Mona
Like many of our city’s fastidious joggers, Sandeep Kumar Pahal runs too, twice a day. Only, his gear is slightly different. No earphone plugged to his ears, no phone strapped to the shoulder, he is rather carrying a big black bag that gathers weight as he continues along the jogging trails of the city. At times he is laced with gloves, at times not, not to miss picking out any piece of plastic that comes his way.
Ploggers are a new tribe invading the earth only to save it. They are the regular joggers who have taken upon themselves to get their running trails free of plastic, and how. If Sandeep is one, there are other conscientious runners too who double up their jog time to increase step count on their smart watches while reducing carbon footprint.
The beginning
A combination of jogging while picking up (plocka upp in Swedish) plastic – plogging started in Sweden in 2016. The run clubs in India and abroad encourage the movement in one honest bid to free the earth of plastic pollution that taking over its hills, seas, countryside and cities like alike.
City starters
While there are many solo warriors like Sandeep, an entrepreneur, many a running clubs have picked up the gloves and trash bags too. “I first heard about it when getting a haircut and thought why not,” shares Sandeep, who has followed it through for a year now. Many notice him plogging at the lake or Fragrance Garden – his usual running haunts – whether they follow or ridicule, none of his business.
A long distance runner Dharminder Sharma, an IFS, got introduced to plogging at an international running club site that he followed. “Since then we have done plogging with Patiala Runners under Daudta Punjab initiative a few times to huge success.”
In Chandigarh, TRC-The Run Club often has plogging meet-ups. Avers Paveela Bali, its founder, “City Beautiful barely justifies its name, plogging seems like one good way to retain it.”
The heroes
Erik Ahlström is the founder of plogging. Moving to Stockholm from a small ski community, he was appalled at the litter around. Something that started as his way of cleaning up became an inspiration that two years on is a legit workout trend, internationally. Banking on power of social media starting with website Plogga, post by post, hashtag by hashtag, its global reach spans 40 countries now.
What an honour!
Writing is not essayist David Sedaris’s sole claim to fame. He also has a garbage truck named after him in West Sussex, England. A plogging champ, he’s been referred to as a real local hero named Pig Pen for his clean commitment.
Plogging Run & Clean
Plogging World’s First International Event is scheduled for April 27, and joining the global community is its Chandigarh chapter. The event is scheduled at 4 pm at Sector 17 plaza to be conducted by The Run Club.
Why plog?
- Serving dual purpose plogging helps one meet fitness goals while beating pollution.
- A legit international workout now, it adds variation— bending, squatting and stretching to plain running.
- An half hour of plogging burns 288 calories vis-à-vis regular jogging at 235 calories.
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2W8DoPH
via Today’s News Headlines
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