Man Walks Marathon to Clean Up Longmont
One Step at a Time, the Joy of Picking Up Trash Doesn’t Fade
Longmont resident Justin Robbins has walked every street in the city—not once, but twice.
Now, 20 percent into a third circuit covering town, he shows no signs of stopping.
“I think I’ve kind of resigned myself to just keep doing it,” Robbins laughed. “It’s fun for me. Walking Longmont isn’t an endurance challenge anymore, it’s just a way to change up my everyday walk.”
But in early April, Robbins took on something that was an endurance challenge: a 26.2-mile trash-pickup marathon in a single day. In some ways, a triathlon that involved walking, filming, and picking up trash.
“I had a few different purposes in mind,” Robbins explained. “It sounded like a fun challenge, but I also timed it to line up with the city’s ‘Cleanup Greenup Month.’ I thought if I could do something visible, something unusual, it might raise awareness for both litter and the joy of walking.”
Robbins filmed much of the journey himself, occasionally joined by his wife for support. The video can be seen on his YouTube channel, Justin Hikes.
“That was part of the challenge, too—filming. I’d walk ahead, set up a tripod, then walk back to get it. It kept my mind busy thinking about what would make the video interesting,” Robbins said.
This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea; it had been ruminating in his mind for some time.
“I’d been thinking about it for a year,” Robbins said. “I wanted to wait until the days were long enough but not too hot. April was perfect.”
Starting around 7 a.m., Robbins quickly realized the pace of stopping to pick up every piece of litter wouldn’t allow him to finish by sundown.
“After six miles, I had to pivot,” Robbins said. “I focused only on litter bottles so I could move a bit faster, and I still kept a count.”
His route stretched from Airport Road all the way past the Sugar Mill and around Union Reservoir and back.
“I wanted to represent all parts of Longmont—downtown, lesser-known areas, everything. It wasn’t just about hitting 26.2 miles. I wanted to see the city in full,” Robbins said.
While the trash-pickup marathon was a one-day feat, it mirrors his larger journey through Longmont. Robbins treats walking as both practice and philosophy.
“It’s not just physical,” Robbins said. “It’s mental, observational. Whether I’m cleaning up or mapping streets, it’s about being present in the place where I live.”
While picking up trash across the city, one stretch of the route stood out for more troubling reasons: the Sugar Mill area.
“Even though I’d seen it before, going by the Sugar Mill again was still surprising,” Robbins said. “The condition of the road and how much trash is there—it’s just bad. People clearly feel comfortable dumping furniture, mattresses... everything.”
The Sugar Mill, long a topic of local zoning and redevelopment discussions, remains a kind of no-man’s-land of urban decay.
“There are signs that say, ‘No Dumping,’ but it’s obvious people ignore them,” Robbins added. “I know the city council is looking at what to do with that space—maybe apartments, maybe something else. I just hope something actually happens.”
Despite pockets of neglect, Robbins remains optimistic.
“One of the points I try to get across is that Longmont, like any city, has a litter problem. But it’s still a beautiful place. That’s why I made sure my route went through some of the city’s prettiest areas too, like downtown,” Robbins said.
Robbins, who had picked up 88 bags of trash in 2024 alone, described the act as unexpectedly fulfilling.
“I used to get pissed off seeing the litter, but now, when I pick it up, that feeling is replaced with joy,” Robbins said. “I call it the ‘unexpected joy of picking up litter.’ I didn’t think I’d feel that way, but it never faded.”
He likens it to a personal treasure hunt.
“I don’t find anything valuable, really, but it’s a mindset thing. It helps keep me going, and I know other people could feel the same way if they tried it,” Robbins said.
When asked whether he ever feels a sense of completion, Robbins didn’t hesitate.
“No,” Robbins said. “In fact, I think that my contribution is even, you know, temporary over the places I walk.”
Despite the inevitability of litter returning, Robbins isn’t discouraged.
“It doesn’t bother me. I know I’m making a small difference, and I’m doing what I can to encourage other people to be aware of it, and also to give picking up litter a try,” Robbins said.
That encouragement may be quiet, but it’s purposeful.
“If I could influence even one person, that would be pretty cool. And for me, combining two things I love—walking, which has always been part of my life, and picking up litter, has turned into a joyful, sustaining activity,” Robbins said. “I think I’ll continue to do it, as long as that joy doesn’t fade.”
Outside of the marathon, Robbins is now on his third full round of walking every street in Longmont.
“There aren’t many new areas left for me to discover, but each neighborhood feels fresh again after a year. I still enjoy going back,” Robbins said.
Robbins also has a liking for physical challenges.
“For my 53rd birthday, I hiked 53 kilometers, that’s about 33.6 miles, in one day. It was a big day, but in some ways easier than the trash marathon. No bending down. Just walking,” Robbins said.
Robbins might try to top it next year: “If I’m healthy at 54, I’d love to do 54 kilometers. We’ll see.”
He’s tackled other feats too, like hiking every trail in Boulder’s open space system.
“That was back in 2022. They have spreadsheets and a map, so I turned it into a personal challenge. I like that sort of thing—‘dad hobbies,’ as my daughter calls them,” Robbins laughed.
The trash marathon day started winding down just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Total Time: 11 hours, 43 minutes.
“I finished right at sundown. I had blisters, some pain in my knees and hips, but I felt good. Tired, but satisfied,” Robbins said.
Robbins’ marathon cleanup day netted five full bags of trash: three general and two completely filled with liquor bottles.
“In total, I collected 421 liquor bottles. Most of them were the little miniatures,” Robbins said.
His findings weren’t just messy; they were sociologically revealing.
“By far, Fireball was the most common brand. I expected that based on my past walks, but I was surprised that the 99 Brand came in way lower than expected, even though I usually find those all over the city,” Robbins said.
Even more surprising was what the litter might suggest about behavior.
“I think some people don’t realize how much drinking and driving is still happening,” Robbins said. “Some of these bottles are clearly being tossed from cars. You see clusters of the same brand along the same street, and it’s likely the same person doing it.”
After completing the trash marathon around Longmont, Robbins continues to pick up litter during his daily walks. And if you’re inspired to follow in his footsteps, Robbins has some clear advice.
“I would encourage people, obviously, to pick up litter,” Robbins said. “But wear gloves. Use one of those grabbers. That’s how I did the trash marathon. I usually wear leather gloves, but I’m switching over to using the grabber now. It really helps protect your back.”
He stresses safety above all.
“Be careful,” Robbins said. “There are shards of glass, pieces of metal. If you have kids, make sure to supervise them closely. I wouldn’t want to see anyone injure themselves while they’re trying to make a difference. Just always be paying attention.”
Robbins admits he no longer tries to understand why people litter.
“It’s foreign to me. I’ve accepted that I have little control over the people who do it. But maybe I can help influence others to pick it up,” Robbins said.
That mindset to focus on action over frustration runs through his entire approach.
“Instead of thinking about how to fix it,” Robbins said. “I just fix it. I just do it.”
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