Awesome & Inclusive: Running in Multilcultural Ireland

uvox wrote: »

Totally awesome to see female members of the Dublin Islamic community out there running in Dublin 8!

What a tribute to the inclusiveness of our sport and activity to see female runners in hijabs and running shoes putting down some miles along the canal.

Again, who cares who you are, what you are, or what you wear. We're all runners.

It's sights like this, where ever you encounter them, that transcend differences and make the place better for everyone and show the potential for running in the community.

Given the season that's in it as we're celebrating what it means to live on this Island, it almost brings a tear to my eye.

Go for it, Sisters!

Good feature on the subject of Muslim women and sport in the Irish Times a while ago reminded me of all this: Hijabs and Hat-tricks. Hijabs and Half-Marathons too!

Complete OTT stuff here. Hassiba Boulmerka, a Muslim woman from Algeria, won 1500m gold at the 1992 Olympic Games, the first to accomplish this feat, with others following since. Muslim women competing in sport is common these days. Sure in some incredibly backward countries it is still an issue, but not in Ireland, and I wouldn't bat an eyelid to seeing somebody from another cultural background out running around Dublin.

Totally unnecessary thread IMO.

uvox wrote: »

Totally awesome to see female members of the Dublin Islamic community out there running in Dublin 8!

What a tribute to the inclusiveness of our sport and activity to see female runners in hijabs and running shoes putting down some miles along the canal.

Again, who cares who you are, what you are, or what you wear. We're all runners.

It's sights like this, where ever you encounter them, that transcend differences and make the place better for everyone and show the potential for running in the community.

Given the season that's in it as we're celebrating what it means to live on this Island, it almost brings a tear to my eye.

Go for it, Sisters!

Good feature on the subject of Muslim women and sport in the Irish Times a while ago reminded me of all this: Hijabs and Hat-tricks. Hijabs and Half-Marathons too!

Thanks for that. Never seen a woman running in a Jihab in Ireland before.
They will be surfing next!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2937668/Hanging-ten-Iran-Irish-woman-brought-surfing-one-world-s-deadliest-coasts-conservative-Muslim-country.html

walshb

Boulmerka? Stick a Jihab on her and see how well she does!

Yet more Boards landfill.

I would have thought this thread has plenty of potential to open a discussion about demographics of Irish runners both outside and inside clubs, elite and non-elite:

For example is anyone aware of any muslim women (or men) in the Irish club scene?
Extending from that how about other minorities?
Drilling even further in what demographic actually are the vast majority of runners?
Is it a middle class sport now in Ireland, for example?
Is it different at the elite end..presumable a little different?
From observation the sport of Irish mountain running in general terms is middle class but that may be because of the relatively remote locations.
Not a criticism just an observation.
Is the Irish running scene really inclusive?

average_runner

demfad wrote: »

I would have thought this thread has plenty of potential to open a discussion about demographics of Irish runners both outside and inside clubs, elite and non-elite:

For example is anyone aware of any muslim women (or men) in the Irish club scene?
Extending from that how about other minorities?
Drilling even further in what demographic actually are the vast majority of runners?
Is it a middle class sport now in Ireland, for example?
Is it different at the elite end..presumable a little different?
From observation the sport of Irish mountain running in general terms is middle class but that may be because of the relatively remote locations.
Not a criticism just an observation.
Is the Irish running scene really inclusive?

Its not something I care about when running with people, basically the way I see it, we are all on the track to train together and help each other, you could be poor or rich, catholic or any other belief. Once I help to get the max out of you and vice versa.

average_runner wrote: »

Its not something I care about when running with people, basically the way I see it, we are all on the track to train together and help each other, you could be poor or rich, catholic or any other belief. Once I help to get the max out of you and vice versa.

Yes. It doesn't generally cross my mind when I'm training on the track with people either. You weren't running with anyone when you typed your message though (hopefully) so I'd be interested in hearing your views on the points I raised.

RayCun

yeah, possibly interesting discussion

demfad wrote: »

For example is anyone aware of any muslim women (or men) in the Irish club scene?

not that I know of

demfad wrote: »

Extending from that how about other minorities?

there are some black kids competing in juvenile track and field/cross country, but far fewer adults in the equivalent races, as far as I can see

demfad wrote: »

Drilling even further in what demographic actually are the vast majority of runners?
Is it a middle class sport now in Ireland, for example?
Is it different at the elite end..presumable a little different?
From observation the sport of Irish mountain running in general terms is middle class but that may be because of the relatively remote locations.
Not a criticism just an observation.
Is the Irish running scene really inclusive?

