Fit and Hungry

Be on the lookout for the two women in the poster above. Sources say they are pounding the pavement trying to rewrite history and inspire others to be healthy. Also, they have this thing on the internet, a website, where they converge and entice victims to join the fold. When I found out about these bandits, I immediately contacted the authorities. But without any hard evidence –  I had not physically seen them running – I could not file a complaint. But that didn’t stop me. I took matters into my own hands and tracked them down. I emailed them pretending to be an athlete interviewing them for my blog and they fell for it. Ha!

In this Q & A, Toni and Ashley, the masterminds behind black girls RUN , discuss running, hair drama, reality checks, and chasing men.

1. Why do you run? Why not kickboxing, biking, or moose hunting?
Toni: Let me start by saying I’m not athletic or competitive. I think I fell in love with running because I know that the only person I’m competing against is me. Plus, I’m able to eat pretty much whatever I want.
Ashley: Well, my chosen passion wasn’t running, it was soccer. But, after a series of injuries and burnout, I decided I needed a new workout routine and kind of fell into running. I think what keeps me running is that I am able to get away from it all when I run. Sometimes I can just feel stress and tension leaving my body with each step.

2. African-American women are far behind our European counterparts in health and fitness. Why hasn’t it clicked for us?
Toni: Unfortunately I think that we are our own worst enemy and in a lot of areas we have just settled. We don’t see health as a huge importance and we have even coined terms like “thick” to make being overweight socially acceptable. I also think that our culture has a weird connection with food. I grew up in Tennessee and every Sunday my mom does the big Southern soul food dinner. I keep trying to convince her to try making some of the dishes without so much grease, but she’s convinced they just won’t taste the same and its completely out of the box from how she was raised.
Ashley: I definitely think that one reason we are behind our European counterparts is because we don’t have the same pressure to be skinny that they do. Whether it is through the media or just culturally, I think that white women are bombarded with messages telling them that they need to lose weight and be a perfect size two. However, we don’t feel the same pressure. In many ways I think that we celebrate our “thickness” and curves, when really we need a reality check.
[Angel: I have so much to say on this topic. In short, our failure to exercise has to do with our hair, our lack of health knowledge, and our quest to keep the booty. Go to the end of this article for more about this topic.]

3. The “hair” is a real hurdle for sisters who don’t want to “sweat it out”. How do you keep your hair from looking a hot mess? What’s your fool proof plan?
Toni: Honestly, 90 percent of the time I look a hot mess. I decided a long time ago that my health was way more important than my hair. I usually co-wash my hair during the week and go to the salon on the weekends for the real deal. As long as I’m cute to go out on the weekends, I’m good.
Ashley: Fool proof? Well, I don’t have a fool proof plan, but since I have gone natural it is easier to maintain my hair. I usually co-wash and flat twist my hair using Kinky Curly Curling Custard. The curly style usually holds up through a tough workout and I can go out afterwards and not look a complete mess.
[Angel: Toni, is there any chance we are related? Because I would've said the same thing. I've accepted that most days of the week, I will not look like America's Top Model. Rather America's Top Troll Doll. My frizzy curls and frizzy bun have become my signature. However, this is not a thing I am proud of so I've amassed a number of scarves to rock during the week. This way I look stylish and fit. Woot.]

4. What running shoes do you wear?
Toni: Brooks! I’ve tried other brands but keep going back to Brooks. I refuse to wear anything else.
Ashley: Asics

5. If you could chase anyone, who would it be?
Toni: This is going to sound weird, but I would chase Jimmy Fallon or Conan O’Brien. I love to laugh and I think they would keep me laughing the entire time, even if I felt like my legs were going to fall off.
Ashley: I don’t know if I would chase anyone, but I would definitely like to be chased by David Beckham.
[Angel: Ladies, you've managed to answer this question perfectly. Good job.]

6. If you had a passport and tireless feet where would you run to and why?
Toni: I would definitely run to London. I just feel like it’s so sophisticated and cool. I would love to call it home. Ashley: My first thought was that I would run to China and run across The Great Wall. But, after a little more thought, I think I would rather run to Rio De Janeiro, sip a few cocktails, hit the beach and play a few soccer games.

7. 3 top running songs. I challenge you to give me a song that I don’t already listen to, but I should.
Toni: It Takes Two by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock; Boyz by MIA; Gold Lion (Diplo Remix) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Ashley: I Rock by Cool Kids; Ask About me by Girl Talk; Any Travis Barker remix
[Angel: Thank you for following instructions. I've never heard listened to the Yeah Yeahs or Travis Barker remixes. Downloading now.]

Ashley and Toni are the founders of Black Girls RUN, an organization focused on promoting mental, physical and spiritual health to African-American women by providing information and resources on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can follow them at www.blackgirlsrun.com, facebook.com/blackgirlsrun and on Twitter at @blackgirlsrun.

Now, let’s dish about question #2 . Why don’t black females exercise? Black females: what are you thoughts? Do you think exercising will affect your sex appeal? White females: do you feel pressure to be skinny? Is that why you exercise? Men: would you be upset if your lady, regardless of race, lost her curves due to exercise? If you don’t fall into any of those groups, what do you think? Do you think society perpetuates certain standards for certain demographics?