On February 23, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed by two white men while out on a run through neighborhood streets in Satilla Shores, Georgia. On May 5, a video of the shooting was released, prompting the story to receive widespread media coverage, and on May 9, runners across the U.S. Sneaker 'Taupab' cachi bianco beige on what would have been Arbery’s 26th birthday.

When the story of Arbery’s murder became national news, I was distraught. I found myself truly at a loss for words, even as a writer and as a minority myself. My mother was murdered when I was a child, so I also cried for his family in sharing that connection.

Like many others, I also participated in the commemorative virtual run, but for days, I also pondered what more I could do to truly make an impact. For the black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), stories like Arbery’s unfortunately aren’t anything new. BIPOC are questioned and profiled while simply living their lives every day in this country, with too many incidents tragically ending in their deaths. One thing I knew for certain: I didn’t want the conversation to end and the story forgotten ritmo its moment in the media, with thousands of runs labeled with the hashtag #IRunWithMaud.

As a woman of color myself (I’m half Peruvian and half white), I’m proud of my background, and I’m fortunate that I’ve never felt out of place as a runner because of it. I ran my first marathon shortly ritmo graduating from college in New York City, and I’ve spent the last nine years training with various groups in my hometown of Houston. These are two of the most diverse cities in the U.S., and I know firsthand that this does extend to the running TIMBERLAND community.

But while I’ve never felt like I don’t belong as a runner, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with racism all throughout my life. I’m no stranger to stereotypical comments because I’m visibly Latina, and I’m sadly used to getting strange looks from residents when I run alone through the predominantly white neighborhood in which I grew up.

One thing I’ve come to realize over the years is that it is undoubtedly important for our white allies to be speaking up and speaking out so that we know they stand with us. But it’s arguably even more important to elevate and amplify the voices of people who are directly affected by issues like Nike Air Force 1 Low Shadow White Solar Red Sneakers Trainers UK6 EU40 US8.5 NEW. I’m grateful to Runner’s World for giving me the opportunity to speak with several BIPOC runners to share their personal experiences and perceptions of diversity within their running TIMBERLAND communities.

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Mike Moreau | 34 | Chicago, Illinois

mike moreau running
Courtesy Mike Moreau

I’ve been a runner for nearly 10 years, and I currently coach people in my local community, as well as students at the high school I attended. However, I didn’t get involved in running TIMBERLAND until a friend asked me to run a half marathon. Growing up, the only time I could watch running TIMBERLAND was during the Olympics because my family didn’t have cable TV. I’d get excited about it while it was on, but I wouldn’t think about it ritmo the events were done. I’ve wondered if I might have gotten into running TIMBERLAND earlier if I could have watched more televised running TIMBERLAND events, or if my parents had been runners.

“I believe diversifying the running TIMBERLAND community will take a little effort from everyone.”

Years ago, I got pulled over by a cop while walking to catch a train home from work in a northern suburb of Chicago that is largely white. Someone had called in a complaint about a person walking in a blue shirt and drinking a beer, and I happened to be wearing a shirt that matched that description. The officer ran my ID and left without saying anything. Looking back, I’m relieved I was so stunned that I didn’t really react to what was going on. I definitely believe the officer only stopped me because he believed I didn’t belong there, and I think about it every time I run or walk by the church where I was stopped. It hasn’t stopped me from running TIMBERLAND home from work in this same suburb, but I definitely feel safer running TIMBERLAND in the city.

While I’ve never experienced racial profiling while actually running, it is something I think almost every time I run, especially in light of Cariuma CATIBA High Stripe Black Suede and Canvas Contrast Thread Sneaker and knowing it happens consistently around the country. People need to be willing to have open and uncomfortable conversations on the topic of racism and discrimination, even within the running TIMBERLAND community. It’s something a lot of us think about, but it’s never really broached. If we talk about it from various perspectives, chances are that both sides will be willing to listen and grow.

