So, GoodGym Brighton did its first plogging session on our Brighton seafront!

When Darren from the Green Runners called GoodGym Brighton for some plogging action, I immediately responded with great enthusiasm and, soon after, I had to search for the meaning of the term “plogging” 😊.

*Plogging is an eco-friendly fitness trend that combines jogging or brisk walking with picking up litter. Originating in Sweden around 2016, the term merges "jogging" with the Swedish phrase "plocka upp" (pick up). It is a global movement aimed at improving personal health while cleaning up public spaces and natural environments.

On a beautiful, rescheduled Tuesday morning on the 17th of February, I joined 25 fellow community members and friends from Active Sussex, teaming up with Leave No Trace Brighton and The Green Runners to protect our favourite running routes. This is all part of the London Marathon Events mission to make the Brighton Marathon weekend more sustainable. Let's keep our seafront clean! 🌊🏃‍♂️

We had a fantastic time at this community event! Our high spirits even caught the attention of BBC South East News, which featured our beach clean in their recent coverage.

Now, GoodGym Brighton is assembling a team for the Green Team relay, organized by The Green Runners. We’ll be taking on 10K legs alongside the main marathon runners on April 12, plogging the entire 26.2-mile route to ensure we leave Brighton better than we found it! 🏃‍♂️🧹

To get involved, sign up on the dedicated GoodGym community mission HERE.

Peacehaven delivered its usual charm for the Mince Pie 10: relentless wind, rain so fine it hung in the air like mist, and a field full of runners in Christmas costumes who somehow remained cheerful despite looking like festive sponges.

I wasn’t running this time. Instead, I was helping on The Green Runners’ swap-shop stall — a jumble of pre-loved running shoes and kit designed to give good gear a second or even third life. PairUps were also there, showing people how to repair their favourite trainers.

In between gusts of sideways rain, I had a fascinating chat with Darren, one of the founders of The Green Runners. He explained something that feels obvious once you hear it: most of us spend ages finding the right running shoe, wearing it in until it matches our foot and running style perfectly — so why get rid of it after 300 miles just because the industry tells us to?

According to Darren, that mileage limit is more marketing than science. The cushioning usually lasts much longer; it’s the seams, uppers or edges that go first. A tiny, cheap repair kit can keep a favourite shoe going far beyond its “expiry date”, saving money and reducing waste at the same time.

A few very grateful runners came over after the race, soaked and muddy, and left with better-suited shoes from the stall. It was a reminder that community, circular thinking, and simple actions can make a big difference.

Two GoodGym runners popped over to say hello before braving the trails, but apart from them, most visitors were enthusiastic Christmas-clad racers curious about how to run more sustainably.

If you’re wondering what else you can do as a runner, The Green Runners have four simple pillars: 1. How You Move – choosing active and lower-impact ways to get around. 2. How You Kit-Up – buying less, repairing more, swapping, borrowing, and thinking second-hand first. 3. How You Eat – making food choices that support both performance and the planet. 4. How You Speak Out – using your voice to encourage greener habits in your community.

Their story and resources are well worth a look: https://thegreenrunners.com/our-story/

A morning of atrocious weather, Mince Pie madness, and conversations about making running more sustainable — not a bad way to spend a Sunday. If nothing else, it proves that with a bit of thought, we can all extend the life of the things we use and reduce the pressure to constantly buy new.

The MincePie10 Miles run is really what is all talked about; a lovely trail run organised by the Seaford Striders in full Christmas spirit. Not surprisingly it grabbed the interest of a Good bunch of Brighton GoodGym-ers, despite the wet and muddy conditions of the trail course on the day. We had a great fun, really.

We also joint efforts with The Green Runners on a mission to keep running without the footprint 👣 🌍. A volunteer-led group of passionate runners accelerating the Race to Change! 💚 So, Richard and I helped at the PairsUP Swap Clothes's stand to facilitate the relocation of pre-loved running clothes and repaired trainers.

A Good day, I enjoyed the run and left with a few pre-loved garments as a Green Chrimbo Gift! Thank Liam for organising our Sunday roast lunch.

The time to act is NOW 🌍💚