We Run Together: Black Running Groups Are Here and Ready for the Peachtree Road Race

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

Black men, women, and children run for a variety of reasons: health, fun, fellowship, and companionship. No matter what they run, when they run, they run TOGETHER.

Black girls run! (Atlanta)

Sierra Grigsby, Atlanta Ambassador

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

Sierra Grigsby: In 2009…especially for physical well-being, attention to black women and trying to correct the health problems that we have.

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

A V: From your perspective, what impact do you think the group has had on the running community?

SG: There are people in the group who are there just to run. There are also people who are looking for a family away from family. If you’re alone in Atlanta, you’re a community of sisters. They say: “I love my husband. I love my wife. I love my children, but I also need something for myself. »

A V: I’ve definitely seen the community formed by running groups and clubs, especially over the last year. Why is it important to have Black running groups in the first place and this community of Black women achieving their fitness goals?

SG: You are comfortable when you have people who are like you. There’s something about being accepted just because she’s a black girl. She knows that the black girl struggles or the black girl triumphs, and this is something where we can either cheer each other on or support each other together.

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

A V: It’s nice to have something available to you, especially with Black women and the health disparities that exist within that demographic.

SG: Absolutely.

A V: What are the plans for the future?

SG: There will be quite a few of us at the Peachtree (Road Race). It’s our annual sidewalk party. We have a conference coming up in Chicago this year in September, and it’s a chance for all the chapters around the world to come together for this annual get-together. So the conference is what we’re most looking forward to.

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

SG: If you are hesitant to run, give us a try. There is no better investment than the one you make in yourself. You have to trust us when we say that we will do what our mission statement implies, which is to help you be healthier and make you a strong runner or a fast walker and everything in between.

Black men run

Atlanta Captain Marc Monroe and Black Men Run Co-Founder Jason Russell

The Voice of Atlanta: 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 in 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.

A V: What impact has the group had on the running community?

JR: The impact this will have on me won’t be truly measured for several generations. We have seen many young men join the running culture through the influence of Black Men Run.

MM: It’s great from a health standpoint. We have guys who are obese, have health issues, and have heart issues, and the guys who see us running are the first ones to come out and look scared again. However, they realize that it’s a safe space. They realize that this is the way to take care of their bodies 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 address health issues in our Black community.

A V: How long has your running group been running and what are your plans for the future?

MM: We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary in October. We partnered with the Atlantic Track Club for 10 years and did a 10 mile run. So our future is that we’re going to have chapters in South Africa and China, and most states are going to have BMR chapters. So we’re spreading it all over the place. There’s no limit if we see one of the things that we’re doing, like if there’s a city, for example, with like-minded people. Guys want to start a chapter.

A V: Why is it important to have a group of black runners in the first place?

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

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

JR: It was created out of a need long before the global pandemic and uprising of 2020, so we are coming from an honest and authentic place.

MM: We are a powerful organization. We are here to improve things for our community and allow our men to live beyond 40 and 50 years old. We want to see a decrease in heart attacks, heart failure and high blood pressure when men take their health seriously, when you are one of the black men who will take their health seriously because you will see the results that you have obtained, that you contribute and that you take care of your body.

Racing Partners in South Fulton
Janelle Alexander, General Coordinator

The Voice of Atlanta: When did your running group start?

Janelle Alexandre: In 1979

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

A V: What impact has the group had on the running community?

IN YELLOW: I think the fact that we are the oldest and the stability of the group has had a major impact. The fact that we have been around the longest means that we are the role model for anyone who is based in a running group. We are the role model.

A V: What are the plans for the future?

Yes: Right now our goal is to look for younger members to join the group. A lot of our members are older, so we’re trying to do more outreach and community service. We want to be more present in the community.

A V: It’s good for the group’s visibility, isn’t it?

IN YELLOW: Yes, we want young runners to understand that running is not just about running fast, but also about maintaining a lifestyle. It’s about running for a reason.

A V: Why is it important to have a black running group in the first place?

IN YELLOW: It’s important because black people run. Even today, I think people think running is a white man’s sport. I’m not sure people think long distance running is something we do. We run track, yes, but we also run 5Ks and longer for health reasons.

A V: When did you start running and when did you join South Fulton Running Partners?

JA: I joined the organization in 2017. I started running in 2010. I found Black Girls Run and I was like, “Oh, I can do this.” I ran and these women supported me. I kept coming to run and they supported me. I kept trying and I lost about 50 pounds. Running changed my whole life. I’m not the person I used to be. I would tell everyone to start moving. For me, it was running.

A V: How many marathons have you run?

IN YELLOW: I’ve done 10 marathons and a billion half marathons. Now I do triathlons.

A V: Finally, what do you want the running world to know about South Fulton Running Partners?

JA: We’ve been around for 45 years and are the oldest organization of black runners 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 taking care of each other. We are here for each other. We are here and we are not going anywhere.

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