My research journey is personal.
Thirteen years ago, I took up running because I needed a hobby. I had always been extremely rude about running, I thought it was a very strange way to spend time, but I needed something to focus on and it was the idea I kept coming back to. I downloaded a Couch to 5km training plan, and, under the cover of darkness, I went for my first run. It was life changing. I would normally shudder at this type of hyperbole, but the first time I ran I felt something shift. At the time I was in my late 20s. I worked in financial services in a job I was good at but did not find especially fulfilling. I was in a dysfunctional relationship but assumed that was just how things were. I spent a lot of time on edge and worn down. Running offered me freedom I did not have in other parts of my life. It offered me a focus and a different identity; I became a person who could do things and push themselves. The more involved I became in the running community the more invested I became in supporting other women to have the same ‘lightbulb moment’ I had. I became an active part of the running community in London, attending various running groups and eventually becoming a run leader for the activewear retailer Lululemon.
Social justice and activism have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but I really became aware of the impact of social inequalities as a sixth form student in Southern Africa. The school I attended was a United World College (UWC), a group of schools which have a shared aim to use education to unite people. Students were drawn from across the world, irrespective of their ability to pay, to spend two years studying and building the skills needed to be leaders and challenge systems to create a more just world. True to the purpose of UWC I came away with a drive to challenge inequalities and injustice. I studied social policy as an undergraduate, was active in student politics and went on to study law. Somewhere along the way I lost my focus but running brought it back.
Over time I developed more critical awareness around running. I observed how the sport was positioned as inclusive and accessible, but that there was a significant gender gap. I heard women’s frustrations about the accessibility of kit and size inclusivity and understood more about the costs involved in the sport. I spoke to friends who were running towards the back of races and felt the anxiety that comes with thinking you’re going to finish last. I could see why women might be put off participating. The juxtaposition between reality and how the sport has been marketed made me uncomfortable and I could see how it could prevent women from taking up running and, in turn, experiencing the lightbulb moment that was so important in my own life. I knew that this was where I wanted to focus my activism, I wanted women to engage with and enjoy sport on a level footing with men.
By this point I was writing regularly for various running publications, but I felt that I wanted to be able to back my opinions up with some level of authority which led me to pursue a master’s degree in Sports Management. During this time, I immersed myself in questions related to participation, diversity and inclusion in sport and learnt more about how sport systems work. I had become increasingly curious about ultra-running, particularly the idea that it was a sport where women were outrunning men. I wanted to know if there was anything we could learn from this insane sport which could reduce the gender gap in other sports. This curiosity, alongside my access to ultra-runners who were willing to participate in my research, led me to investigate the issue doe my master’s dissertation. Considering the media representations of women in ultra-running and the experiences of a small cohort of runners, I believed ultra-running was perhaps not as equitable as I had believed. Mindful that my analysis was based on the experiences of a very small group of runners I felt compelled to investigate the issue further, which is what prompted me to undertake a PhD.
During my PhD I had the opportunity to engage in meaningful activism. This was something I had shied away from in the early years of my research, I lacked confidence, and I still had a long way to go with regards to forming my own perspectives on issues. Taking time to thoughtfully develop my perspectives increased my confidence and I began sharing critical reflections on the experiences of women in running on social media. Through content creation I have been able to draw attention to a range of issues affecting women’s participation and build a reputation for creating resources which are not just provocative, but also credible. Positioning myself as a ‘feminist sociologist of sport’ I contribute a unique space in the social media landscape which draws together both science communication and activism.
When I started this work as an MSc student, I knew I wanted to have a meaningful impact and advocate for women in sport, I just didn’t know what that would look like. My PhD hasn’t just given me the opportunity to carry out meaningful research and given me the credibility to speak out about an issue I am invested in, it has also given me the space to really understand my perspective and values and the time to cultivate a platform for advocacy.