This relay, co-organized by Oiselle and Run 4 All Women, was like nothing I’ve done before. The goal: raise funds for Black Voters Matter as teams of 15-20 people virtually marched from Atlanta to DC, passing through civil rights landmarks and learning history along the way. 10,000 athletes registered, creating 667 teams who sought to complete the 680-mile journey during the week of September 21st-27th.
The name of my team was SoulsPollsGoals, which included members from Indy, and as far away as Alaska and Connecticut. It was fun logging in every day, adding my miles and seeing everyone else’s progress. One day, Glennis in Alaska had to cut her run short because a moose forced an early turn-around. Not something I experience in my every day midwest runs!
I got in most of my miles by walking, biking, and running, but other things counted too. The organizers made a very long list of activities that was as inclusive as it gets. To name a few, there was a workout of the day, or you could count dancing, yoga, housework, or cooking. That was part of what made this so different. I loved that you didn’t have to be a high mileage athlete to take part.
Then there was the history part. When we virtually made it to South Carolina, we learned that the first American abduction of men and women from Africa occurred there in November 1526. We met Septima Clark, who taught black people to read so they could vote. We passed Springfield Baptist Church, the headquarters for non-violent civil rights protests in the 1960s. In Virginia, we met Ella J. Baker, who developed leadership workshops and organized campaigns against lynching. We learned about amendments and purges aimed at voter suppression.
These lessons spanning the centuries highlighted the enduring and present nature of injustice. I often wonder how my small contribution can make a difference, but this relay felt productive and positive. All together, we raised more than $270,000 for Black Voters Matter. If even one person gets access to vote that didn’t have it before, that feels like a victory to me.
The history lessons, the camaraderie, the feeling of being part of something bigger than myself, the motivation to keep moving—all of it was just what I needed in the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing. What a mountain of a woman. As a female, I might not be able to have my own credit card, much less run my own business without the work she did for women.
One thing I know for sure: I will not take my vote, nor my right to cast it, for granted. And while the relay may be over, I’m holding onto the positive vibes for as along as I can.
