How to Get Started in Eco-Running

Whether you're a jogger or a marathon enthusiast, eco-running may be the next adventure on your workout agenda. Eco-running is quickly becoming a popular way to extend your green hand and help the world become a cleaner place. Sam Huber, an eco-runner from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is even share his latest adventures on his Eco-Runner blog. Ready to get started on your greener road to fitness? Here's how to get started with eco-running:

Join fellow Eco-Runners on the Eco-Runner blog. Read up on the trials and conquests of eco-running guru Sam Huber. You can subscribe to the blog to keep up with the latest news, and to find out when a marathon is coming to your area.

Practice picking up trash without breaking your stride. Being swift and agile is part of the sprinter's repertoire, but you'll need to practice if you're not used to the movement. The goal is to build up speed and pick up trash without losing your momentum. Practice with different objects on a track at home to get used to the movements.

Pick up some bio-bags. Since you'll be busy picking up all sorts of debris, you need a place to store it all. Bio bags are the handy, biodegradable carrier bags that are fully compostable and perfect for picking up litter and trash along your route.

Wear some gloves. You'll be picking up trash and debris along your routes, so be prepared to handle some 'questionable' items. A pair of light gloves will help you stay clean and worry less about germs and toxic materials.

Start at your local park. Most public parks have trash receptacles and a cleaning crew that covers the site on a regular basis. Still, not every inch of the park will be in perfect condition; this is your chance to step in and get going with your eco-running plans. Just head off to your local park with bio-bag in hand and start picking up that litter!

Pull together your own eco-running team. Round up fellow eco-runners in your neighborhood or community, and map out a route for the group. You can arrange a Meetup online, or just put out a request for volunteers on a community bulletin board. Whatever your strategy may be, going as a group can be an entirely different experience - and get any cleanup job done much faster.

Try challenging routes. From hiking trails to simple roadside routes, vary your circuit so you can make the most of the workout, and pick up enough trash to qualify it as a bona fide eco-run.

Instead of simply running down your usual route, you can join dozens of green enthusiasts in an effort to help the environment while you workout. Stick with your resolution to get fit and make the Earth a cleaner place with a simple tweak of your usual regiment!