Breaking Down Barriers: The Unique Challenges and Triumphs of Black and Brown Runners in the Community
In recent years, the running community has been gaining attention for its potential health benefits. However, not all running is created equal. Dr. Carl “Chip” Lavie, a cardiologist and medical director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Preventive Cardiology at John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans, sheds light on the research surrounding this topic. He explains that the optimal amount of running required to achieve health benefits may be less than what most people assume.
In the second part of the show, the focus shifts to the experiences of black and brown runners in the running community. While running has often been associated with predominantly white participants, there has been a noticeable shift in recent years. Running groups specifically created to provide safe and inclusive spaces for communities of color have been formed across the country, including in the Triangle area. Local runners share their stories of the challenges they have faced as well as the kindness and support they have received within their respective running groups.
Arthur Livingston, a member of Black Men Run RDC (Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill), Eleanor Sykes, an ambassador for Black Girls Run, and Jasmine Santiago-Tracey, host of the Brown Girl Running Podcast and member of Latinos Run Raleigh, discuss their experiences and the importance of finding community and support while pursuing their passion for running. They emphasize that it is essential to recognize that everyone’s experience with running is unique and that it is important to create spaces that are welcoming to all runners regardless of race or ethnicity.
