This edition of the newsletter focuses on inclusion and diversity in the running community.
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Statement from the SRR Board of Directors (Originally Posted 6/4/20)
Fellow SRR members,
A few days ago we kicked off a set of challenges and a call for increased SRR social media engagement in connection with Global Running Day. However, given the continuation and recent escalation of racism, discrimination, and violence against people of color and the ongoing protests, it is clear that our original effort distracts from more immediate and important issues and we must shift our focus to support ongoing anti-racism efforts.
Our club does not currently reflect the diversity of the larger Somerville community. As an organization, we can do a much better job of welcoming and embracing that diversity and amplifying the voices of people of color. We are committed to doing this work. This growth will be a process, but here is where we intend to start:
To focus attention on the voices that matter most now, we will not be further promoting our activities surrounding Global Running Day. Instead of making SRR's donation dependent on social media engagements, we will donate the maximum pledged amount to the 26x1 charity pool immediately. We are doing this to encourage our members to take time and space to reflect, learn, converse, and participate in activism, in the best ways they can during this difficult time.
We reject racism and discrimination in all forms, and state clearly for our community that Black Lives Matter.
As a Board, we commit to making our club welcoming to the Black community and communities of color, and we will actively seek diversity in our membership, volunteering, and leadership. We commit to doing the challenging legwork necessary to grow and learn as an organization, and to better serve our running community and our neighbors.
Running represents, among other things, an opportunity to strengthen body and mind, to connect with others, to spend time alone, to release stress, to explore, to meditate, and to reflect. With reflection in mind, current events are a glaring reminder of the longstanding inequalities and injustices endemic to our society, including the running community. It is a reminder that many of the prerequisites for running that many of us take for granted—physical health, time, personal safety, among others—are not shared and enjoyed by all. With that in mind we are choosing to use the remainder of the week and beyond to listen, learn, and consider how we can improve as an organization. The Somerville Road Runners is and always has been focused on community service, and we embrace this moment as an opportunity to be better at that. We have come together through running, and we will keep our community engaged around that shared love and joy while we strive to improve ourselves and our community. Please stay involved, stay motivated, and feel free to reach out to us for any reason.
Sincerely,
Irene Lanois, President
Sara Radkiewicz, Vice President
Brian Tinger, Treasurer
Doug Lipinski, Secretary
Dustin Counsell, Member at Large
Nils Vaule, Member at Large
Introducing the Inclusion and Diversity Committee
Thanks to Nils Vaule for forming a committee of club members who have been starting the conversation about how SRR can better serve a larger running community and our neighbors and do better work related to inclusion and equity. Please reach out to the committee if you have ideas or interest. The committee (Carrie-Anne DeDeo, Jonathan Hearn, Irene Lanois, Rich Lawson, Doug Lipinski, Urvi Mujumdar, Jess Peterson, Sara Radkiewicz, and Nils Vaule) will present their initial plan next week at the September board meeting.
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| The Inclusion and Diversity Committee Virtual Meeting, August 2020 Photo Credit Urvi Mujumdar |
Rest, Reflect, and Rebuild
This compilation is based upon contributions from Laurie Gagnon, Julie Holt, Andy Marinelli, Urvi Mujumdar, Liza Neustaetter, Jess Petersen, and Cherie Turner. The goal is to elevate athlete voices, suggest readings, recommend podcasts and share more with our community. We welcome additional ideas to feature on social media and upcoming newsletters (email: marketing@srr.org). The Inclusion and Diversity Committee pictured above is working on other ways we can bring participation to SRR through virtual discussions on these topics, or book clubs for our members.
Podcast Suggestions:
Scene on Radio Season 2: Seeing White
This 14-episode podcast series digs into the history of the origins of “whiteness” in America and offers illuminating stories about its impacts of the present-day racial climate in the country.
The Mind Of The Village: Understanding Our Implicit Biases
This episode of the Hidden Brain podcast explores the ways in which society shapes individuals’ implicit biases regarding race.
This NPR podcast, hosted by journalists of color, tackles issues of race head-on and explores its impact on all aspects of society.
This podcast series features interviews with Courtney Carter, Oiselle's Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Navajo runner Dinée Dorame.
