s6/e2 Who Gets to Run Freely? with Alison Mariella Désir
The Running Explained Podcast
Running Explained
4.6 • 534 Ratings
🗓️ 5 February 2026
⏱️ 62 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Jamie Lang and Sophie Haboo have arrived on Disney Plus. |
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| 1:00.5 | Hi, everyone. We had such a great conversation with Alison Desir. And you may know Alison from her memoir running while black and we had the absolute |
| 1:18.8 | delight of speaking to her not only about her memoir and how she came to running and creating |
| 1:27.1 | spaces like Harlem Run as well as her series on PBS |
| 1:32.6 | out and back. |
| 1:33.6 | But we also spoke about something that is incredibly timely too, right? |
... |
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