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Plogging: the eco-friendly sport taking Spain by storm

Runners in Spain are adopting the Swedish craze to clean up the environment while getting fit

A new sporting craze, which combines exercise and litter picking, is taking Spain by storm. Plogging originated in Switzerland and its name comes from the Swedish term 'plocka upp', translated as picking up, and from the English 'jogging'. The practice of collecting rubbish while out exercising has quickly spread from Stockholm to Spain but it’s not just confined to running: athletes out hiking, cycling, diving and even paddle surfing have all picked up on the trend, helping to rid the sea, beaches, mountains and city streets of litter.

The fitness movement was born with Swede Erik Ahlström who was determined to clean up his local town and by 2018 it had become a global phenomenon, rapidly gaining popularity in Spain through various social media groups.

"Taking into account that in Spain some 4 million people practice hiking on a regular basis and 33% of the population go running more than 3 days a week, taking advantage of these outings to practice plogging during the route could mean a radical change in the state of our environment in a very short time," website Plogging Revolution explains.

Fitness fanatics also recognise the benefits of plogging over a regular jog or run: while picking up rubbish, runners must frequently squat, which targets the glutes, a workout that can be made even more effective by adding a jumping jack on the way up.

Plogging isn’t just for hardcore athletes though, the group points out. Simply by picking up some discarded litter on the way to work, or while waking the dog, can have a huge impact on the environment.

Image: Iberdrola

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