The Keeping Track podcast by runners Alysia Montano, Molly Huddle, and Roisin McGettigan shares lesser known stories of women in running and track and field, including research on representation on running magazine covers and an interview with Gwen Berry, who was put on probation for protesting racial inequality at the 2019 Pan Am Games.
This episode of the Running on Om podcast features Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel, a Sioux runner who is an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
In his second appearance on the Rich Roll podcast, Knox Robinson, shares his thoughts and experience as the founding coach of the Black Roses running club in New York City.
Podcasts with Black Hosts:
The Run Wave: https://therunwave.com
A Runner's Life: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/a-runners-life-marcus-brown-Oc0vh4XBkbp/
The Start Line: https://linktr.ee/thestartlinepod
The Run Duo: https://linktr.ee/Therunduo
2 Black Runners: https://radiopublic.com/2-black-runners-6B0eMp
Running the Dream: https://www.facebook.com/Runningthedreamthepodcast/
300 Pounds and Running: https://300poundsandrunning.com/podcast/
Other Running Podcasts:
The Long Run, Run Your Mouth, More Than Running, I'll Have Another, Clean Sport, Citius Mag, The Shakeout, and The Morning Shakeout.
We would be remiss if we didn't mention SRR Cherie Turner's Strides Forward!
Video:
What it's like to be a student of color at one of the University of Wisconsin campuses.
Readings (articles, blogs, interviews, compilations):
A blog about Intent v. Impact “But I didn’t mean it!” Why it’s so hard to prioritize impacts over intents.
Who Gets To Be Afraid in America: In this article, Ibram X. Kendi offers his perspective as a Black man who could have been targeted in the same way as Ahmaud Arbery.
Personal experiences and perceptions captured in 11 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Runners Speak Out About Running and Race.
Raising Voices of BIPOC Women Runners: A compilation posted on the Himalaya app by SRR Cherie Turner.
Fast Women: newsletter by Alison Wade points towards resources on diversity and highlights lesser known women in the sport telling their stories.
Run the North: focus is running in Canada.
9 Podcast Episodes on Race and Running: Pop Sugar shares a curated list of podcast episodes from a variety of sources, all of which explore the intersection of race and running.
Diversify Your Feed: The website Runner Beans offers an extensive list of Black runners to follow on Instagram and running-related podcasts by BIPOC runners.
Speak Up, Speak Out: A Wish for US Running from a Black Marathoner: Reflections from Courtney Dredden Carter (Oiselle) on how to create change in distance running culture.
Blog interview with Diverse We Run: Carolyn Su, at the instagram account @DiverseWeRun discusses other ways to showcase runners such as runners with disabilities, ultra runners of color, those running to combat violence against Native American Women and more.
What Does an Inclusive Running Community Look Like?: Perspectives from high-school grads from Students Run Philly Style (a free, nonprofit mentoring program).
Allyship resources in How to be an Ally to the Black Running Community include running and run-adjacent groups to follow (the list is expanded below).
Other running groups:
Most are taken from the RW article linked above or recommended by our club members.
Books:
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Anti-racist reading list (NY Magazine)
Athletes and Instagram profiles to follow:
Diverse We Run @diversewerun
Alysia Montano @alysiamontano
Marielle Hall @mariellehall
Will Robinson @akunahikes
Aliphine Tuliamuk @aliphine
Courtney @eatprayrundc
Alison Desir @alisonmdesir
Latoya Snell @iamlshauntay
Adam Merry @amerryrunner
Mirna Valerio @themirnavator
Keshia @Keshia.ro
Michelle Carter @shotdiva
Gwen Berry @mzberrythrows
Coree Woltering @coreewoltering
Marcus @themarathonmarcus
Sanya Richards-Ross @sanyarichiross
Sydney McLaughlin @sydneymclaughlin16
Black Girls Run @officialblackgirlsrun
Tianna Bartoletta @tianna.bartoletta
Kamiliah Journet @kamilahjournet
The Bolt Journal @theboltjournal
Aisha Praught-Leer @aishapraughtleer
David Melly @chaserofsteeples
Paul Chelimo @paul_chelimo
Allyson Felix @af85
Mo Ahmed @moh-speed23
Amir Figueroa @amirmfiguroa
Boris Berian @borisgum800
Sarah Attar @sarahattar
Matt Llano @mattllano
Abdi Abdirahman @abdiruns
Sally Kipyego @sallykipyego
Hassan Mead @hassyhass35
Dawn Harper-Nelson @dharp100mh
Lopez Lomong @lopez_lomong
Claire Green @claireggreen
Nikki Hiltz @nikkihiltz
Member Spotlight
Barbara Summers
SRR in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
I became a member of the Steady Run Club almost 3 years ago after stumbling across the majority women group out running and walking in the streets of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. It was such an unusual sight to see a group of women exercising together, that I pulled over my car and yelled to them “Who are you? And how can I join?”