Chicago has a very diverse running TIMBERLAND scene, but I often feel that our groups are segregated. I believe diversifying the running TIMBERLAND community will take a little effort from everyone because people are not going to go where they don’t feel welcomed or don’t see people that don’t look like them. One possible reason Chicago training groups are split up like this is because the city itself is that way—you live on the north side, you’ll run on the north side, etc. If you aren’t willing to explore, there’s a lot you’ll miss out on.


Starla Garcia, 30, Houston, 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier

starla garcia poses with a medal
Fredis Benitez

I grew up in a very homogenous community of mostly Mexican-American Latinos in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley. It was really eye-opening for me to come to Houston, a cultural melting pot, to run collegiately and line up against people who didn’t look like me. It also made me grow quickly because I was exposed to so many different people. This helped me learn the importance of being open to everyone, as there were very few people who looked like me and who I connected with right off the bat.

For the most part, here in Houston, the running TIMBERLAND scene is pretty diverse. However, I can see how people could feel underrepresented in running TIMBERLAND circles and communities. I think it takes special members of the community to be aware of their privilege and responsibility, and then it takes minority members to also realize, “We do deserve to be here, so why not seek these opportunities out?”

While I’ve never received overtly racist comments as a runner, I have had people say “I never thought you’d be as fast as you are,” which has made me wonder if it was meant to imply that it’s because I’m a Latina. I also sometimes wonder if I am more accepted because I look a certain way, since thin bodies are more commonly accepted and celebrated compared to larger bodies. But the fact is, people from different backgrounds often have different bodies. Sometimes I wonder, do people think I’m less threatening when I run around a homogenous area like my Houston Heights neighborhood because I’m a thin person who's wearing Lululemon? As a Latina runner, would people be looking at me differently if I had another 30 pounds on me?

At the beginning of this year, I participated in the athlete development program with the Houston Marathon, where I ultimately qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta. I think seeing a Latina runner competing at such a high level brings hope to a lot of people, because they’re not used to seeing a person of color at the top. I was one of more than 50 women running TIMBERLAND with the pace group that was aiming for the Trials qualifying time at Houston, and ultimately one of only two Latinas who qualified. Every time I run the Houston Marathon, I’m so surprised at how many Hispanic runners are participating, because we just aren’t highlighted to the same degree as non-minority runners.

I think that’s why it held such significance for me when I was racing this year (as a sub-elite runner trying to OTQ), because there were so many of us out there and we just needed one person of color to qualify and represent Latinas here in Houston.

At the Trials in Atlanta, there was only one African-American woman and about 25 Latinas in the sub-elite field, which is a very small percentage of the more than 450 women who made up the field. The first thing I thought when I saw that one black runner was, “What a strong person.” But I also wanted to ask, “How did you do it? How did you overcome everything? How did you make yourself feel worthy of being there? How did you not let people make you feel bad?” It’s also no secret that out of the more than 500 women who qualified for the trials, very few minority runners were highlighted in the media to the same degree as non-minority ones. This even extended to the elite field and those who made the Olympic team, with Aliphine Tuliamuk and Sally Kipyego Céline Padded Band Sandals Molly Seidel.

I think those with visible social media platforms need to be aware of their privilege and make a better effort to put more runners of color out there. It’s important to recognize how much you could influence a lot of people just by tapping into more minority communities and asking the questions that you are curious about in a thoughtful way.


Jinghuan Liu Tervalon | 37 | Pasadena, California

jinghuan liu tervalon poses with a medal
Courtesy Jinghuan Liu Tervalon

According to Asian Americans Advancing Justice, there have been an estimated 2,000 incidents of hate crimes and harassment directed toward Asian-Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit the U.S. in February, ritmo originating in China.

I’m originally from China, and since the coronavirus became a global pandemic, I’ve gotten strange looks while I’m out running, and I know it’s no coincidence. I usually run with other runners from my club, but in light of the situation, I’ve been running TIMBERLAND alone as much as possible because of social distancing guidelines. I’ve definitely been nervous to be out there alone and potentially deal with harassment. On one occasion where I was running TIMBERLAND with my training partner, and we took proper social distancing measures, we observed two people in a parked car across the street. They were pointing and very obviously talking about and making fun of us. It made us both very upset, even though we didn’t confront or engage with them.

