THE latest health and fitness trend sweeping the streets of New York - almost literally - is plogging.
It gets your heart rate up - but not too much - and your blood pumping, and reduces muscle stiffness.
In addition, the social aspect delivers mental health benefits.
So what is plogging?
A portmanteau of jogging and the Swedish phrase "plocka upp" - meaning "pick up" - the activity involves people coming together armed with garbage bags and gloves and stopping to pick up litter as they slowly jog along.
The eco-friendly fitness activity is often tied in with major running events, such as the New York City marathon, with entrants rocking up a couple of days beforehand to clear the path while running off some pre-race nerves.
As any long-distance runner will attest, there are benefits to slowing down.
"Plogging tends to produce a lower heart rate than jogging because of the stopping to pick up trash," running coach Jason Fitzgerald told The New York Post.
"This can be a good thing, as it keeps runners in easier aerobic zones, burns more fat, is more sustainable and is easier to recover from."
Another benefit is building leg strength as you bend down to pick rubbish up from the ground - think squats and lunges.
Finally, there's that feel-good factor of doing something constructive for the community.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 23 Mar 26
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