We Run Together: Black run groups are here and ready for the Peachtree Road Race

The world’s most well-known and well-regarded 10K race, the Peachtree Road Race, will take place throughout the heart of Atlanta next week. There will be thousands of runners (and joggers and walkers, respectfully) hitting the pavement, and among them will be several metro Atlanta-based Black running groups. Daily, weekly, and monthly gatherings of Black runners getting their miles in safe spaces amongst their brothers and sisters. The Atlanta Voice spoke with representatives, captains, and leaders of three running groups, Black Girls Run, Black Men Run, and the oldest of them all, South Fulton Running Partners, which was started by a small group of Black men in 1979.

Black men, women, and children run for various reasons: health, fun, camaraderie, and fellowship. No matter what they run, when they do run, they run TOGETHER.

Black Girls RUN! (Atlanta)

Sierra Grigsby, Atlanta Ambassador

The Atlanta Voice: When and why was Black Girls RUN! created?

Sierra Grigsby: In 2009 … mostly for physical well-being, the attention to Black women and to try to correct the health challenges that we have.

Editor’s note: Black Girls RUN! is a national organization that was founded by Ashley Hicks and Tony Carey. Grigsby joined Black Girls RUN! In 2012 as a representative for the Atlanta chapter.

AV: From your perspective, what impact do you believe the group has had on the running community?

SG: There are people in the group that are there strictly to run. There are also some folks that are looking for a family away from family. If you’re in Atlanta by yourself, you kind of form a sisterhood of folks. They’re like, “Love my husband. Love my wife. Love my children, but I need something for me as well.”

AV: I’ve definitely seen the community that running groups and running clubs, especially in this past year, has formed. Why is it important to have Black running groups in the first place and this community of Black women reaching their fitness goals?

SG: You are comfortable when you have people that look like you.  There is something about being accepted for no other reason than, this is a Black girl. She knows the Black girl struggles or the Black girl triumphs, and it’s something where we either can cheer together or we can support together.

Just to be clear, all women are invited, but the mission statement ties specifically to the health awareness for Black women. So, we’ll let the others in, but there’s something about having your community, if you will.

AV: It’s nice to have something catered toward you, especially with Black women and the health disparities that exist within that demographic.

SG: Absolutely.

AV: What are the plans for the future?

SG: We will have a fairly large presence for the Peachtree [Road Race]. It’s our annual party on the pavement. We have a conference that’s in Chicago this year in September, and that’s the opportunity for all the chapters worldwide to come together for that annual meetup. So, the conference is what we have the most to look forward to.

AV: What do you want the running world to know about Black Girls RUN!?

SG: If you are hesitant about running, give us a try. There’s no better investment than the investment in yourself. You have to trust us when we say that we’re going to do what our mission statement implies, and that’s to support the healthier you and make you either a strong runner or a fast walker and everything in between.

Black Men Run

Mark Monroe, captain of Atlanta & Jason Russell, co-founder of Black Men Run

The Atlanta Voice: Why did your running group start?

Jason Russell: BMR was started in 2013 by Edward Walton and me in Grant Park.

Mark Monroe: The founders wanted to create a safe space for people like us. Living here at ATL, you see a lot of people running, but you don’t see a lot of people of color running, so that was very important to us.

AV: What impact has the group had on the running community?

JR: The impact in my mind won’t be truly measured for generations to come. We have seen so many young men join the running culture because of the influence of Black Men Run.

MM: It’s tremendous from a health perspective. We have guys with obesity, health issues, and heart issues, and the guys who see us running come out first and look fearful again. However, they realize it’s a safe space. They realize it’s the way to take care of their body and their temples because an organization like Black Men Run doesn’t have those places to go, so it has a big impact on our community just because it helps health issues in our black community.

AV: How long has your running group existed, and what are the plans for the future?

MM: We just celebrated our 10-year tenure back in October. We partnered with Atlantic Track Club for 10 years and ran a 10-mile race. So, our future is that we will have chapters in South Africa and China, and most states will have BMR chapters. So, we’re spreading it out throughout. There are no limitations if we see one of the things we do, such as if there’s a city, for example, like-minded people like us. Guys want to create a chapter.

AV: Why is it important to have a Black running group in the first place?

MM: It’s important because you need to meet these guys and have a space where they can feel comfortable, talk, and let themselves go. Sometimes, it’s the only chance these guys get out of the house and get their minds right. There are a lot of run organizations, but not all can have an impact on your life. It’s also important to have help. One of our mentors is South Fulton Running Partners, and they’ve been around for 44 years.

AV: What do you want the running world to know about Black Men Run?

JR: It was created from a place of need well before the global pandemic and uprising of 2020, so we come from an honest and genuine place.

MM: We’re a powerful organization. We’re here to improve things for our community and keep our guys living past 40 and 50. We want to see a decrease in heart attacks, heart failures, and high blood pressure when guys get serious about their health, are a part of Black men who are going to be serious about your health because you’re going to see the results that you have come and contribute and take care of your body.

South Fulton Running Partners
Janelle Alexander, general coordinator

The Atlanta Voice: When did your running group start?

Janelle Alexander: In 1979

Editor’s Note: Jim Lemon is the only surviving member of the original founders. The first female member, Sharon Riley, joined in 1981.

AV: What impact has the group had on the running community?

JA: I believe that the fact that we are the oldest and the group’s stability has had a major impact. The fact that we have been around the longest means we are the model for everybody based in a running group. We are the model.

AV: What are the plans for the future?

JA: Right now, our plan is to look for younger members to join the group. Many of our members are older, so we are trying to do more outreach and community service. We want to be out in the community more.

AV: That’s good for the visibility of the group, correct?

JA: Yes, we want the younger runners to understand that running is not just about running fast but about maintaining a lifestyle. It’s about running for a reason.

AV: Why is it important to have a Black running group in the first place?

JA: It’s important because Black people do run. Even today, I think people believe [running] is a white-only sport. I’m not sure people think that long-distance running is something that we do. We run track, yes, but we run 5Ks and longer for health reasons, too.

AV: When did you start running, and when did you join South Fulton Running Partners?

JA: I joined in 2017. I started running in 2010. I found Black Girls Run and was like, ‘Oh, I can do that.’ I went for a run and these women were supportive. I kept coming to runs, and the women, they had me. I kept trying and trying, and I lost like 50 pounds. Running has just changed my entire life. I am not the person I was at all. I’ll tell anybody just to start moving. For me, it was running.

AV: How many marathons have you run?

JA: I’ve done 10 marathons and a gazillion half-marathons. Now I’m doing triathlons.

AV: Lastly, what do you want the running world to know about South Fulton Running Partners?

JA: Mainly, we have been around for 45 years, and we are the oldest Black running organization in the world. The reason we have maintained this organization is because we have maintained relationships. It’s about physical, mental, or spiritual fitness and caring for each other. We are there for each other. We are here, and we are not going anywhere.

The post We Run Together: Black run groups are here and ready for the Peachtree Road Race appeared first on The Atlanta Voice .