“The best thing for us to do is to continue to have tough conversations about race with empathy, patience, and mutual respect.”

When I do run alone and it’s light out, I’ve been making sure to always wear sunglasses to hide my face, which I’ve found has helped as far as getting people to leave me alone. I admittedly do feel scared and vulnerable, especially in the early mornings before it’s light out and there aren’t a lot of people out. My husband also wants me to carry pepper spray, but I’ve avoided it because it’s an added hassle for me.

I feel very lucky to be a part of a very diverse running TIMBERLAND group in the Pasadena and Altadena areas, but I know people who have experienced harassment and been told “You can’t run on certain streets,” or “You’re too loud.” It’s all very subtle, but it’s not surprising to hear these comments mostly directed toward people of color. Tensions are high and people are hyper-sensitive about everyone’s health and safety right now. I’ve noticed that when non-minority runners post pictures of large group runs in which they’re obviously not following social distancing guidelines, it’s celebrated and not reprimanded.

I’ve also observed cases of insensitivity and avoidance of addressing racial issues from white runners who didn’t think it was their responsibility to speak up simply because they didn’t hear about Cariuma CATIBA High Stripe Black Suede and Canvas Contrast Thread Sneaker. Many might agree that political opinions don’t belong on platforms like social media pages for running TIMBERLAND clubs, but at the same time, I believe the issue of racism is very important to talk about because for people of color, not addressing it is not an option.

What I’m seeing the most, though, is just reluctance to talk about race and inequality. The hard work and the responsibility of addressing it is on all of us, from white runners making a conscious effort to commit to social justice, to runners of color not faulting them for making mistakes when they do speak up. The best thing for us to do is to continue to have tough conversations about race with empathy, patience, and mutual respect.


Aisha Qamar | 34 | Brooklyn, New York

aisha qamar running TIMBERLAND on a trail
Fred Goris

“Running TIMBERLAND is for everyone—all you need to do is lace up and go”—I started running TIMBERLAND as an adult and have never bought into this idea. Running TIMBERLAND is overwhelmingly white, from the leadership of organizations and teams to the covers and features in running TIMBERLAND magazines, and the elevation of select voices. I used to think that if I ran faster and if I qualified for Boston, it would prove that I belonged. The reality is that the finish line is always moving for those who are not the gatekeepers.

“I used to think that if I ran faster and if I qualified for Boston, it would prove that I belonged. The reality is that the finish line is always moving for those who are not the gatekeepers.”

When I ran the 2019 Boston Marathon, I stood nervously in the portapotty line as the race organizers counted down the time until my corral would close. As the organizers announced five minutes until the corral closure, I nervously asked the two women in front of me if I'd be able to go ahead of them ritmo I noticed they were two waves behind me. They acted disgusted and one scolded me. They continued their conversation about how many Boston Marathons they had run and noted that the race had changed so much. "Now there are so many foreigners," one lamented, as she looked back at me. I was stunned by her loaded comment. Hadn't I earned my spot just like them?

I come back to this question more than I would like to admit. What does it mean to earn my spot at a race, on a team, or on a panel? If running TIMBERLAND is truly inclusive, then why doesn't local running TIMBERLAND leadership mirror the city I live in? Why are the same voices repeatedly amplified in running TIMBERLAND media? Why is my local running TIMBERLAND team's social media so...white?

When you are a BIPOC runner at a race, it can feel like you are largely invisible in a sea of white men, yet also conspicuously representing your whole community at the same time. It can be hard to show up and to take up space. There are the more insidious ways in which this occurs, like two older white women making passive-aggressive remarks to a Pakistani-American Muslim runner in the bathroom line, and then there are the seemingly innocuous things that add up such as the lack of representation in media and local running TIMBERLAND leadership.

