The guys begin November's banter episode discussing Start Line Impact, a grassroots movement spearheaded by friend of the pod and past guest Kirsten Fleming to galvanize the industry's many players to call attention to running events' positive impacts on their community and the challenges they face right now (want to get involved? Fill out this form). Discussion of Start Line Impact devolves into Tony deciding he needs to start an industry motorcycle gang called "Herd of Cats" and Eli boning up on the definition of "gantry" before Eli moves on by asking Tony to tell listeners about a project he has been working on: the Tony Banovich Roads, Tracks, and Trails Memorial Run, a virtual race fundraiser for Run Wild Missoula in honor of their recently-deceased and much-beloved Executive Director. (Want to learn more about Tony B? Listen to this episode we shared from our friends at BibRave.) The goal is 1,000 registrants, and you can be one of them by registering here.
Eli then does a "professional podcaster segue" into talking about the Running USA Global Running Survey, the industry's annual census of runners. Tony (a Running USA Board Member!) lets folks know that the survey has expanded its scope this year, including both a version focused on the European market and also a new section on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The guys then discuss a serious DEI topic, Rebuild NYRR, an organization established by current and former New York Road Runners employees looking to force the organization to confront what the group alleges is a culture of bias and racism within NYRR. We can't stress this enough: it's important that the industry take claims like this seriously and tries to live up to its stated ethos of inclusion, and this isn't a problem exclusive to NYRR. The guys recommend listeners check out and join the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, and call on all of us to do the sometimes uncomfortable work needed to move the industry forward to become an inclusive and equitable one.
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