Conversations in London this August

A series of events around Women in Running, South Asian Runners, and Running Culture coming to British Summer Time this August.

A series of panel events about running this August in London

There are a few themes that I have explored over and again in my work: running culture, run clubs, the female experience, and highlighting South Asian runners. These are the things that I care the most about, for varying reasons.

Last summer, I put on my first event. I brought together some titans of the running world to talk about run club culture . More recently, I’ve had conversations about how both community and consumerism fit into the running world.

I’m returning to London on August 12-14 with a series of conversations hosted at Runlimited in Central London.

Please come! What you pay to attend is up to you. Yes, I’m channeling the power of punk rock community to make these DIY events come to fruition. I want to pay the photographers, and have refreshments for all — I want it to be nice — but I also want everyone who wants to attend to be able to, so please contribute whatever you can.

Women in Running - a workshop

How do we make running the best place it can be for women?

We all want to make running as inclusive and welcoming as possible, but for those of us who aren't women, it can be daunting to ask the 'correct' questions in order to be informed enough to help. But not wanting to say the wrong thing, so keeping quiet, is the biggest barrier to being a useful ally.

To solve that, I'm inviting runners to submit questions anonymously, so please be a part of this important conversation!

The event is in London, but the questions can come from anywhere. I want to encourage absolute freedom of conversation, and have an open dialogue in creating the best world together.

• Submit as many questions as you like, on any topics.

• Send the form to your local run club leader and ask them to encourage the men in their group to ask questions.

• The more questions we get, the better the data will be.

I will be the intermediary on the night, asking those questions to this panel of female experts from the running community. With a view to making running a safer, more inclusive space possible for women, their insights and suggestions for best practices and guardrails will be published here for full accessibility.

• Bethan Taylor-Swaine (The Feminist Sports Sociologist)

• Kimiko Ninomiya (Hot Boys Athletics)

• Isabel Sachs (Sporty & Single)

• Sahra-Isha Muhammad-Jones (ASRA Club)

Running Culture - about sustainability

There were big conversations after the Boston and London marathons about how much brands have shaped the way we engage with running. Some parties even conflated brands being increasingly visible at those events with a progression of running culture.

I had a rebuttal at the time, but why don’t we lean into just how brands and journalists think and talk about the future of running culture? Growth is good, but purposefully sustainable growth that has the best interests of all parties in mind is better.

We will come together to discuss how we got here, and the best paths forward in terms of maintaining sustainability in terms of the environment, the economy, and our personal running practices.

• Simon Freeman (Like the Wind magazine)

• Raziq Rauf (Running Sucks)

• Ellie-May Brooks (On)

• More TBC

South Asians Run - a celebration

This isn't a conversation that could've happened five years ago. But yes, we do.

As running has grown and grown, South Asian runners have become increasingly visible. Individuals have risen through the sport into decision-making positions, and more and more South-Asian-specific run clubs are forming a part of the current running boom. Here, we will come together and celebrate the trailblazers in our community.

In this South Asian Heritage Month event, we'll discuss both internal and external factors in why it's taken so long for people of South Asian origin to begin to rise up in the running world, and where we go from here.

• Amritpal Ghatora (Tracksmith)

• Mara Hafezi (South Asian Heritage Month)

• Harkiran Kalsi (Women Make Moves)

• Raziq Rauf (Running Sucks)

If you’re in London this August and whether one or all of these topics appeals to you, please come and join the conversation at Runlimited.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you soon
Raz x