Distance running in America is too white. Especially women. How can we improve inclusion?

Notice thingz wrote:

Obviously there is significant under-representation of American minorities of both genders in any premier marathon or distance event. Any ideas for equalizing this? It may be what American distance running needs to compete globally.

Any stats on distance racing participation rates by ethnicity at HS, college, or post collegiate levels ?

Any programs currently focused on this?

I'd be interested in stats too. I feel like people, in general, are not drawn to running. People know who basketball players are but not T&F athletes. It's the 8th sport down in the US. Everyone wants to be a pro X before a pro runner. White folks, with money, can afford to run leisurely, enter expensive races, buy shoes, etc. I would say we need to be more proactive with our wallets. Support groups like Girls on the Run. Support female coaches. Representation runs deep at all levels. There are not a ton of female coaches, training groups, agents, etc.

Why observe runners based on your perception of the shade of their skin? Even if you know the nations origin of an American, why have that impact your desire to have them become a runner? Should we ask every individual what their origin is and then push those with African roots into distance running but those of European roots to plat basketball instead?

There’s some minority hotties - Bmart, Steph Garcia, Desi...

This is 100% Racist.

Period.

Racist mich wrote:

This is 100% Racist.

Period.

No. You’re wrong.

I am sure the OP has a plan for the imbalances in sprints. And the NBA.

People, especially women, run because they feel relax during the physical exercises! When you are tired of mental work the best way to change the action is to run. But also the good way to work less. How can you do it if you need to write, for example, essay? It's very easy you just need to use service which has essay writing samples and just copy it!

Notice thingz wrote:

Obviously there is significant under-representation of American minorities of both genders in any premier marathon or distance event. Any ideas for equalizing this? It may be what American distance running needs to compete globally.

Any stats on distance racing participation rates by ethnicity at HS, college, or post collegiate levels ?

Any programs currently focused on this?

I think the same should be done in the NBA. There should be at least 30% non-black races represented. Far too top heavy. It's absolutely not fair to have such underrepresentation.

Notice thingz wrote:

It may be what American distance running needs to compete globally.

Not really sure this follows. Kenya and Ethiopia do pretty well in the marathon without much racial diversity.

Not racist. I’m just observing that we have a significant number of American of African with greater resources and privilege than Africans in Africa, but who don’t, as a group, perform as well in distance running in America. Several reasons may exist for this, but one must be the decreased probability of success with a decreased participation rate in the sport. Why is there an obviously decreased participation in the sport of distance running by a variety of ethnic groups? If it’s because they are not exposed to the sport, or if they are exposed, don’t feel comfortable in it, then something certainly can be pursued to correct this to some extent.

*Americans of African descent

This is the most ignorant post I've ever seen and I'm not trying to be a dick about it. This is the equivalent of saying that Kenya or Nigeria needs to integrate more white runners. America is indeed a predominately white country, there is no issue with minority integration it is simply that there aren't many minorities that are top tier runners. We aren't denying people from running because of their race there are just no runners of a minority race that are good enough and want to compete at top tier levels.

I run, at times, with someone who is African American. He is slightly older (maybe late 40s?) but is a decent runner at the half marathon and marathon distance (ie several time Boston runner), but not elite level by any stretch. Over the past few years as we've run more together and hung out outside of work, we've become good friends.

During a run we started talking about racial makeup of distance running and how, other than the elite level, you don't see a lot of minorities, especially African-Americans. I specifically asked him "Why is that?" and he responded with "I suspect it has a lot to do with running for fun not being a cool thing to do in the black community." He went on to elaborate. Sadly, I don't remember the reasons WHY he thought this, but his direct answer to my question stuck with me.

The OP doesn’t want the real answer. Distance running requires patience and hard work. The individuals who do well are the ones who put in the work. So your real question is why don’t more minorities want to put in the hard work to become good?

Truthful answers wrote:

The OP doesn’t want the real answer. Distance running requires patience and hard work. The individuals who do well are the ones who put in the work. So your real question is why don’t more minorities want to put in the hard work to become good?

