At Another Mother Runner, we are committed to running in the right direction as long and far as we can. As February is Black History Month and, more importantly, in an effort to continue to make the sport of running feel as inclusive as possible, we are going to spend some time this month sharing stories, profiles, and thoughts of Black female athletes. Today, we are highlighting some of the inspiring Black runners we follow on Instagram—and suggest you give them a follow on IG if you spend time scrolling there. (See our first list of women to follow here.)
Later this month, one of Sarah’s guests on the AMR podcast will be endurance athlete, activist, and mental health advocate Alison Desir, whose book Running While Black debuts this fall; on a separate episode, Sarah will talk to runner Darlene Anita Scott, a Black runner and poet who has dealt with serious heart issues. (February is also American Heart Month/Go Red for Women.)
As always, we aim to include as many voices as possible; if you’re interested, please fill out our Search for Diverse Voices. Step by step, we’ll get to the place where, as Desir says, “[hopefully] in the future, Black athletes can be celebrated year round.”
Inspirational Black Women Athletes
Nattalyee Randall: IG: nattalyee
(Runner + activist. 50 Mile Run For Justice Protest)
“I’m strong. Very strong. If I can run a 50 mile race, I can quite literally do anything.”
Bee-Bee Smith: IG: beebz_n_boys
(Longtime runner and boy mom.)
“Going after what you want, pushing through the toughness and pursuing more even
after you’ve reached a goal. An athlete is likely to stick with it and not give up easily.”
Ciara Lucas: IG: ciaravlucas
(Athlete, coach, and news journalist.)
“The friendships and bonds I’ve made because of running are extremely special to me! Having a community during the grueling process of training for a marathon makes a huge difference mentally and physically.”
Brandi Dockett: IG: bfitbrandi
(Fitness coach and BAMRbassador.)
“One thing being an athlete has taught me is how important mindset is for performance! Whether
it’s cross training during off season, training for a specific race, or running to the
finish line, our minds decide how it’s going to go.”
Monica Garrison: IG: blackgirlsdobike
(Founder/Executive Director Black Girls Do Bike.)
“Cycling is my pathway into a healthy headspace. Riding gives me opportunities to escape. I can detach from technology, clear my mind, spark creativity and explore my ever-changing city. There really is nothing like it.”
Valencia Hike: IG: husker4life
(Ultra runner and Nuun Ambassador.)
“I listen to my body. What my mind and heart want may not always align with the goals I set out to
accomplish, and that’s okay. To accept where I am and not focus on where I should be. Let go of failure
and utilize it as a growth opportunity.
I follow Sanya Richard’s Ross at https://instagram.com/sanyarichiross?utm_medium=copy_link – Olympic medal winner, amazing runner and advocate for Black moms. She founded Mommination, which has a separate IG.
I follow Shawanna White, @peachrunner26.2. She’s at a lot of local races, and is super speedy. In fact, she’s the 7th-fastest US-born black marathoner! er Instagram feed is full of running, dance parties, positivity and joy.