It has been said that “The real purpose of running isn’t to win a race. It’s to test the limits of the human heart.”
“Running has always been something I found challenging,” said runner Karim Olen Ash.
“I would see people running on the street and kind of wonder to myself why are they doing this? So when I got the opportunity to join a group, I wanted to take that opportunity.”
Ash started running last September with the IN Run Crew, a running program created by IN Magazine.
“It’s Canada’s only LGBTQ lifestyle magazine and we launched in 2010 really to provide another option to the LGBTQ community and to be a resource,” said Patricia Salib, publisher of IN Magazine.
Weekly runs take place once a week and are open to the general public. The aim of the initiative is to create a safe space for members and allies of the LGBTQ community to engage in physical activity while promoting LGBTQ inclusion in sport.
“It’s giving me the opportunity to really look beyond myself as a person in this community,” said Ash.
“Having other people who are like minded in that same way who want to create change.”
“I think there’s so much more work to be done,” said Salib.
“Now we’re looking at how we can inspire youth, particularly who are still dealing with the homophobia in sport or combating equality in their schools.”
The weekly runs serve as training for the annual Pride and Remembrance Run during Pride weekend.
“What’s really great about our run group is they’re committed to making a difference and they get to develop and they get to partner with community groups and they get to decide how we can impact the community here in Toronto and in Canada,” said Salib.