Kamilah Journét on Running, Not Running and Creating Spaces of Belonging

The Trail Ahead

Kamilah Journét is a long-distance runner, environmentalist, and brand marketing strategist. She discovered her love for running in junior high and continued competing in Cross Country and Track at high school and collegiate levels. She joins The Trail Ahead for a conversation about:

- creating a space of belonging in the outdoors

- embracing a changing identity as a runner

- not running (imagine that!)

- finding joy through movement

- taking up space, especially in conversations/decisions making spaces

Kamilah shares what playing outside means to her and why we as adults need to learn what playing could mean. She discusses why it’s more important than ever to find outlets for joy and play. As an environmentalist and activist, Kamilah shares why it’s so important to be aware of how others around you might process information.

Kamilah discusses her career as a runner, how she began, and where she is with her relationship to the sport today. She talks about the rude awakening and difficult process of finding who she is aside from her identity as a runner, and how therapy ultimately helped her discover herself. This important conversation reminds you about the power of having honest and open conversations. Tune in to this conversation for an important reminder of how our vulnerabilities and the little pieces of our life make us who we are today.

The Debrief features Sarah Jacquette Ray author of A Field Guide To Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Cool on a Warming Planet.

Episode Resources

• Runners for Public Lands: https://runnersforpubliclands.org/
• “Kamilah Journét, a powerful voice for anti-racism in the running and outdoor industries” for Citius Magazine
  https://citiusmag.com/podcast/social-sport-podcast-kamilah-journet/
• Follow Kamilah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamilahjournet/
• The Debrief features Sarah Jacquette Ray author of A Field Guide To Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Cool on a Warming Planet
  https://sarahjaquetteray.com/