How Running Organizations Can Support BIPOC and Indigenous Athletes Authentically

Beyond the Optics

“Diversity” and “inclusion” are common buzzwords in the running industry, but let’s be honest: too often they stop at optics. A photo on a flyer. A panel without pay. A statement without action.

If your organization truly wants to support BIPOC and Indigenous athletes, the work isn’t about appearances. It’s about building trust, accountability, and long-term relationships that benefit the communities you’re trying to engage.

Why This Matters

• Representation isn’t just numbers. It’s about who gets centered, who feels welcome, and who has access to opportunities.

• History matters. Running events often take place on stolen Indigenous lands, yet Indigenous athletes are erased from the narrative.

• Equity ≠ equality. Offering the same thing to everyone isn’t equity. Equity means adjusting structures so opportunities are truly accessible.

If you’re not actively addressing these realities, your “inclusion” work risks being hollow.

Practical Ways to Build Authentic Support

1. Partner With, Don’t Just Invite
   Don’t ask BIPOC or Indigenous athletes to show up to make your event look diverse. Build partnerships with community leaders and groups that already exist. Compensate them fairly for their expertise and time.

2. Create Fee Waiver Programs That Don’t Tokenize
   Free entries are great, but not if they’re handed out in a way that singles athletes out or uses them for marketing. Build systems that give equitable access without strings attached.

3. Train Your Staff and Volunteers
   Cultural competency doesn’t happen by accident. Invest in training so that your team understands how to create safe and welcoming spaces for all participants.

4. Honor the Land You Run On
   Acknowledge Indigenous lands in meaningful ways: not just a statement, but through partnerships with local Nations, visibility of Indigenous athletes, and support for their initiatives.

5. Share the Mic
   If you’re hosting panels, events, or campaigns, ensure BIPOC and Indigenous voices are not just included, but centered. And yes, that means paying speakers and contributors fairly.

6. Build Long-Term Relationships
   One-off campaigns won’t cut it. Commit to ongoing support and partnerships — so the impact lasts beyond one race or one season.

Masters & Menopausal Athletes: Intersection Matters

Support doesn’t stop at race or identity. Many BIPOC and Indigenous athletes are also masters or menopausal athletes — a group often ignored in mainstream narratives. Intersectional support matters: recognize that athletes carry multiple identities and experiences that deserve visibility and resources.

Mapping It Back to Resources

If you’re an organization ready to move beyond optics:

• Equity Consulting (1:1 calls) → Tailored sessions to help races and orgs build equity programs without falling into tokenism.

• Workshops & Trainings → For staff, volunteers, and leadership teams who want to learn how to create authentic, inclusive spaces.

Equity in Running FAQ

Why isn’t a land acknowledgment enough?
Because words without action fall flat. Acknowledgment is a start, but it should be paired with partnerships, visibility, and tangible support for Indigenous athletes and Nations.

What’s wrong with offering free entries to BIPOC athletes?
Fee waivers can be helpful, but if they’re framed as charity or used for marketing optics, they tokenize athletes. Equity means building access without strings or publicity.

How can small races with limited budgets support equity?
Start with what you can control: train volunteers, build authentic partnerships, and commit to respectful representation. You don’t need a massive budget to show respect and create welcoming spaces.

Isn’t treating everyone equally enough?
Equality and equity aren’t the same. Equality gives everyone the same thing. Equity recognizes systemic barriers and adjusts support so that everyone has a fair chance to participate fully.

How do we avoid performative allyship?
Ask communities what they actually need. Build partnerships instead of assumptions. Pay for expertise. Commit to long-term relationships rather than one-off campaigns.

Representation isn’t a box to check. It’s a commitment to equity, accountability, and relationship-building. When you move beyond tokenism, you don’t just diversify a start line — you create a community where every athlete feels they belong.

That’s not just good optics. That’s good leadership.