Group founded in Shanghai now organizes trash pickups in 16 cities

Every Wednesday evening, a group of runners in Chongqing gather at a meeting point before setting off on their 5-to-8-kilometer run through the city's public spaces.

But this is no ordinary run. In addition to running attire, they are armed with garbage tongs and trash bags. They are a proud bunch of amateur garbage collectors who take to the streets to keep fit while helping clean up their surroundings.

The group is part of TrashRunning China, a new fitness activity similar to plogging that was founded by two expatriate ladies－Katalin Sogor from Hungary and Celina Eisenring from Switzerland－in Shanghai four years ago.

Plogging is a global movement that originated in Sweden in 2016. The name is a combination of the Swedish words for "jog" (jogga) and "picking up litter" (plocka upp).

Sogor said she and Eisenring did not know about plogging when they started TrashRunning. She said the idea stemmed from her irritation with the trash-laden streets along which she used to run as part of her marathon training.

"We didn't really think about anything too serious or too long-term," she said. "We simply wanted to work out, discover the city and clean up the environment, as well."

In March 2018, the pair started TrashRunning China and organized the first run at Dishui Lake in Shanghai's Pudong district.

Prepared to do it on their own, the duo were pleasantly surprised when their group, which was initially mostly known to the expat community, began to attract more and more Chinese participants.

"Make running more than just running, squatting is good for your butt," Sogor said jokingly, wearing a blue T-shirt with "We Run For Trash" on the back. She said that besides working out in a fun way, TrashRunning is also a way to make new friends, rediscover hidden streets and spots, and contribute to society and the environment.

Fang Lei, 40, said TrashRunning first came to Chongqing last August but only attracted five to six runners to each of its first runs.

"That changed when Kate (Sogor) came to Chongqing last November. As a result of her charisma and former experience in organizing the event, the runs have become more and more popular through word-of-mouth. Now, people quickly sign up for each run on our WeChat mini program," said Fang, who is captain of his group.

At the end of last year, Sogor began working in Chongqing. She said that in addition to the regular weekly runs every Wednesday night since February, the group also organizes family runs once a month, which take a shorter route and attract children and even pets.

They also organize runs to mark special days. On Earth Day last month, for example, they helped clean up trails in the Gele Mountains.