Port Harcourt is the largest city in the Niger Delta, mostly known for oil extraction, militancy, and large waterfront slums--and it’s where I spend most of my days running a community mapping program. With its crazy traffic and urban violence, it is often not safe for me or many other women to even walk around the streets on our own. Steady Run Club has set out to change this by creating a fitness group that takes over the streets every week for a little bit of running and a whole lot of booty shaking.
Now, as the technical head of our club, I plan out the rotating meeting locations and routes throughout the city for our Sunday run/walk with an aerobic warm-up and cool down. It’s a bit different than your average group run because we have a lot more logistics and security measures than most running clubs: we have bicyclists at the front and back to stop traffic, we keep everyone together in a two-by-two line in 3 different pace groups (runners, speed walkers, and leisurely walkers), and we have our own security and support vehicles along the route.
Several years on, we are still a bit of an unusual sight to see out in the city, but our free fitness group has grown to include hundreds of members. We are even in the process of organizing our second annual Port Harcourt Half Marathon–-although it’s currently on hold for obvious pandemic-related reasons.
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| Steady Run Club Photo Credit Fantashots Photography |
The Warm Up: Inclusion of Pace
Urvi Mujumdar
I'm glad we are having these conversations. We are in the middle of a very unsettling time in history, and we are all aware of racial injustices, socioeconomic inequalities, and other important topics coming to the forefront of conversations, social media, and our consciences. With this in mind, I have recently reflected on a different topic of inclusion--accepting runners of all paces and abilities.
I have been a member of SRR for more than 10 years. I met my husband Jesse through this club, and we’ve met some of our closest friends--whom we consider our SRR family--through this wonderful organization. That said, I have also experienced challenging conversations and scenarios in which I (and, I suspect, runners of similar ability and pace) have felt the weight of difference. I am extremely proud to be a part of an organization that respects that runners will have different goals, be it breaking a 3-hour marathon or completing a first 5K, but an important aspect of club culture is to truly respect that range. I write this with the intent to put into context what I have experienced as a runner who identifies with Group E/F on the track pace chart.
I’ve experienced being so far behind in a race that volunteers joked that I couldn’t possibly be part of the race (exact quote: “Oh, you look like you’re just out for a morning stroll”), or running through the latter miles of the Boston Marathon (including the SRR cheer zone) to a very thin crowd, or running in races where organizers mistakenly shut down their water/aid stations thinking no one else was coming through. Sometimes talk at weekly runs of “what was your time?”, “what was your goal?”, “oh, that’s okay… at least you were out there” feels difficult. These experiences, for me, are uncomfortable because they make me feel on the outside of where many of our runners fall within.
At the same time, it's important for me to highlight the examples of camaraderie and friendship that have helped me grow as a runner and to appreciate the simple gestures teammates have shown to me and others:
Offering to run and pace me to a goal time at a race. This may not be as easy as it sounds, as I’ve heard from those friends how challenging it was to be out there for longer especially to waning crowds.
Cheering the back of the pack at a race, or sticking around the SRR Cheer Zone at Boston for the last of Wave 4. It is inspiring and emotional, no matter what side of the course you are on.
Considering the “goal” or “time” conversations. I get it that this is a competitive sport and therefore goals and times are important, and we often seek out teammates of similar pace to help us achieve those goals, but sometimes there is a perceived judgment of time (whether or not that judgment is real). I have appreciated the simple re-framing of the question to “Were you happy with your race today?” or "Was there a particular challenge you experienced, and maybe I can help with that?"
