Young. Wild. Free.

Young, wild & free…that’s how I feel when I go for a run with my natural hair blowing in the wind.

I feel free

I feel young

I feel the weight of years of oppression lifted and for a moment I revert back to my young self...a person who hadn’t endured 35 years of systemic oppression

Running is my meditation

Running is my freedom

Running is my gift from god

So often I find myself in prayer during a run

So often I find myself in deep thought and conversation with myself during a run

So often if find myself during a run

Running is my salvation

Running is mine

Running is a privilege

Running used to be something I wouldn’t do...I couldn’t sweat out my hair and still look like a good black girl, an approachable black girl

Running was free...but for me it wasn’t always that way

Running required much thought, much strategy, much pre-planning...for a black girl

My love of running has allowed me to dig deeper into the essence of ME

My love of running has allowed me to love me more

My love of running has forced me to love my nappy hair

My love of running has taught me how to embrace my kinks, curls & naps

So on this day...when I run I pray. When I run I cry. When I run I am ME - a free black woman.