Historically, distance running has been a majority white sport. At the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials the New York Times found that more than 90 percent of all competitors were white. Three of the six US Olympic marathon qualifiers are Black, making it the most diverse marathon team in US history, according to Undefeated.
Due to factors like socioeconomic barriers and a lack of representation, distance running often feels like it's only for white people but platforms like RUNGRL are quickly changing that narrative. Whether you're new to running or have been running for years, if you're in search of a community, you'll find it here. RUNGRL was founded by Ashlee Lawson Green, Jasmine Nesi, Dominique Burton, Stephani Franklin, Natasha Jones, and Natalie Robinson.