To mark a significant year in its growth, the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC), a national education nonprofit built out of the necessity for change and sustained through meaningful relationships with individual community members and our multi-year partnerships, recently released its RIDC Impact Report 2023.
The RIDC is uniquely positioned to impact all sectors of the running industry, from brands to run clubs, race events and retailers, to ignite unparalleled advancements for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Its initiatives serve a dual purpose: to educate individuals about understanding and championing racial justice, and to foster community and solidarity among BIPOC.
“The RIDC has experienced significant growth. Our commitment to our mission and values, the creation of opportunities for the communities we serve, and the growing awareness of our efforts defined our journey,” says Kiera Smalls, RIDC executive director. “We embraced innovation and welcomed dozens of new long-term partners to positively impact the business and culture of running.
“Despite the fact that we are a small but mighty team, our mission is deeply felt across the industry,” smalls continues in her introduction to the report. “Our incredible efforts in just a few short years speak volumes about our dedication and effectiveness.”
One of the highlights of the past year was research “Freedom to Run” on racial representation in running, which received coverage in respected publications such as POPSUGAR, Footwear News, Running Insight, Outside magazine, Native News Online, ARCH, and many others. A recent feature in Essence, the largest lifestyle magazine for Black women, further amplified its impact and extended its reach to a wider audience.
Internally, RIDC strengthened its systems and workflow and enhanced its strategic plan through 2026.
“We embraced the lessons from our missteps, celebrated our milestones and welcomed new leaders onto our board, all while outlining ambitious plans to grow our dedicated staff,” Smalls adds. “These efforts have positioned us for sustained growth and greater impact.”
The RIDC report also highlighted some interesting statistics involving running and the BIPOC community:
- 14 percent of the US population is Black/African American. In the running industry, 11 percent of employees are Black/African American, and a mere one percent hold senior management leadership positions.
- 70 percent of running organizations have DEI goals, but 59 percent don’t track progress.
- 34 percent of runners (16 million people) are people of color, according to data from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).
- 51 percent of the US population is becoming increasingly more racially diverse, and the US Census projects that people of color will be the majority by 2045.
The report also highlighted a number of key events for RIDC in 2023:
- TCS New York City marathon Panel: “Our love of running took center stage at the TCS New York City Marathon, where we moderated a panel to discuss the evolution of the sport, inclusivity, and accessibility. The New York Road Runners brought together leaders from a wide range of organizations at one of the most prominent races on the planet.”
- The RIDC Community Run at The Running Event: “We hosted our third RIDC CommUnity Run, powered by Saucony, during The Running Event (TRE) with support from Austin-based Indigenous Movement Crew (formerly Native Roots ATX).
- We united about 400 local Austin runners and running industry leaders from across the country for a unique experience at one of Austin’s most beloved traditions, the Trail of Lights.”
- Removing the Gatekeeping: “We also hosted private workshops for BIPOC, including “Removing the Gatekeeping: Career Opportunity and Advancement for Women of Color in the Running Industry.” These intimate spaces were created specifically for BIPOC to inspire, celebrate, and connect, fostering a supportive environment for personal and professional growth.
- The Cookout: “Our flagship event at TRE is The Cookout and 2023’s iteration was a spectacular display of our many values, especially that of action. The Cookout isn’t just a celebration — it’s the launchpad for our year-end fundraising drive that aims to deepen our impact within the industry. It is important to note that receiving an invitation is not an opportunity to appropriate or “observe” these communities; rather, it is an extension of kinship and familiarity. The event extended a warm welcome to all BIPOC runners, as well as to our engaged allies who are committed to actively working toward the mission of the RIDC. The night fueled new friendships, partnerships, and long-lasting memories. It was an evening that was truly “good for the soul.”
- Run The Block: Finally, there was Run The Block, mentoring and funding initiative unveiled in early 2024. Thanks to initial support from Brooks Running, we’re proud to be seeding up to $200,000 for entrepreneurs and nurturing groundbreaking concepts in retail ownership, with the aim of facilitating the opening of a retail running shop. The future of running is more racially diverse, so we have to build for that reality today. Run The Block rooted in three fundamental principles: economic prosperity, community strength, and health.
RIDC recognizes that achieving racial justice is a marathon, not a sprint and to effect real change they have to fully understand the starting line. That’s why last year it partnered with Bentley University and Blaze Partners to launch the “Freedom to Run” research series in celebration of Juneteenth.
These three reports explored sentiments of BIPOC trail runners in the U.S., racial diversity in the business of running and the future of running. Through this work, we were able to provide important questions to the industry and recommendations to make changes.
For more on the RIDC report: www.runningdiversity.com/get-involved
