tends to spread to others and encourages a shared sense of responsibility.
What it means for the wider environment
While plogging on its own will not fix the climate crisis, Aly Criscuolo says it helps raise environmental awareness. The practice shows how individual actions in neighbourhoods can add up. As people plog, they form habits that clean their streets and move them towards more sustainable ways of living.
These sessions are easy to join and draw roughly 100 attendees each time, a mix of committed race participants and local sustainability supporters. The New York City Marathon, with about 2 million spectators, provides a much larger platform that extends the reach of plogging beyond organised events and into everyday neighbourhood life.
Plogging in New York City shows how sport can go beyond personal fitness and become a collective activity. Linking exercise with community service adds to urban life and encourages both residents and onlookers to think more about their surroundings. As the trend grows, more people may join this combination of health and environmental action.