Now THIS is the typical racist post found on this forum. If you don't think guys in the NBA and the NFL work hard, you are the one that obviously doesn't want to know the real answer. There are many ways to work hard without slogging long distances.

So interesting how people respond. Let me put it the opposite way too. I, and I assume most of you, have heard white kids saying they can’t compete against black kids in basketball or sprinting, and so don’t try. This also might be a wasted opportunity for some individuals. Similarly, if any ethnic minority looks at the make up of distance running and decides they can’t compete because it looks like they “don’t fit the type who runs distance”, this is worth addressing.

Also, the analogy that increasing ethnic diversity would not also help Kenya in the sport is false. It would help Kenya. Increased participation in this scenario increased probability of success.

Notice thingz wrote:

So interesting how people respond. Let me put it the opposite way too. I, and I assume most of you, have heard white kids saying they can’t compete against black kids in basketball or sprinting, and so don’t try. This also might be a wasted opportunity for some individuals. Similarly, if any ethnic minority looks at the make up of distance running and decides they can’t compete because it looks like they “don’t fit the type who runs distance”, this is worth addressing.

Also, the analogy that increasing ethnic diversity would not also help Kenya in the sport is false. It would help Kenya. Increased participation in this scenario increased probability of success.

Good post. No one questions that some sports are dominated by certain races. The majority of this is due to cultural differences. I’ll use a neutral model to demonstrate further...Spain produce more clay court players - why? Because Spain has an abundant amount of free clay courts and decent all-year round weather to play (by and large).

Rowing in the UK is pushed through private schools. More white people attend private schools. Ergo, more white rowers.

In Kenya, you’ve got the ideal long distance body (via genetics) and you live at altitude and every person in your village runs. Why? Because you can earn more in a year running than you could in a lifetime of farming.

Darts is predominantly played in working class pubs (bars), ergo darts players drink whilst they play, they are generally overweight people.

I don’t know enough about the States, but am guessing that it’s easyto access free basketball courts in urban areas, perhaps more densely populated poor areas? Where you can get match practice in every single day of the week? This added in with some of the muscular genetic differences between white and black men equates to more successful black players?

In answer to the OP. There is nothing wrong with wanting sports to be more inclusive, it’s actually quite noble, but does require significant cultural change and in some cases significant funding too.

Agreed Good Post Man, except to say that genetics and biology likely don’t have any more than a negligible role from a race perspective, but is certainly important on an individual basis.

Also, I should specify the means of inclusion. Inclusion does not necessarily mean arbitrarily increasing the participation of untalented or unwilling minorities to achieve a certain percentage as some previous posters have accused me of suggesting. The means of inclusion here should relate more to creating an atmosphere and programs that make distance running palatable to a broader range of individuals. It can’t be bad to increase a person’s freedom of choice by removing their own sel-limiting bias or view of the sport.

Notice thingz wrote:

Agreed Good Post Man, except to say that genetics and biology likely don’t have any more than a negligible role from a race perspective, but is certainly important on an individual basis.

Also, I should specify the means of inclusion. Inclusion does not necessarily mean arbitrarily increasing the participation of untalented or unwilling minorities to achieve a certain percentage as some previous posters have accused me of suggesting. The means of inclusion here should relate more to creating an atmosphere and programs that make distance running palatable to a broader range of individuals. It can’t be bad to increase a person’s freedom of choice by removing their own sel-limiting bias or view of the sport.

Still incredibly racist. And even more sad is it doesn't seem like you understand that you are being racist.

Why do you care if a certain community doesn't care about distance running or any track event.

In other words, please do a study on which ethnic and racial groups are underrepresented in every track and field event and get back to us about inclusion.

Dont worry so much about white people liking to run more than other racial groups, my freaking gosh you freaking racist!

Why did white people stop sprinting? When black people were winning medals sprinting 10.3 or 10.4 in 100m, white people were winning medals also? Why did white people stop playing cornerback in college and pros? There were plenty of white cornerbacks in 1950's, 1960's & 1970's faster than Richard Sherman. Why did white people stop boxing? The same psychological and sociological analysis you used on distance running could be used in other sports.