In this episode of the MidPacker pod brought you by FreeTrail, with generous support from Vacation Races, Troy Meadows talks with Vivian Tang about acting locally while thinking globally when it comes to empowering the BIPOC community to embrace the trails.

Vivian is a clinical pharmacist, trail runner, and community organizer.  She is very passionate about inclusion in trail running and we dive deep into a few topics including the treatment of a group of BIPOC spectators at this year's Boston Marathon and the presence in past years of a confederate flag license plate at the Barkley Marathons.  While this plate has not been displayed in years, pictures still surface every fall when the race is held.  We discuss the feeling that this brings up in her and other BIPOC individuals and why it is important to have open communication and discussion about topics like these in order to find common ground and create safe places for creating the inclusion we want to see in the sport.

Vivian also co-leads a trail running club for women of color in Portland, OR, through Trail Mixed Collective, an organization focused on increasing access to outdoor sports for women of color. We discuss the need to act locally and think globally when it comes to making the trails a welcoming place for everyone.

I commend Vivian for being willing to have an open conversation on a hard topic and leading by example when it comes to being the change she would like to see in the world of trail running.

IG@VivianWTang

https://www.trailmixedcollective.com

https://www.boston.com/news/boston-marathon/2023/04/20/baa-speaks-out-black-boston-marathon-spectators-say-they-were-targeted/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/sports/gary-cantrell-barkley-marathons.html

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