The National Black Marathoners Association

Have you ever been at the starting line of a 5K, 10K or marathon race and find you have counted the number of Black runners on only one hand? Or perhaps, you began talking about running with your relatives or Black friends, and they cannot understand why on earth anyone would run more than one lap around a track for pure enjoyment. Then, you understand the loneliness of the Black long distance runner and walker.

The National Black Marathoners Association was created to fill this void in the Black walking and running community. This not-for-profit organization does not have a membership fee. It has three missions. They want to:

o Encourage Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through long-distance running and walking.

o Serve as a vehicle for Black American distance runners and walkers across the nation to meet yearly in mass at a single marathon.

o Provide scholarships to deserving high school boy and girl distance runners.

The organization had its origins at the 2001 National Black Data Processing Association’s (BDPA) Annual Conference in Chicago. During his presentation about goal setting, Tony Reed mentioned one of his life time goals of finishing fifty 26.2 mile marathons before turning 50 years old. He had completed forty-seven marathons at the time.

He told the audience that his life time fitness goals were established while he was a college student. Tony was diagnosed with a pre-diabetic condition around ten years old. The doctors told him that he would be an insulin-dependent diabetic by the time he was a teenager. However, he became involved in high school sports and didn’t have to take any medications. In college, he read that diabetics were able to either decrease their insulin or go completely off of it, if they maintained a physical fitness program. Thus, Tony began establishing life time fitness goals to help ward off diabetes and insulin injections.

Charlotte Simmons-Foster was in that BDPA audience. She was the President of the South Fulton Running Partners (SFRP), an Atlanta area Black running club. During the reception that followed, Charlotte introduced Tony to a group of other Black runners. As they shared their stories, it became apparent that they had common experiences and goals.

Many of them were running because of family histories of diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, or heart disease. They had seen family members struggle with and/or die from these illnesses or related complications. These runners had decided to improve their quality of life and longevity by developing life-long fitness programs. This led to the formation of the first National Black Marathoners Association mission statement: to encourage Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through long-distance running and walking.

The BDPA runners discussed joining Tony for his 50th marathon.

During the next few years, they continued communicating as Tony approached his goal. Tony selected the Dallas Trails Marathon as the location of the milestone event. It was to be held on March 23, 2003. There were usually less than 150 marathoners. Most of them were from the local community. Tony had previously run this race and was usually the only Black.

On March 20, 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom started as the coalition forces invaded Iraq. The same day, the Washington, D.C. Marathon was cancelled for security reasons. Since it was scheduled for March 23, over 7,000 registered runners were forced to make last minute changes. Several members of the South Fulton Running Partners decided to join Charlotte at the Dallas Trails Marathon. Since Tony was usually the only Black in the race, this sudden influx of Black runners at the race did not go unnoticed. When the race was over, most of the Black runners, including Tony, had won age group or weight division trophies.

The experience of meeting before and after the races was supportive, fun, and informative. The runners shared stories about participating in other races, injury prevention techniques, traveling, and training. They began to discuss how much fun it would be to have an annual summit at marathons in various parts of the country. This later became the second National Black Marathoners Association (NBMA) mission: to serve as a vehicle for Black American distance runners and walkers across the nation to meet in mass at a single marathon.

They select a multi-race event, which accommodates both walkers and runners. Thus, in addition to a 26.2-mile marathon, most of the races include a half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), and/or a 5K (3.1 miles). Thus, there’s something for everyone, from the novice, recreational walker to the experienced distance runners.

Since they have members in forty-three States and five countries, they also focus on selecting races in different regions of the country.

The NBMA has met at the:

o Lewis and Clark Marathon near St. Louis, MO (2005)

o New Jersey Marathon in Long Branch, NJ (2006)

o Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon (2007)

o Lost Dutchman Marathon in Apache Junction, AZ (2008)

o Cowtown Marathon in Ft. Worth, TX (2009)

They are expecting over 500 walkers and runners to converge at the 2009 Ft. Worth, TX, Cowtown Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Ultra-Marathon on the weekend of February 28, 2009. This will be their Historic Fifth Annual Gathering. Events and prize drawings are scheduled for Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon. The 2010 venue will be announced in early 2009.

As stated earlier, the NBMA does not have a membership fee or dues. Instead, the members make contribution to the scholarship fund. They offer college scholarships to high school senior boy and girl distance runners. These are students who participated in either cross country or 1,500 meters or longer on their school’s teams. The awards are not time-based. Applications are available on their NBMA’s website: www.BlackMarathoners.org.

During the NBMA Annual Summits, the members sport red shirts and black shorts. They are easily visible at the expos and during the races. They hope that when Black bystanders witness this “moving sea of red and black,” they will feel inspired, comfortable, and empowered enough to lace up their shoes and start a fitness program. They will know that they are not alone in pursuing their goals and having fun.

The cultural and economic power of this organization is being noticed by both runners and race directors. Every time they have participated in an event, the race set new attendance records. This added influx of participants creates an economic windfall for the tourism industry. This has not gone unnoticed as race directors throughout the country actively recruit the organization.

The NBMA also promotes other Black running and triathlon clubs. They provide links to the other clubs’ websites. As new members join the NBMA, they are also directed to a running club in their community. Also, as members travel for business or vacation, they can find like-minded people with whom to run or walk with. Team Marathon (Cleveland) and the Avondale Running Club (Cincinnati) worked with the NBMA to make the 2007 Annual Gathering at the Cleveland Marathon a huge success.

Running Clubs

o Atlanta, GA - The South Fulton Running Partners

o Charlotte, NC - The Ebony Eagles

o Chicago, IL - The Road Warriors Athletics

o Chicago, IL - MaxFitness Chicago

o Cleveland, OH - Team Marathon

o Cincinnati, OH - The Avondale Running Club

o Decatur, GA - The South DeKalb Striders

o Detroit, MI - The StoneSteppers Running Club

o Jacksonville, FL - Team Mocha

o Louisville, KY - The ROAM (Runners on a Mission) Club

o Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA - Just Us Running Club

o Tri Unify - A national organiza- tion for multisport athletes of color

Prior to the NBMA, Blacks would see one another at races. However, some people did not know how to approach the other person. Now, when Blacks see one another at races, they don’t hesitate to introduce themselves by asking, “Are you a member of the National Black Marathoners Association?”

To experience the NBMA, visit www.BlackMarathoners.org. Reprint permission, article and photo courtesy of BSTMLLC.com. n