I think one issue is that the established clubs tend to be in areas that are now middle-class-ish. And maybe middle-class parents are more likely to drive their kids to a club that is further away? Training for schools competition is going to be easier in schools that have access to facilities (even if that is only 'nearby, safe green space')

Enduro

I think one paricular club has a serious issue when it comes inclusivity, which is Crusaders. I've been saying for many many years that they should change their name precisely because of this, and I personally decided not to join the club because of the name (many years ago, when it seemed like nearly every runner I knew was a member of the club).

Whilst I agree that running in general tends towards having middle class participation at the moment, I don't thanks that that is anything more than the current state of play. There's plenty of exceptions (including in Hillrunning Demfad).

Coffee Fulled Runner

Enduro wrote: »

I think one paricular club has a serious issue when it comes inclusivity, which is Crusaders. I've been saying for many many years that they should change their name precisely because of this, and I personally decided not to join the club because of the name (many years ago, when it seemed like nearly every runner I knew was a member of the club).

Whilst I agree that running in general tends towards having middle class participation at the moment, I don't thanks that that is anything more than the current state of play. There's plenty of exceptions (including in Hillrunning Demfad).

Not sure if you are taking the piss or not but it would be ridiculous for a club to change its name in case it offended anyone. PC nonsense getting offended on behalf of someone who might be offended

Enduro

Coffee Fulled Runner wrote: »

Not sure if you are taking the piss or not but it would be ridiculous for a club to change its name in case it offended anyone. PC nonsense getting offended on behalf of someone who might be offended

Using a purely theoretical, but in my view directly equivalent, example would it be PC nonsense to find the name of "Kill all Taigs A.C." objectionalable?

Can you not see why the use of a term which literaly by definition means a holy war fought against the Muslim religion might not be the most welcoming thing to Muslims

demfad wrote: »

I would have thought this thread has plenty of potential to open a discussion about demographics of Irish runners both outside and inside clubs, elite and non-elite:

For example is anyone aware of any muslim women (or men) in the Irish club scene?
Extending from that how about other minorities?
Drilling even further in what demographic actually are the vast majority of runners?
Is it a middle class sport now in Ireland, for example?
Is it different at the elite end..presumable a little different?
From observation the sport of Irish mountain running in general terms is middle class but that may be because of the relatively remote locations.
Not a criticism just an observation.
Is the Irish running scene really inclusive?

From being involved in track and field, and sprinting in particular, I see tons of runners of African heritage competing. I would see athletics as a very inclusive sport. It's just not all that popular a sport among the general public, so you are probably less likely to see people involved from cultures that have no great interest in the sport.

In Melbourne, the athletics scene had people from all cultural backgrounds. More so than here, but that's just down to Australia being a far more multicultural country than European nations (for obvious reasons).

I see no issue with inclusiveness in our sport. If somebody wants to run then they are welcome. I haven't noticed anything to the contrary.

In a way, the OP making a huge deal about muslim women out running, he is engaging in positive discrimination, something which I detest. Why should they be praised for running? And why should the sport be praised for having them involved? The former is what humans do to keep fit, regardless of cultural background, and the latter is to be expected, not something to be praised.

RayCun wrote: »

yeah, possibly interesting discussion

not that I know of

there are some black kids competing in juvenile track and field/cross country, but far fewer adults in the equivalent races, as far as I can see

I think one issue is that the established clubs tend to be in areas that are now middle-class-ish. And maybe middle-class parents are more likely to drive their kids to a club that is further away? Training for schools competition is going to be easier in schools that have access to facilities (even if that is only 'nearby, safe green space')

Agreed. Inner city based clubs should actually promote themselves as a club for the 20-somethings, from Ireland and abroad. Young people from abroad in particular tend to live close to the city centre, and rely on public transport. We had a super sprinter from Spain in our group for awhile, and he'd come to the sessions at Irishtown, but never out to the ridiculously far flung location where we would do hills. The likes of Crusaders and Donore could really promote itself to the 20-somethings from abroad and have far more success than clubs based way out of the city centre.

When I lived in Melbourne, I joined one of the very few inner city based clubs. There are only about 4 clubs there now in the inner suburban area. The rest are out in the middle and outer suburbs and would never attract somebody like myself who moved to a new city, lived close to the city centre and relied 100% on public transport.

Chivito550 wrote: »

Agreed. Inner city based clubs should actually promote themselves as a club for the 20-somethings, from Ireland and abroad. Young people from abroad in particular tend to live close to the city centre, and rely on public transport. We had a super sprinter from Spain in our group for awhile, and he'd come to the sessions at Irishtown, but never out to the ridiculously far flung location where we would do hills. The likes of Crusaders and Donore could really promote itself to the 20-somethings from abroad and have far more success than clubs based way out of the city centre.

