Keep it Clean Out There
Charlotte is arguably one of the cleanest cities we’ve ever lived in. Spend any time running around Charlotte, compare it to most other places, and you’ll probably agree. Whenever we spend a few days out of town, we’re reminded of just how good we feel we’ve got it.
But keeping it clean out there doesn’t happen magically. Yes, the City’s trash and recycling folks do the bulk of the lifting, but it’s not a perfect system. And that’s where we can jump in and make a difference.
The Charlotte Running Club, Recover Brands, Sustain Charlotte, well-run media and friends are partnering to organize and promote a plogging event along the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon course.
The Basics:
What: Clean the Course Plogging Event
When: Sunday, April 21 – 11am
Where: Meet at Cordelia Park, (600 E. 24th Street, CLT 28205)
What’s plogging anyway?
Glad you asked! Simply put, it’s a casual mix of running or walking at any pace, and picking up trash along the way.
“It’s a mix between a social and a running event,” Charlotte Running Club’s Rebeca Ehrnrooth told us. “Most of the Charlotte Running Club events are targeted for runners, we also like events where you can include your family and your dog, too.”
Coincidentally, Ehrnrooth is from Sweden, which is ground zero for the whole plogging movement. It’s nice to have a pro on board.
Do I need special gear or equipment for plogging?
Nope. Bring your kids, friends, family, and all that. This Clean the Course plogging event is open to everyone; all ages and all paces. And, the folks at Keep Charlotte Beautiful are supplying the gloves, safety vests, trash grabbers, and bags. Doesn’t get any easier than that.
We’ll cover roughly a mile in about an hour and a half, so it’s not a huge commitment. And, as Ehrnrooth pointed out, it’s late enough in the morning so it won’t wreck your schedule if you’re an early runner. And the shared experience won’t make it seem like a chore.
“It’s often easier to jump into a group effort because there’s a shared sense of purpose,” said Sustain Charlotte’s Meg Fencil. “Even if we didn’t directly contribute to the problem, we’re most effective as individual changemakers when we combine forces to remind each other of the importance of why we’re doing this.”
Recover Brands’ Adam Bratton told us he’ll share the experience with his kids. Seriously. This will be easy, fun and family-friendly.
“Most people know about “curb appeal” in their neighborhoods, but let’s not forget about “course appeal” for our favorite hometown marathon!”
Can’t argue with that, Adam.
# # #
Leave a Reply