Running While Black: In The Wake Of Ahmaud Arbery’s death, Edose Ibadin Tells His Story.

The news behind Ahmaud Arbery’s tragic death hit the running community particularly hard this week. We run virtually everyday, never does it cross our minds that we might not make it back to our home. It’s disturbing to know that members of our community don’t share the luxury that others take for granted. That some runners will leave thier home knowing fully well that they could be hassled, and that there are monsters out there who will make sure that they are hassled.

Ahmaud left his house that day to run along his typical route, passing his typical landmarks, trying to better himself one stride at a time as he always did.

However, he never made it home.

Ahmaud Arbery was murdered in broad daylight… right in the middle of the street.

Stories like what happened to Ahmaud Arbery really make you think about what we — in the running community — are doing to help others feel welcome and included.

The obvious answer is representation inside the distance running community, where black runners are very much in the minority. We need to be cultivating a more diverse community, but are we doing enough? and are we genuinely opening ourselves up to people with different backgrounds?