That's a fair point. In general a lot of clubs are welcoming. However, the communication circles for (e.g.) young people from abroad may not intersect with those of the general demographic where runners have traditionally come from. Word of mouth wouldn't reach these groups for example.
That would mean that for clubs to be truly inclusive (and potentially successful as you say) they would have to be more pro-active in seeking out and communicating with these groups.
No point in being welcoming at the door if the invitation isn't really reaching them.

Wild Garlic

I was once a member of Parnell AC, had to get out though, bloody home rulers.

In Tallaght we have a few black kids (sprinters, of course), and we did have two senior members from the sub-continent (I'm not actually sure if India or Pakistan), but one has now moved to the UK. Running is overwhelmingly a white sport in Ireland, though, it must be said. I don't mean that in a negative way, but obviously it would be nice if the running demographic reflected the national racial mix. What does hearten me, to look at it another way, is the increasing incidence of lads, again most likely from the sub-continent, that you see out having an off-the-cuff game of cricket. These people's kids will one day play for Ireland. I think that's fantastic, just like one or two of our sprinters in Tallaght are making a name for themselves nationally.

demfad wrote: »

That's a fair point. In general a lot of clubs are welcoming. However, the communication circles for (e.g.) young people from abroad may not intersect with those of the general demographic where runners have traditionally come from. Word of mouth wouldn't reach these groups for example.
That would mean that for clubs to be truly inclusive (and potentially successful as you say) they would have to be more pro-active in seeking out and communicating with these groups.
No point in being welcoming at the door if the invitation isn't really reaching them.

Well yeh, but that’s just athletics in Ireland in general. Poorly promoted. The promotion towards foreign people from different cultures and the promotion towards Irish people is equally bad.

PaulieC

RayCun wrote: »

I think one issue is that the established clubs tend to be in areas that are now middle-class-ish.

Like those famously middle-class areas Ringsend and Tallaght ? :rolleyes:

Enduro wrote: »

I think one paricular club has a serious issue when it comes inclusivity, which is Crusaders. I've been saying for many many years that they should change their name precisely because of this

WTAF ? Do you actually think they are non-inclusive because of their name or are you just looking for a rise ?

RayCun

not to get too far off-topic, but there were debates in my own club about the club name and political baggage. The reference is obvious if you think about it, but afaik most people don't. (I was in the club a year at least before my "oh yeah!" moment, but I'm slow on the uptake

) 'Crusaders' is a lot more obvious, especially with that badge.

But I don't know if it does put people off. And I'm sure any suggestion to change the club name would be massively divisive, such an enormous break with the past...

PaulieC wrote: »

Like those famously middle-class areas Ringsend and Tallaght ? :rolleyes:

Oi! We became middle-class when we got de fookin' Square, pal.

RayCun wrote: »

not to get too far off-topic, but there were debates in my own club about the club name and political baggage. The reference is obvious if you think about it, but afaik most people don't. (I was in the club a year at least before my "oh yeah!" moment, but I'm slow on the uptake ) 'Crusaders' is a lot more obvious, especially with that badge.

But I don't know if it does put people off. And I'm sure any suggestion to change the club name would be massively divisive, such an enormous break with the past...

Change it to Sisters Pearse for real. Job done!

Chivito550 wrote: »

Well yeh, but that’s just athletics in Ireland in general. Poorly promoted. The promotion towards foreign people from different cultures and the promotion towards Irish people is equally bad.

My point is that the 20 somethings from home are at least exposed to the message to a degree, the 20 somethings from abroad less so it seems.
If inner city clubs want to target and include 20 somethings from abroad, then how do they achieve this?

Coffee Fulled Runner

Enduro wrote: »

Using a purely theoretical, but in my view directly equivalent, example would it be PC nonsense to find the name of "Kill all Taigs A.C." objectionalable?

Can you not see why the use of a term which literaly by definition means a holy war fought against the Muslim religion might not be the most welcoming thing to Muslims

I know what you're saying but I disagree. If members want to change the name then that's business if a Muslim community wanted to call a club jihad AC let them too. Live and let live, life is too short to be looking for battles around every corner.

Coffee Fulled Runner wrote: »

I know what you're saying but I disagree. If members want to change the name then that's business if a Muslim community wanted to call a club jihad AC let them too. Live and let live, life is too short to be looking for battles around every corner.

Live and let live, but go set up a Muslim club if you've a problem with our Christian one?
Not very inclusive is it.