What a weekend! On September 28-29, 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to represent the UK once again at the World Plogging Championships (representing GB again, on my own!). Set against the stunning backdrop of Lombardy, athletes from across the globe gathered, not just to compete, but to make a real environmental difference. It felt amazing to be part of something so much more meaningful than just a race.
This year was extra special for several reasons. Not only did we have the traditional Trail Plogging race in Val Gandino, but for the first time ever, we raced through the streets of Bergamo in an Urban Plogging event. Running through the city, picking up litter, and seeing others do the same created an unforgettable experience. It’s rare to find a competition where fitness and environmentalism come together so seamlessly. One funny moment stuck with me—just as I stopped to pick up a crushed drinks can, I heard a fellow competitor shout “Nice!” from behind. Maybe it’s a bit odd, but to me, that was hilarious! It’s those small moments that make plogging so unique, and so ‘absurious’ – an expression coined on TV last month.
What made the weekend even better was reconnecting with friends I had met at last year’s event. There’s something special about seeing familiar faces, but I also had the chance to meet many new people, all united by the same goal: cleaning up our planet. It’s incredibly energizing to be surrounded by athletes who care just as much about our environment as they do about their sport. And athletes they are – ultra marathon runners etc.
The impact we made together was incredible. Across the two races, we collected over a tonne of waste—an astonishing 1,289 kg! In Val Gandino alone, we picked up 926 kg of litter, and another 350 kg came from the streets of Bergamo. Even more impressive? 66% of that waste, or 850 kg, was sorted and sent for recycling, in turn preventing 686 Kg of CO2e from being released into the atmosphere. It’s moments like these that remind me how powerful collective action can be. Come on everybody, ♫Come together♫ for our beautiful world, please?
But it also leaves me wondering, “Why is this still necessary?” Why do people continue to act like Mother Nature—or we ploggers or some other thoughtful citizen—will always be there to clean up after them? It’s deeply frustrating, but it also fuels my passion to keep doing this. After all, anger can be power – do you know you can use it? Please tell me on our Instagram page if you know the reference?!
I’m pretty pleased with my results too. Having run over 25 km and more than 1220 up mountains (while collecting stuff!) I finished 24th in the ‘Trail’ Plogging with 30,000 points and 5th in the first-ever ‘Urban’ Plogging. But beyond the rankings, it was the sense of purpose and the camaraderie and essential ‘ grounding’ that made this event truly special.
The World Plogging Championships are about more than just competition—they’re about creating a real, tangible positive impact on our environment. This year's event reminded me how much can be achieved when passionate individuals come together for a common cause. Together, we’re proving that small actions, like picking up litter as we run, can lead to big changes. I can’t wait to see how much more we can accomplish in the future! Let’s get this event as part of the next Olympics!?
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