Recognizing that jokes or comments about time and pace may land wrong. Yes, I realize that these are usually unintentional, but I appreciate it when my teammates have the patience to recognize why something lands wrong. It helps us all appreciate and understand the other side.
I will also strive to be a better listener, teammate, and supporter. I recognize that someone else’s extreme disappointment may not be helped if I say something like “Oh, I could never run that pace, even for a mile.” So I will attempt to re-frame that into “I am sorry you are disappointed, and I am here if you want to talk about it.” There is no easy response. We can all do better, so this is my attempt to start the conversation. Thank you for reading.
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| Urvi at the Providence Half 2016 Photo credit Jesse Morrow |
The Starting Line
For those running Virtual Boston, here is an update:
We'll be providing a support option for our runners on the nicer weather day of September 12th or 13th (It looks like Saturday!)
Support will be provided as a spot for runners to leave hydration/nutrition
This will not be the traditional cheer zone, for safety reasons
Specific location at Mystic Lakes has been shared on the google and Facebook groups
We ask that SRR members please not run their marathon on the normal Boston Marathon course out of respect for the wishes of the BAA and the towns along the course
We have held some end-of-the-weekend zoom calls for people to discuss training, their long runs, etc.
We are featuring member spotlights on social media
We're looking at options for a post-marathon celebration for our runners including a zoom call and (if feasible based on COVID developments) a socially distanced barbecue later in the year
Stay tuned for updates on the Virtual Gobble Gobble Gobble as well!
Weekly Miles
Joe has been posting Track workouts to the google and Facebook groups.
The streak has been kept alive with the weekly Thursday Night Run through virtual individual runs.
Reminder: We are adhering to public health guidelines and not organizing group runs of any kind right now.
Workouts are designed to be done solo while following public health guidelines such as social distancing and wearing a mask.
Try to seek out routes that are less congested or at off-peak times.
Cheer Zone: Recap from the 26x1 Virtual Relay
The 26x1 Race Committee was blown away by the number of participants in this year’s 26x-1 Relay,
and their generosity in donating to the race’s charity partners.
This year, despite being virtual, we had over 1100 participants who raised over $12K for the charities
Back on My Feet, Walk Boston, Somerville Homeless Coalition, and the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund.
The top 3 teams and times were:
HFC Striders Team #1, 2:19:34
The Heartbreakers Team #1 2:20:08
Somerville Road Runners Team #1, 2:22:42
SRR’s Bev Antunes was 2nd female overall. Congratulations to everyone who participated!
Cheer Zone Continued
In a summer of virtual races, Team SRR took to the tracks in the NYC Runs Subway Series Challenge.
Each runner completed the length of the NYC subway system (245 miles) between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Challenge II starts September 21st for those interested, check out NYC Runs!
SRR runners took part in many other virtual events this summer.
Congrats to those who wore their black and yellow throughout these events!
Neurofibromatosis Northeast Virtual 5K
Big Ten 10K
Summer Classic
Miles for Melanoma
Run Across Tennessee
Run to Remember... and more!
Shout-Out
We had a milestone to celebrate in August as Jesse Morrow celebrated 10 years of quitting smoking, and the healthy rite of passage to competitive running, cycling, and more. Over the past decade, Jesse has raced and won several age-group and Clydesdale division awards with SRR. He has qualified for Boston on multiple occasions. Congratulations on the milestone, Jesse!
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| Jesse at Boston Marathon 2018 at the SRR Cheer Zone Photo Credit Paul Nelson |
Messages from our SRR Community
Eva Kopf-Ridout
Hailing from Longmont, Colorado, where we moved to last year in May, I am an expat Somerville Road Runner who still follows along what's happening on the East Coast.
Lucky enough to live somewhere where I don't have to wear a mask while running because there is enough space to keep your distance, I have a few tips to share about how to deal with sluggishness during COVID-19--or just being a tired working mom of a toddler.
Just do it. We've all done it. Don't feel like running? Skip it? Just go out and do it. While you might feel sluggish during your run, I don't think I have ever regretted just having been out there.
