Who Gets to Run Freely? with Alison Mariella Désir | s6e2 | The Running Explained Podcast

In this episode of the Running Explained podcast, hosts Amanda Katz and Nick Klastava welcome Alison Mariella Désir, author of 'Running While Black'. They discuss the importance of freedom of movement, the challenges faced by Black and Brown runners, and the significance of creating inclusive running communities. Alison shares her journey into running, the founding of Harlem Run, and her experiences as a mental health therapist. Alison also chats about her PBS TV Show: Out and Back. The conversation also touches on accountability and allyship within the running industry, emphasizing the need for empathy and curiosity in understanding diverse experiences. 00:00 Introduction to Alison Mariella Désir 03:31 Freedom of Movement and Safety in Running 06:26 Allison's Journey to Running and Community Building 10:27 The Impact of Harlem Run and Inclusivity in Running 16:08 Understanding Surveillance and Safety in Running While Black 19:12 Empathy, Curiosity, and Conversations about Race 23:00 Allison's PBS Show: Out and Back 29:45 Climbing Kilimanjaro and Community Empowerment 34:07 Overcoming Fear and Taking Action 36:45 The Role of Accountability in Achieving Goals 38:33 The Therapeutic Journey: Insights from Therapy 46:55 Accountability and Allyship in the Running Community 54:10 Empowerment and Community Engagement Alison Mariella Désir is multi-talented: a founder, a doer, an activist, a connector, a visionary and an unapologetically straightforward communicator with a passion for movement, mental health, and racial equity. Alison got her start in the running and outdoor industry unintentionally, after seeing a Black friend train and complete a marathon. Inspired, Alison went on to run her first marathon and discovered that she had found a powerful tool to manage her depression. She’s been working to share the transformational power of running and movement ever since. Website - https://alisonmdesir.com/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/alisonmdesir/?hl=en PBS Show - https://www.pbs.org/show/out-back-alison-mariella-desir/ Amanda- https://instagram.com/amanda_katzz/?hl=en Nick -⁠ ⁠https://instagram.com/nklastava/?hl=en Email - Hello@runningexplained.com 🚨 1:1 COACHING SPOTS OPEN NOW 🚨 Ready to finally train with a plan that’s built around YOU? ✅ Personalized training ✅ Weekly support + adjustments ✅ Strategy, structure, and accountability ✅ Expert coaching to help you actually hit your goals Not ready for a 1:1 Coach 📝PDF Training Plan Templates available 🤝Group Coaching, Strength Training and Unlimited access to all Training Plans available in The Run Club App Learn more about all of this at www.runningexplained.com