Global Running Day Campaign 2023
Challenge:
Erasure/lack of representation of racial diversity in promotions for Global Running Day. The racial part of diversity is often overlooked, but that is exactly why the RIDC exists.
The #GlobalRunningDay hashtag on social media, since the first celebration in 2016, displays an underrepresentation of BIPOC runners and groups.
Solution:
Mobilize the running industry to collectively center racial equity in their Global Running Day content.
We have partners committed to centering racial diversity in their promotions on this day. And we want to see many Black, Indigenous, and people of color take up space in our social media feed. Post your content to the tag #GlobalRunningDay along with #Running4Diversity!
Additional Goals for 2023:
This year we are adding two more goals to our Global Running Day initiative:
Running a combined 1,350 miles through the RIDC club on Strava on June 7, representative of the over 135 million BIPOC in the US (US Census, 2022) that we do this work for.
Raise at least $1,350 throughout the month of June, for the advancement of the RIDC’s mission. Donate here, no donation is too small or too big!
Global Running Day 2022 Campaign Recap
Dozens of brands, retailers, clubs, events, and individuals showed UP to help us diversify the #GlobalRunningDay hashtag on social media. We reached our goal of seeing the Global Running Day hashtag look more reflective of the industry we want to see! See below for photos and quotes from the RIDC community.
“We recognize that as a member of this community we can do more to encourage and improve diversity in the running community, and we’d like to thank @runningdiversity for helping us gain a better understanding of how we can do this and for providing us with some of the tools to do this, including today’s images, because one of the simplest things we can do is make sure everyone can see themselves represented in the images we use when showcasing running.”
— Revvies Energy
“Global Running Day, what it meant to me this year on the heels of two years of life changing experiences for so many of people through social justice, global pandemic, economic pressures and societal shifts was a day to reclaim my being. Reclaim the streets. Reclaim what it means to be a runner in a society chalk with monumental needs for change.
Developing as a runner must now coincide with being the change within society that I want to see”
— PJ Thompson
“Looking out into the world and seeing people who look like us choosing to run, building community through running and having fun with it is GREAT! We know that we are impacting the run community and seeing the diversity, especially on Global Running Day, reminds us how collectively the narrative is starting to change.
Our stories, experiences and talents are powerful; we deserve to be seen.”
— Katt Lawrence (Prolyfyck Run Creww Leader)
Before:
Before:
During & After:
“I love that there’s a Global Running Day because it’s a day to celebrate the racial diversity that exists within the running community. It’s a reminder to myself and others that we’re out here, that we’re doing our best to take up space, and that representation matters. Always has, always will.
I’m here for the progress and the changes and can’t wait for #GlobalRunningDay2023!”
— Erin McGrady
So what’s next? Here are two simple steps to keep the momentum going:
Work on those photos! Be sure that when Global Running Day 2023 rolls around, you aren’t going to just recycle the same photos used this year. Invest in photography and be intentional with the photographer on capturing photos of people of all backgrounds.
Conduct a social media audit. Does your brand/personal social media accounts portray the diversity you shared on Global Running Day? How can you continue to include all racial groups in your images and messages going forward? Representation matters!
