Move on from the boring, old run club – picking up trash while running with friends is the new fitness trend.
Running clubs have become increasingly popular as a way to exercise, build friendships and develop romantic relationships, and some New Yorkers are taking their passion one step further by cleaning up the streets while they move.
Plugging – an eco-friendly fitness movement that combines jogging and the Swedish phrase “plukka up”, which means “pick up” – is steadily growing with followers around the world.
For Tina Moyer, a sustainability advocate, her introduction to activism was through plugging events hosted by the New York Road Runners (NYRR), a Manhattan-based nonprofit that caters to runners of all ages and abilities.
“I was excited at the time to do something actionable and feel like I was making a positive contribution to the world around me and to the city I truly love.”
“Going out there with a group of humans, where you’re all going at the same pace, was something I’d never seen before in a running space.”
NYRR leads the way
As Moyer moved away from professional athletics, she wanted to pursue something that aligned with her environmental interests while continuing her work with NYRR.
She is now the sustainability advocate for NYRR’s plugging events, which occur just days before her three marquee races: the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon in March, the RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon in May and the TCS New York City Marathon in November.
NYRR hosted its inaugural plugging event in 2019 as part of the Earth Day campaign. The organization has since dedicated a station at its Runcenter in Manhattan where anyone can pick up a bag and gloves to plug in at their own pace.
According to NYRR’s director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Ally Criscuolo, NYRR saw an explosion in plugging participation when it decided to connect the event to some of the city’s biggest races.
Marketed as shakeout runs, participants can take an easy walk to increase blood flow, reduce muscle stiffness and calm nerves while clearing the roads before the race.
“You can’t run fast and pick up trash at the same time, it’s physically impossible.”
Tina Moyer
Surprisingly, the marathon seems to have the most interest.
“We have 2 million marathon viewers, so there’s a huge community of people learning about plugging and bringing it to their local neighborhoods,” Criscuolo told the Post. “And even if it’s not an official event, they pick up a few pieces of trash every morning during their morning routine.”
Everyone is welcome at the sign-up, whether they have signed up to run the race or not.
“We get a good mix of people who run the races as well as those who are passionate about sustainability locally.” Criscolo said. “We definitely reach our maximum at less than 100 these days.”
Letter-mates make a difference
While a person can only buy so many bottles and burger wrappers, the hope is that plugging creates collective community action and environmental awareness.
“We know that we’re not going to solve the climate crisis by taking a few of these pieces,” Criscuolo said. “But there’s a really big impact that we’re teaching them about plugging in, and the fact that they can do it in their own neighborhood.”
Muir believes these positive actions are contagious.
“If you see someone doing something that they don’t have to do, and they’re doing it for the good of humanity, for the good of our planet, they’re more likely to step up,” she said.
Steps in the right direction
While it may seem like a fast run, well, there are benefits to slowing down.
“Jogging lowers the heart rate compared to jogging because it prevents the build-up of waste,” Jason Fitzgerald, a running coach and host of the Power Running Podcast, told The Post.
“This can be a good thing, because it keeps runners in easy aerobic zones, burns more fat, is more durable and easier to recover from.”
And the benefits don’t stop there. Fitzgerald — who joined a team in Denver — also pointed to increased aerobic fitness and endurance, stronger bone density, better metabolism and prevention of conditions like type 2 diabetes through weight management.
“Jogging is a valuable source of aerobic exercise, and running is one of the highest calorie-burning forms of exercise in this category,” he added. “With a focus on nutrition, [it’s] A reliable way to burn calories and build a stronger metabolism that can burn both fat and glucose.
Ploggers can also get some valuable strength training in on their shakeout runs, Crescuolo noted.
“Like you’re squatting to grab some dirt, you’re doing some squats, you can do some lunges,” she said. “You’re also working on some leg strength, so stretching after that is very important.”
But the move may feel awkward at first, especially for long-time competitors.
“While the first few times people have to stand down they may feel some pain, they feel a lot better afterwards, that their body can move better,” Moyer said.
Running forward
Since the pace is slow, the performance requires some creative planning.
“I think plugging is one place where you can have the fastest runner collecting dirt next to the slowest runner,” Moyer said. “You can’t run fast and pick up trash at the same time, it’s physically impossible.”
Fitzgerald advises runners to aim for a distance they’ve already covered because they’ll spend more time on their feet due to the stop-and-start nature of jogging.
“I recommend thinking of plugging as a separate and distinct activity than just running,” he shared. “This will help with any comparison traps, such as thinking your speed will be the same.”
In addition to the physical benefits, there are also psychological and emotional benefits to plugging.
Aerobic exercise can reduce symptoms of depression, perhaps even as effectively as antidepressants and talk therapy.
“Litter collection is a positive social good that leads to a sense of accomplishment and constructive work for the community,” Fitzgerald said. “Plugging is also done regularly in groups, helping to reduce isolation and build community.”
Muir echoed this sentiment, noting that people want to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.
“It’s a great way to build community and build friendships, which is what most of us are looking for right now,” she said. “Giving back is an extra layer that I think makes it really special.”
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