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Community Spotlight: Black Girls Do Run UK
We sat down with Tasha, founder of Black Girls Do Run UK, to learn more about the incredible grassroots community she’s built which is breaking down barriers for black women in running. Let’s dive into our conversation!
Can you tell us about the journey that led you to founding Black Girls Do Run UK?
Black Girls Do Run UK was founded in 2019 from an odd experience at a running event where Linda and I asked a marshal a question and she wasn’t sure we were part of the event despite wearing the event bibs. We also didn’t see many black women at the start line of running events I had been attending over my 20-year (now 25-year) period of running.
How does Black Girls Do Run UK support and encourage women of all abilities to take part in running, especially those who may not see themselves as ‘runners’?
We celebrate every woman’s run wherever they are on their journey regardless of speed or distance and we shut down comments such as ‘I’m not a real runner’, ‘I’m not a good runner’, ‘I am slow’.
Many Black Girls Do Run UK members have participated in our half marathon and 5K over the years. What has been your group's experience at our events?
Every time we take part in the Hackney Community 5K we say every single London borough should create such an event for the community. It’s a great well-run event and the bonus is we can bring our children; I ran it with my son (well he ran off and left me) this year and he loved it. Linda in our leadership team runs it with her son every year and it's their annual thing that they do together now.
What changes do you hope to see in the running world over the next few years regarding diversity and inclusivity?
The success of Black Girls Do Run UK has really shown me the importance of small communities that focus on niche groups. Whilst they may exclude others, the end result is that these communities add so much to the running community as a whole and make it a more diverse and inclusive space where others see themselves and can then think that running maybe is for them. It’s a big win for running.
What can fellow runners and race organisers do to support communities like Black Girls Do Run UK and their mission?
Build meaningful relationships, offer/ create/media space, encourage volunteering, offer discount codes.
What has been the most rewarding part of building this community, and what are you most proud of?
Witnessing women, ordinary women, do extraordinary things and stepping out of their comfort zones and take on events and distances they never thought they would ever do.
What advice would you give to someone who is new to running and looking for a community to support them on their journey?
Check out a few and see which one feels like home.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Black Girls Do Run UK, both in terms of its growth and its impact on the wider running community?
To continue to engage, encourage and inspire black women to run and perhaps expand into other cities in the UK.
If you’d like to learn more about Black Girls Do Run UK and the wonderful work they’re doing, please head to their website and get involved!
If you’ve got an interesting story, you’d like to share please get in touch with us - hello@hackneymoves.com - we’d love to hear from you.
