Members of Black Girls Run-Charlotte gather at the Dowd YMCA before beginning a night-time run in late December. (Photo: Glenn H. Burkins for Qcitymetro.com) __________________________________________________________________________

In case you haven’t received the memo, obesity is an epidemic in the black community, particularly among African-American women. Nearly 80 percent are overweight.

The problem has been blamed on everything from high-fat diets to an obsession with hair that prevents us from working out. Despite all that, the fact of the matter is, black girls do run.

Black Girls RUN! is a national movement committed to combating obesity among African American women by encouraging them to be more proactive about their health.

“It is a way of saying that nothing is more important than your health,” says Kristin Gibson, a lead ambassador for BGR-Charlotte. “The message of BGR is for black women to prioritize their health in the same way that they prioritize the other aspects of their lives.”

The group’s tagline is “Preserve the Sexy,” and Gibson says that begins with being physically fit. “There is nothing sexy about being sick,” she says.

The local BGR chapter has nearly 800 members who joined by signing up on the group’s Facebook page, but the vast majority of them do not participate in the group runs.

Gibson does not see that as a negative. She believes there are many other benefits to being part of the group, and she encourages all health-conscious women in the area to join, even if they choose not to run.

“You will be tapping into a network of women who aren’t just runners,” she says. “We have people that regularly practice yoga. We have several members that are vegetarians and vegans who can share healthy recipes with one another. We have several people, like myself, that are fitness professionals.”

Gibson adds that BGR is a racially diverse group, as well.

“I know there are people who are concerned about the fact that the name says ‘black girls’ run, but the reality is, we don’t exclude anyone,” she says. “We have women of all races in our group. It’s just that we are focusing on black women because they are not your stereotypical runners. So this is a group that encourages black women to do something that they typically wouldn’t do.”

Yulonda’s story

This time last year, you couldn’t have convinced Yulonda Simmons that running was for black women. In fact, she found it laughable when a neighbor invited her to participate in a triathlon.

“I told her no,” Simmons recalled. “Black women don’t swim. Black women don’t ride bikes, and black women don’t run.”

She said her neighbor continued to “badger” her for the next three months until she finally gave in.

“I figured, even if I didn’t show up on the day of the triathlon, I could at least train for it and that would be a huge plus,” she said.

Training for the event gave Simmons a boost of confidence. She found herself doing more than she ever thought she was capable of doing. She rode a bike for the first time in 24 years. She finally learned to swim. The biggest challenge, she says, was the running.
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Silhouetted against the uptown skyline, members of Black Girls Run-Charlotte begin a night-time run in late December. (Photo: Glenn H. Burkins for Qcitymetro.com)
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Although Simmons considered herself a “treadmill baby,” running outdoors was foreign territory. She tried to recruit friends and family to help build her endurance but found no takers.

That’s when she stumbled across the Black Girls RUN! page on Facebook. It was everything she was looking for, but at the time, there wasn’t a local chapter for her to join.

Simmons began to pressure the national headquarters about creating a Charlotte chapter, and in July 2011 her wish was granted. Founders Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks contacted Simmons to tell her that not only was BGR coming to town but that she, along with Gibson, would be appointed lead ambassadors.

With support from BGR, Simmons continued to train for the triathlon, and when the big day came, she performed exceedingly well.

“I ran my two miles with extreme ease,” she says. “And I went back and ran with the lady that had encouraged me to run. Then I ran back and ran with a couple of other ladies. So, I ran a total of six miles that day. I would not have been able to do that had it not been for having that training time with BGR.”

Since then, Simmons has taken part in 10 5k runs. In February, she plans to run her first half-marathon — 13.1 miles — with three other BGR members.

Therapy by the mile

Unlike Simmons, Gibson had always considered herself to be a runner. She ran track and cross-country in high school, but when she went to college, she decided to take a hiatus. At the time, she was having too much fun enjoying life as a young adult.

Her catalyst for lacing up her sneakers and hitting the pavement again had little to do with physical fitness. It was more about her mental health.

“I had a bad break-up right before New Year’s Eve 2009,” she said. “I barely got out of bed for two days. I decided not to start the New Year feeling like a victim. I started running that December.”

Gibson signed up for a midnight run on New Year’s Eve and found it to be a liberating experience.

“I ran the race and I was hooked from there on out,” she says. “It kind of became my way of getting my own life back.”

She said that instead of spending her weekends feeling sad and lonely, she would get online and find a local 5k to participate in.

“My first year, I ran in 33 races,” she says. “It just became a major part of my life. I had been running for two strong years, as an adult, before we brought BGR to Charlotte.”

Gibson says running, for her, is cathartic.

“I’ve answered tough life questions and made major decisions while out on a run,” she says. “It’s a great feeling. It gives me a feeling of being connected and extremely aware of my body. Even when there is music blasting in my iPod, I have this sort of inner quietness that allows me to reflect and think about things.”

No woman left behind

The BGR motto is “No Woman Left Behind,” and the group welcomes both new and veteran runners. So Simmons says that it is a good thing that as leaders, she and Gibson come from such opposite ends of the spectrum because they can cater to all types of runners.

“Whether you run an 8-minute mile or a 15-minute mile, there is always somebody there to cheer you on,” says Simmons.

“You can come out and walk every step of the way, if that is the level you are at,” says Gibson. “And somebody will be right there with you… It’s a really comforting environment for people who are new to running.”

Editor’s Note: Want to get involved? Join the BGR-Charlotte Facebook page or send an email to bgrcharlotte@gmail.com for information on scheduled running groups throughout the city. The average run is about 2-4 miles. In addition to group runs, BGR also hosts fitness clinics to provide information about the basics of physical fitness, which cover everything from proper techniques to selecting the right shoes.

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