Cut your run short if you don't have it in you to run further, but even if you get out there for a short distance, you'll feel good when you're done. No one can take that from you. There really are no excuses.
Less but more often. Runs don't always have to be super long. I've done a few 4 milers recently when I just had an hour between meetings at work.
It was just enough to do something and still fit it in with a shower afterwards. Because we're all Zoomed out these days, aren't we?
Shorter days of running but higher frequency gives you the benefit of working exercise into your daily routine.
In the end, a day with exercise in it just feels different.
Ditch those goals. I was signed up for a half marathon in July that was cancelled. I used to run at least 30 miles a week before I had a child.
Now, I'm just happy when I get out there. It's me time and a break from life. I'm on my feet all the time with my toddler so not logging all those miles is okay. It's temporary.
If you have goals, that's great but I'm okay putting mine on hold for a while. Life goes on.
Appreciate your health. Be happy that you're running.
Our health is all we have, and that fact has more meaning than ever during a pandemic.
Take a deep breath, focus on the now, and keep on going. Spice up your route occasionally by taking a different turn.
You never know what's around the next corner. The time is now. Don't fret, and make the best of this.
With love from Colorado!
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| Long Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Photo Credit Eva Kopf-Ridout |
Corey Maillette
Also saying hello from Colorado, Corey Maillette and Jenny Porter moved from the Boston area a few years back.
Here they are in front of their new home outside of Denver.
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| Photo Credit Corey Maillette |
The Road Ahead
Dana Christensen
First of all, I miss you guys! When I first moved to Bend, Oregon in March 2017, I tried to find my running people like I had in MA, but I sort of struck out, even though this town is filled with ridiculous athletes running, biking, and skiing everywhere!
So, I started my own running group with another runner I met at a gym who was wearing a trail race shirt. Bend Trail Runners now has over 600 followers on Facebook!
We have paused the larger group runs for now, but not before I met some wonderful running partners who helped me train for my first 50-miler last summer near Mt. Rainier.
I keep it simple now with Covid raging, running and biking regularly with just two women.
We also all own "gravel bikes" and explore and get lost in the many many miles of off-road routes around Central Oregon.
They're JUST a little bit crazier than me, so they push me in great ways, and I'm so grateful to have found them.
They are my "Oregon Fembots," and ALSO make me get up wicked early to run!
In non-running news, I got married in May over Memorial Day weekend. It was a fun, small, socially distanced wedding that we held at a local park we poached last-minute. Next year we plan to have a larger celebration (hopefully!).
I met Keith, a hilarious ski bum chef dad at a funk concert in Bend in early 2018. He has two wonderful boys (ages 10 and 12) who are incredible athletes and love to run, alpine ski ,and mountain bike.
I'm extremely lucky with my "full" life (I try not to say "crazy" LOL) exploring the Northwest as a family in fun and active ways.
Last thing: Please visit (once we're in the clear...)! It was SO GREAT to see Erin and Tim Morin a few months back when they passed through!
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| Congratulations Dana and Keith! Photo courtesy Dana Christensen |
SRR Virtual
Thank you for continuing to keep our community strong through posting your virtual runs on social media:
SRR Virtual Album May/June 2020
SRR Virtual Album July/August 2020
Continue to tag us with #srrvirtualrun, #srrvirtualboston, #srrflattensthehills, #srrvirtualtrack, #srrvirtualthursdayrun, or #notcaseyspizza
In Memoriam
A friend of SRR, Carol Chaoui of Wellesley, passed away on August 3, 2020, after an 11-year battle with metastatic cancer.
Many SRRs lined up with her for her “Wonder Women and Her Super Heroes” team at the Cambridge Classic races, and we cheered for her in her unique costumes during the Boston Marathon and other local events.
She was an inspiration, advocating for patients with metastatic cancer, and showing resilience time and again by racing through her many treatments and procedures.
Running Maxims
Our best days are ahead of us. Stay positively optimistic and work your butt off.
– Aliphine Tuliamuk, 2020 US Olympic Team Marathon Trials Champion
Excerpt from Black American Running Quotes
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