Nonbinary Visibility and Run For The Water
This was the first year in which gender inclusivity was addressed, and a non-binary gender category was added to the event registration page. The value of inclusivity and representation aligns with the Foundation’s value to equitably provide clean water to all, healing divisions and building common ground.
Run For The Water, a 10 miler and 5K in Austin, TX, and the second-largest charity-produced road race in Austin Texas was set to include a nonbinary registration to their race in 2020, but it was canceled due to COVID, and added for the 2021 race.
“Race organizers had to think through how a nonbinary option would work,” said Courtney Waldren, executive director of the Gazelle Foundation (Run for the Water is a fundraising event to support their mission of bringing clean water to people in Burundi). “It’s more than altering registration platform radio buttons, its waivers, timing, race day announcements, award ceremony, etcetera. But having an inclusive event is important to us.” She added.
The Power of Inclusivity
Gazelle Foundation designs, funds and builds clean water systems in Burundi Africa.
Water systems are designed to provide equal access to all members of the communities they serve, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. Gazelle Foundation believes that access to clean water is foundational to building a healthy community and that healthy communities are the first line of defense against extremism and violence. This value is particularly important given Burundi’s tragic history of civil war and ethnically-based violence.
In 2020 Gazelle Foundation began the work to apply this same value of inclusivity and representation to Run For The Water and create a nonbinary registration category.
Read the article published in Road Runners Club of America Running Community News, written by Jen A Miller. Gender Inclusivity Lets Runners Compete as Themselves.
Read more about Gazelle Foundation’s work in Burundi, Africa.
@byJenMiller is an award-winning freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, Runner's World, Running Times and Allure. She's the author of Running: A Love Story. She lives in Collingswood, N.J.
Lead Photo: Thousands of runners from around New York City started their 2022 racing seasons on Saturday at the NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K with a full-lap course around Central Park. This marked the first NYRR race where the top non-binary finisher was recognized with a finish-line tape break and an award on site, as part of NYRR’s commitment to increase inclusivity and representation in the running community. Zackary Harris, representing Front Runners New York, was the top non-binary finisher in a time of 40:59. (Image – New York Road Runners)