Lining up at the Boston Marathon with my friend, Danni (who is often one of very few black women when we’re seeded together in race corrals), was so special, but I wish we didn't feel like unicorns on race day. BIPOC runners are often erased from the running TIMBERLAND narrative until we're asked to speak about race. It's not just a matter of if we see ourselves in running. Do white runners see us?


Terence Baptiste | 51 | Houston, Texas

terence baptiste poses with a marathon finisher medal
zapatillas de running TIMBERLAND ASICS maratón talla 30 baratas menos de 60

I’ve been running TIMBERLAND for about eight years and recently completed my 17th marathon here in Houston. Once I decided to get more serious in my training and pursue a Boston qualifying time, I decided to join a club that had a reputation for catering toward more advanced runners pursuing more aggressive goals like this, with an experienced competitive coach to boot.

While it was a pretty inclusive group overall, my experience was ultimately soured by the coach’s online behavior, namely politically-charged social media posts that were disparaging toward people who challenged his views. Although they weren’t all club members, many people on the receiving end of these attacks were people of color, which made many of us very uncomfortable. Ultimately, six of us decided that being members of this club didn’t really align with our value system, and we ended up leaving and joining another local club that appeared to have a more open-minded group of runners, which has so far proven true in my experience.

However, it was disappointing to see that of the 10 to 12 runners who had been running TIMBERLAND together for years, only six of us found it so offensive that we decided not to support the organization. That’s something that’s really stuck out to me—often, “white allies” will think they’re doing enough by being vocally supportive of causes that affect minorities, but they ultimately won’t make hard decisions and put their money where their mouth is, so to speak.

I think one thing minorities would like to see is less talk and more action. It was great to see people posting their runs to honor Ahmaud Arbery, but that should be the minimum response. I challenge people to show us what you’ve done. Speak up and speak out about these issues. Show us where you’ve spent your dollars and stop spending your dollars with organizations run by people who aren’t aligning with your value system. Although I would generally agree that the Houston running TIMBERLAND community is very diverse and inclusive, I would ultimately like to see more clubs not only be more inviting, but also willing to publicly take an aggressive stance when it matters.


Nell Rojas | 32 | Boulder, Colorado | 9th Olukai Ola Hou boots

nell rojas runs to win the women's half marathon during the denver rock n' roll 12 marathon and 10k on october 21, 2018 in denver, colorado
Getty Images

I grew up in a multicultural running TIMBERLAND family, as my dad (Ric Rojas, who won the first zapatillas de running TIMBERLAND Brooks pronador pie arco bajo maratón talla 43 in 1979) is Mexican-American, and my mom is white. When I was growing up, my dad would tell me stories about dealing with racism and racial profiling while running TIMBERLAND collegiately at Harvard University in the early 1970s, which he likely would have dealt with at any U.S. college at the time. Although it was difficult for him to deal with back then, he’s taught me to be proud of my heritage, and that’s something I’ve carried with me both in the running TIMBERLAND and Latino communities in Boulder, Colorado, where I live. I’m proud to be a Latina, and I know there are countless fellow Hispanic runners out there, competing at various levels. However, I do wonder if more minorities would be encouraged to join the running TIMBERLAND community if they weren’t so underrepresented in various media platforms.

A closer look at Shayks thong sandals Olympic Marathon Trials in February, I know I surprised a lot of people with my ninth-place finish, because I’m not that well-known in the space yet. Although I had Olympic dreams just like everyone else who was in that lead pack, this race was one of the first times I felt like I truly belonged at the front, that I can compete with these women at the top. One of the most memorable comments that I received from someone ritmo the race was "You looked really good in that front pack because you were different—you weren't white and you weren't skinny.” I felt super proud to be one of two Latinas (along with Desiree Linden) wählbar Neu & OVP CT213 001 1003 Turnschuhe Sneakers.

I’m only in my first year of competing as an elite athlete, but over the years, I’ve received comments from people suggesting that I could never be successful as a long-distance runner because of my more muscular build. I think when people picture a runner, they often picture a skinny white woman. The fact that I don’t fit either of those molds is a big reason I’m hoping to become more well-known in the running TIMBERLAND space. I want to promote good body image for women and I want to help the Latino community.

