Black and Asian runners highlight racist abuse

Black and Asian runners say they have faced racist abuse and unwanted stares while jogging and sometimes fear for their safety.

Their accounts come after running coach Emma Kirk-Odunubi said she was racially abused by some spectators at the Great North Run last week and described it as her worst ever experience in a race.

One man from Gateshead, who is black and asked to remain anonymous as he feared further abuse, said he had been told to "go back to your country" while out on a run in the area.

"I was running with my friends - just me and three other black guys - and somebody rode a bike past us and said go back to your country you immigrants," he said.

The man also said people sometimes shouted racist insults at members of his running club when they congregated.

"It's happened a few times," he said.

He said he tried not to let the racism upset him but admitted: "It's not very nice to experience."

The runner said he had faced racism throughout his life in the region.

"I grew up an in area where there's lots of white kids that would pick on the other ethnic kids," he said. "You kind of become numb to it."

A Muslim woman, who wears a hijab, said she had experienced "highs and lows" since starting to run outdoors in Newcastle four years ago.

Safety fears meant she also asked to remain anonymous. She said she was stared at a lot when she first started and sometimes people said things under their breath when they saw her.

As a result, she only ran on routes she knew, avoided certain parts of the city and never ran in the early hours of the day or in the dark.

"Women are automatic targets whether we're running or not," she said.

"But, when you're visibly a Muslim woman, there is an extra added element of fear and safety concern."

She also called for local running clubs to try harder to attract more ethnic minorities and people with a range of body types.

"The inclusivity isn't there," she said.

Baba Suryawanshi, from Sunderland Strollers running club, said at least 90% of his club were white people but he had never been made to feel out of place.

He said he had not experienced racism while out running in Sunderland but acknowledged others may not have been so fortunate.

However, all three runners said they would encourage more people from ethnic minorities to run in the region.

"Running gives you so much confidence," the woman said. "It allows you to see the city and the region in a different light.

"Especially when we talk about health inequalities and getting women and people of colour involved in sports - there's no better way than running."

She also said in the past year more people had started smiling at her when she ran.

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