SOUTH PORTLAND — Friends of Casco Bay and Team Long Run are partnering to host the inaugural Portland Plogathon on July 26.

Plogging merges running or walking and picking up litter. The activity, from the Swedish “plocka upp,” provides a workout of aerobics and stretching – or cross training with a purpose, according to a press release.

The event runs from 6-7 p.m. at Bug Light Park. Advance registration is requested at https://www.teamlongrun.org/plogathon/. The suggested donation is $10, but runners age 15 and younger are free.

Participants will meet at Bug Light Park at 6 p.m., when event organizers will hand out collection bags and send runners off in tandem teams to collect debris along the shoreline. Runners are encouraged to download the “Clean Swell” app on their smartphones to make it easier to track what they collect.

The focus is on collection rather than speed; at 7 p.m., ploggers will return to Bug Light Park to see who wins. Prizes will be awarded to the champion ploggers, as well as randomly selected participants. All participants will be rewarded with popsicles and metal straws. 

Proceeds will benefit Team Long Run’s summer running programs for kids and Friends of Casco Bay’s work to keep Casco Bay clean. For more details, see www.teamlongrun.org.


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