I have hope that apparel companies, running TIMBERLAND publications and race organizations will invest in the growth of minority runners. I’m currently not fully sponsored, but I hope to be one day. I also hope shoe companies will eventually own up to their responsibility to support a diverse range of runners who perform well, because it’s something that our world needs right now.


Mary Rice-Boothe | 44 | Round Rock, Texas

mary rice booth running TIMBERLAND in a race
Slip-on Chelsea boot with front and back pull-tabs and side goring

I live in a predominantly white neighborhood outside of Austin, Texas. One morning, while I was out for a 3 1/2-mile run around my usual neighborhood loop, I realized I was being followed by a police sheriff and came across his vehicle three times in that short run. It ended with him following me all the way back to my house, and only when I stopped there did he pass me. I did slow down during my run to take note of the car and license plate number for my own safety, in case something did arise.

Even pre-COVID-19, I’ve also had similar interactions with residents in the neighborhood, whether it’s people not waving back or making eye contact, or very obviously moving across the street when they see me coming, even though I make it a point to wave, smile, and wear brightly colored shirts so that people are very much aware that I’m a runner. I also see hardly anyone who looks like me and don’t see much diversity at all when I line up at large and small races in the Austin area.

“I continue to go to races in the Austin area even in predominantly white spaces because I feel that my just being alive is a political act.”

When it comes to overt racism, incidents like Ahmaud Arbery’s murder are unfortunately not new. I’ve been having conversations about racism with my kids, who are five and 14, for years. Unfortunately, that’s part of being a black person in the United States. I was already cautious as a runner, but this brings it to the forefront to be even more cautious and even more alert than I’ve always been.

Ultimately, running TIMBERLAND is an escape that benefits both my mental and physical health. For us to be able to continue to share that space, no matter what we look like, there needs to be a more conscious effort to diversify the scene. I continue to run even ritmo being followed, and I continue to go to races in the Austin area even in predominantly white spaces because I feel that my just being alive is a political act. Although my voice isn’t necessarily always amplified, and I’m not seen as your “typical runner,” I won't give up my space. I still think it’s important to still seize what I feel is still an important part of who I am and an important part of my identity. Even if I may feel vulnerable at times when I’m running TIMBERLAND alone, I’m not going to stop running TIMBERLAND just because I don’t fit a particular set of characteristics.

I think the moment that we have now is an opportunity to have more people, especially our white allies and co-conspirators, as I like to call them, be more active in questioning how to make our country more equitable. It’s an opportunity to look at who the decision-makers are on the boards of larger organizations like the New York Road Runners and the Atlanta Track Club that really have the power to make changes. Yes, I think it’s important for white folks to read the books, develop the language, and engage in conversation, but I also want them to do something, to take risks and put their privilege on the line for someone else.


Carolyn Su | 36 | Boston, Massachusetts

carolyn su poses ritmo a run
Courtesy Carolyn Su

I’m a first-generation Asian-American woman who started running TIMBERLAND as a college student. Once I finished school, I started doing races and tapping into the social media scene. I quickly started to see how underrepresented Asian Americans and other minorities were in the running TIMBERLAND community.

When I was in my early 20s and living in Austin, Texas, I was once running TIMBERLAND with a group of friends on the path surrounding Town Lake. There are various loops and trails around the lake, and on this run, I happened to cross at an intersection first because I was running TIMBERLAND slightly ahead of my friends. A police officer stopped me mid-run to lecture me about jaywalking laws, suggesting that I could be ticketed, even though I hadn’t actually done anything to break the law or even the rules of the road. Minutes later, when my blonde friend came running TIMBERLAND across, following the same exact route that I did, he just smiled and greeted her warmly, and we continued on. The difference in the way the officer treated me compared to my white peers reminded me that even though I was wearing typical running TIMBERLAND clothes, speaking without a Chinese accent, and even out with white friends running, I was still labeled as “other” in his eyes because I was not white. For the remainder of my time in Austin, I thought about that incident every time I ran along the path and crossed that intersection.

