One of the most attractive aspects of running is its simplicity: you only need one good pair of shoes to get started.听But听for black听women, a lack of high-profile听distance runners who look like them can create an unseen barrier to the sport. As the saying goes, you can鈥檛 be what you can鈥檛 see.听

After meeting at a diverse coed running collective in the Washington, D.C., area, six runners鈥擠ominique Burton, Stephani Franklin, Na鈥橳asha Jones, Ashlee Lawson, Jasmine Nesi,听and Natalie Robinson鈥攔ealized they could provide this vital support and visibility听for other black female runners. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see ourselves in the media,鈥� Nesi says. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see enough resources, tools, or really any community talking about distance running with challenges specific to black women. We knew there was potential to create that space, to show what was possible.鈥� That space, founded in 2017, is called听.听

RunGrl听is a website and community听for black female distance runners to share experiences, information, and support. The group provides running tips, a half marathon training plan, information on strength- and cross-training, and听lifestyle and beauty guidance, both online and at live events.

The creators of听RunGrl felt compelled to听start with one of the greatest needs in their听community: opening up the dialogue around black hair.听A 听found听that nearly 40 percent of the African American women surveyed avoided exercise due to hair-related issues, a problem听the six women had witnessed in their own social circles.听鈥淚 think we can all relate as black women,鈥� Nesi听says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e all been on the receiving end of trauma from being made fun of. We knew our very first initiative had to put a spotlight on [black hair] and address it head-on.鈥�

RunGrl鈥檚听website, which launched in April, helps readers navigate these听obstacles. Along with advice articles for a range of hairstyles, the site's 鈥渁mbassador鈥� profiles听feature听women sharing their before and after run beauty routines and favorite grooming products.听Since the start of RunGrl鈥檚 campaign in mid-July, the hashtag has appeared in more than 150 posts on Instagram.听 听

The dialogue sparked online continued at one of RunGrl鈥檚 in-person events in D.C. in August; around 35 women gathered at the black-owned hair salon for a casual听conversation over wine,听featuring听advice from one of the salon鈥檚 lead stylists.听鈥淲e had all different hair types represented: relaxed hair, natural and straightened, natural and curly听locks, braids, weaves, and other protective styles. It takes a lot to maintain your hair routine and an active lifestyle, in addition to work and all the other responsibilities we have on our plate,鈥� Nesi says.听

RunGrl听is听less than听two years old, but听its influence has grown both online and off. In July, Nesi sat on a panel鈥攎oderated by Lawson鈥攁t the Essence Festival in New Orleans about hair maintenance and staying active. It听also hosted two runs at the festival, and organizers were听pleasantly surprised by the turnout, given the city's hot summer weather.听鈥淭hat felt really good, for that to come together so quickly, with us being so new,鈥� Nesi says. In early October, RunGrl听 its first running tour, which will include group runs听in six East Coast cities through November.听

With their website and events, the founders hope to increase the number of black women distance runners听in the听running community听and include black women in broader听discussions about听wellness听and distance running. But their biggest goal is to get more black women moving for their overall health. 鈥淲e know black women are especially and certain types of cancer, and for maternal-health concerns,鈥� Nesi says.

This means reaching more black women with the initial message: you don鈥檛 need a whole closet of gear听to get moving.听鈥淲e knew there was potential to create that space, to help women who had run a 5K but were scared to run a 10K, or who had run a marathon but hadn鈥檛 thought about an ultramarathon,听because the people where they ran didn鈥檛 look like them. They didn鈥檛 know that was a thing that we do,鈥� Nesi听says.听鈥淲e want other women of color to know that they鈥檙e not the only ones doing this, that they鈥檙e not one of the few鈥攁 whole community of people is out there.鈥澨�

So far, the founders say that they听have been blown away by the response to RunGrl. 鈥淚t meant a lot, especially for the women who have come out to our past events, who believe in us, who take their time and money to spend time with us and talk about these important issues.听It鈥檚 opened up such a huge community that we knew was there, but we didn鈥檛 know how quickly would mobilize,鈥� Nesi says.

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