Running While Black

A searing exposé on the whiteness of running,a supposedly egalitarian sportand a call to reimagine the industry “Runners know that running brings us to ourselves. But for Black peoplethe simple act of running has never been so simple. It is a declaration of the right to move through the world. If running is claiming public spacewhythendoes it feel like a negotiation?” Running saved Alison Désir’s life. At rock bottom and searching for meaning and structureDésir started marathon trainingfinding that it vastly improved both her physical and mental health. Yet as she became involved in the community and learned its historyshe realized that the sport was largely built with white people in mind. Running While Black draws on Désir’s experience as an endurance athleteactivistand mental health advocate to explore why the seemingly simplehuman act of long distance running for exercise and health has never been truly open to Black people. Weaving historical context—from the first recreational running boom to the horrific murder of Ahmaud Arbery—together with her own story of growth in the sportDésir unpacks how we got here and advocates for a world where everyone is free to safely experience the life-changing power of movement. As America reckons with its history of white supremacy across major institutionsDésir argues thatas a litmus test for an inclusive societythe fitness industry has the opportunity to lead the charge—fulfilling its promise of empowerment.