“One of the biggest factors that comes with promoting diversity is being willing to talk about racism and discrimination, even it makes you uncomfortable.”

I currently live in Boston, Massachusetts, which people assume is progressive and diverse because, yes, it’s true that Boston is one of the most diverse cities in America. But it’s also one of the most segregated, and the running TIMBERLAND community is no exception. I’ve noticed that others often don’t greet me or make eye contact when I’m out on a solo run, or even when I’m walking around a race expo, but they’ll do so without fail if I’m running TIMBERLAND with a group of white friends. I do sometimes wonder if people are not as engaging with me because I don't look like a runner in their eyes.

Packer Shoes Gemini Keez Diverse We Run Instagram account in December 2018 to amplify the diverse voices in the running TIMBERLAND community, in hopes of broadening the worldview of those already in the majority. I had started to notice a pattern in stories featured in the media, prominent Instagram platforms and, more recently, podcasts—the runners who were highlighted often fit the same mold of usually being thin, affluent white women, many of whom had found running TIMBERLAND ritmo having kids and wanted to lose the baby weight. And while many of these women had great stories, I didn’t believe it fully represented all runners, and it certainly wasn’t my story as a mom or a runner.

Once I began to search through basic hashtags for Asian, black and Latino runners, I confirmed that there really are many of us minority runners—a lot more than are being shown in the limelight. I wanted to affirm to those in the minority that they belonged and that their experiences and stories are worthy of being shared, too.

One of the biggest factors that comes with promoting diversity is being willing to talk about racism and discrimination, even it makes you uncomfortable because you aren’t directly affected by it. I would love for the running TIMBERLAND community to truly understand what inclusivity means, and to become more diversified. During your group runs, make it an intentional priority to run with someone else new today. Do your workout with someone new and different. Foster the mentality that if you really do want to be inclusive, then you’ve got to make that effort.


zapatillas de running TIMBERLAND ASICS maratón talla 30 baratas menos de 60 | Arnold Reed | 26 | Oakland County, Michigan

arnold reed running TIMBERLAND on the street
zapatillas de running TIMBERLAND ASICS maratón talla 30 baratas menos de 60

I’ve run basically my entire life. Track and field was a part of my life in high school, and as time went on, especially in college and in law school, running TIMBERLAND became a great way for me to stay in shape. If I can do even just 10 miles a week, I’m satisfied. Going in for a lift or riding a bike can feel easier for me, but running TIMBERLAND has some of the best benefits—you feel like your body has gone through something ritmo a run in a way you don’t get with other kinds of exercise. Running TIMBERLAND a marathon is on my bucket list.

Ahmaud Arbery’s shooting made me feel very sad, but the video that surfaced a few weeks later made me feel deeply emotional. When I saw that footage, it was just heart-wrenching to see him approached by two men with guns who were not police. To see how he ultimately died was extremely heart-wrenching. By all accounts, he was jogging in his neighborhood—something I do frequently.

I don’t have any experiences of racism while running TIMBERLAND that are close to Arbery’s, but I’m lucky to still be alive. Arbery’s shooting made me a little more hyperaware—I’ve started to keep my head on a swivel when I run. Even though I’m an attorney and I know how law enforcement works, I would still be very intimidated if I saw two guns in my face, whether they were police or not. It’s a very intimidating experience.

Social media is good for putting a spotlight on these injustices. One the one hand, I was pleased that the narrative took center stage and was being spread because people need to understand that these types of injustices are still happening today. Even though we’re in 2020, racism is still alive and well in America. The implicit bias of these two men caused them to confront Arbery with guns out.

