Women's Running Group Making Health and Fitness a Priority
Black Girls RUN!, a nationwide running group, is bringing its 'Preserve the Sexy' Tour to Richmond for a conference focused on women's health and fitness.
By: Kayla Young and Jackie Stoneburner
With about 69,000 members nationwide, Black Girls RUN! has set out to make health and fitness a priority in the hopes of reducing obesity rates among African-American women. What started as a blog about two women hoping to lose weight transformed into a running group and now a massive support system of women all around the country that share the same goal of leading a healthier, more active life.
“If we can start getting our mothers and our grandmothers active, it will become a generational thing,” said Jay Ell Vaughn, a Black Girls RUN! ambassador In Richmond. “Our kids will want to be more active, our fathers will want to be more active, and our city can become more active as a whole.”
Black Girls RUN! recently launched its new ‘Preserve The Sexy Tour’ through seven cities in the southeast, making a stop in Richmond on March 16 at the Imani Conference Center. All seven cities targeted for the Tour were identified by the Centers for Disease Control as part of the ‘Stroke Belt,’ or areas of the country with particularly high rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The Tour offers a one-day health and fitness conference to kick off an 11-week ‘Couch to 5k’ training program for beginners called ‘Walk Before You Run.’
“My first running experience was challenging and encouraging at the same time,” Vaughn said. “It is important to take it slow and understand that sometimes you have to walk before you run.”
According to Vaughn, the Tour and conference are aimed at easing any concerns a person may have about running for the first time. “A lot of people think of running and get very intimidated,” Vaughn said. “We are holding the conference for the true beginner.”
The conference provides a chance for all women, not just African-Americans, to seek more information about living a healthier lifestyle. Covering the basics of running such as workout apparel, nutrition, and hair maintenance, guest speakers will provide the women with the knowledge needed to begin their health journey. Special guest Selena Watkins, 2012 Miss Black USA, will also be in attendance.
The ‘Walk Before You Run’ program will have several training locations throughout the Richmond region. Kicking off on March 17, the 11-week program concludes with the Boxer Brief Battle 5k at Rocketts Landing on June 8.
Event organizers are hopeful that the conference and training program will be launching blocks for attendees to embrace a healthy lifestyle.
“We are making the statement,” Vaughn said, “that it’s very important for people to get active and moving.”
‘Walk Before You Run’ Richmond Training Schedule:
| Location | Day | Time |
| Deep Run Park | Wednesday | 6:00 p.m. |
| Petersburg Health Department | Tuesday/Thursday | 5:45 p.m. |
| Henrico Recreation Center | Wednesday | 6:30 a.m. |
| Byrd Park | Sunday | 4:30 p.m. |
| Pine Camp Recreation Center | Tuesday/Thursday | 6:00 p.m. |
| Chesterfield – Rockwood Park | Tuesday | 6:30 p.m. |
| Chesterfield – Rockwood Park | Sunday | 2:30 p.m. |
Black Girls RUN! has capped the March 16 'Preserve the Sexy' tour conference at 250 attendees, and are currently over 75 percent full. The conference begins with check-in and registration at 9:00 a.m. and wraps up at 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the Imani Conference Center located at 1506 Hull Street, adjacent to South Richmond First Baptist Church. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door for $40. For more information about the tour visit www.blackgirlsrun.com.