Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

“Diversity is not a marketing campaign,” says Alison Désir, black endurance athlete, activist and mental health advocate.

There is an influx of participants in the sport of ultrarunning and, consequently, diversity in demographics. This sport is no longer a sport of cisgender, straight and white athletes. If the leaders and brands who influence ultrarunning want to be relevant and accurately represent today’s ultrarunners, then diversity needs to be a part of our everyday fabric, not merely a checkmark in a marketing campaign.

In my interview with Désir, I learned more about the continued haphazard focus of diversity in today’s running and outdoor industries. She recently ran a trail race in Montana and mentioned that she did not see any other Black women that weekend. She