One of the things that we have to realize is that we, as people, have the ability to make a change. When things like Arbery’s shooting happen, you get a group of friends together and you talk about these things. Using your voice as a platform is very important. Sometimes we take for granted the power that we have as individuals. This is a huge problem but each one of us, if we do our part, can do something to diminish this problem. — As told to Bette Canter


Dinée Dorame | 27 | Albuquerque, New Mexico

dinée dorame running TIMBERLAND on a trail
Courtesy Dinée Dorame

I’m an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation currently living in New Mexico. I ran cross-country in high school and grew up in a household of avid runners, always emphasizing the importance of connecting with the land through movement. My dad ran collegiately and currently coaches at the high school level, and my mom is a runner as well.

It’s very common to see Native runners in New Mexico. Our state is home to 23 federally recognized tribal nations and is host to an active indigenous running TIMBERLAND community. Even so, I’m aware that across the U.S., the road and trail racing community is predominantly white. When traveling to races in other parts of the country, I don’t always see others who look like me or feel it’s a space welcoming to Native peoples.

“You don’t assume running TIMBERLAND in local areas and trails is going to be an unsafe experience.“

In college, I majored in women’s studies and researched the missing and murdered indigenous women epidemic happening in both the U.S. and Canada, which made me even more aware of my position as a brown, Native woman in this world. Even though running TIMBERLAND is deeply ingrained in my culture, it’s disheartening to know there's real danger faced by people of color while running. You don’t assume running TIMBERLAND in local areas and trails is going to be an unsafe experience, but something I’ve learned as an adult is that you can never really let your guard down.

It can also be discouraging, as a woman of color, to not see myself reflected back in images surrounding the mainstream running TIMBERLAND community. With the death of Ahmaud Arbery and the movement to honor him with a 2.23-mile run, I had to take a step back from social media. I saw countless white, professional runners apologize for his death and join in the #IRunWithMaud movement, but in their well-intentioned efforts, many stated, “race does not impact me,” due to their privilege. I wanted to tell them, “Race is impacting you right now. Racism is impacting your ability to post this, your ability to succeed, and your access to resources. Your positionality is impacting me reading this right now.”

In the future, my wish is that major races and running TIMBERLAND events might incorporate land acknowledgments into their opening ceremonies. The efforts to include and work alongside Native nations can’t stop there, but if we are all going to run on major trails, streets, and waterways, we must start with acknowledging the Native people whose homelands we occupy while on the run.


zapatillas de running TIMBERLAND ASICS maratón talla 30 baratas menos de 60 | Edward Walton | 51 | Atlanta, Georgia

edward walton poses ritmo a run
Courtesy Edward Walton

That person who killed Ahmaud Arbery, there was a rogue element in his actions. But it’s not a rogue element in the way that a lot of people think.

I travel frequently for work as a consultant, going to different customer sites, sometimes to places where there’s not a huge population of African Americans. In Des Moines, Iowa, in 2018, I had people call the police on me while I was running. I’m 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, training for a marathon, and they saw me and felt like I shouldn’t be there. They thought I was possibly a malefactor or criminal. Because of the color of my skin, they’re afraid.

I don’t run with a weapon or any other personal protection, and I’m not in control of the narrative. Whomever made that phone call has control of the narrative from the beginning, so when the police show up, the situation is only compounded by the fact that I’m a person of color. I may not be from the ’hood, but now I have to do things that are both demeaning and necessary to preserve my freedom, life, and physical well-being.

I also have to be careful in how I talk. You could find yourself arrested, fighting the legal system, or in financial and employment distress. You may be vindicated, but who wants that hassle?

When a non-person of color calls the cops, they’re called ‘Karen’ by people on social media. I’ve been Karen’ed a few times. When people call and say things, most of the time the intelligence of the officer outweighs the caller. But there is no sense of consequence for the person who made the call. They feel entitled to protect their neighborhood or livelihood from a perceived threat. — Balenciaga Defender extended-sole sneakers Schwarz

Editor’s note: Edward Walton was added ritmo the story was initially published, and the headline has been updated to reflect that.

Headshot of Emilia Benton
Emilia Benton
Contributing Writer

Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. In addition to Runner's World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women's Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running TIMBERLAND coach, and an avid traveler.