South Fulton Running Partners
Welcome to the South Fulton Running Partners
Established in 1979
Lace up your shoes and join us for an epic running experience!
Our Mission
Founded in 1979 the South Fulton Running Partners is the oldest Black running club in the US. At South Fulton Running Partners, our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to live a healthy and active lifestyle through running. We believe that running is not only a physical activity but also a way to build mental strength and foster a sense of community. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive space where runners can come together, support each other, and achieve their personal best.
Fitness
“I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done.”
― David Goggins
Running, racing, setting goals, putting in the work and reaping the results are central to the Partners’ identify. The breadth and depth of the SFRP’s commitment to excellence and achievement in running is wide and deep. Our sub-3 hour marathon runners, sub-40 10k runners, and a stable of podium finishers is complimented by a cadre of conversational pace and non-competitive runners. Whether the goal is to finish first, or just to finish strong, the common bond among all of our runners is dedication to improvement.
Fellowship
“There is no beauty but in relationships. Nothing cut off by itself is ever beautiful…All beauty is in the creative purpose of our relationships”
― Ayi Kwei Armah, Two Thousand Seasons
A recurring theme in African and African-America culture is fellowship.
As the oldest black running club in the nation, the Partners have organically created an environment within a running club that unapologetically reflects this reality.
Arguably, running is fundamentally a solitary endeavor; however, when done within a collective, a new palette of experiences emerge. Whether out racing on the road, training on the track, or moving on the dance floor, fellowship is the fuel that animates our movements. Relationships that are open, meaningful, and nurturing within our club, and between others, lends power to our purpose.
Fun
“happiness is not perfected until it is shared”
― African Proverb
Joy, laughter, excitement, and the pleasure of positive interactions with like minded people is the secret sauce of the SFRP. The Partners are committed to playing as hard as we work. Whether it’s an outing to a stage play, the adventure of a road-trip, game nights, or getting down on the dance floor, the Partners are known to “have more fun”. Moreover, as outdoor enthusiasts the Partners will often trade in their running shoes for hiking boots, cycling shoes, or swim goggles. We find satisfaction and achievement in triathlons, duathlons, bike rides, hiking, and even rock climbing.
Service
“Service is the rent we pay for living.”
― Marian Wright Edelman
For the Black community service is an obligation, not an option; and the Partners embrace this ethos. Since founding the inaugural Sickle Cell Road Race in 1979 (a fund raiser for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia) the Partners have continued to embrace the idea that strengthening our community begins with each one of us. The Partners have rolled up their sleeves to assist a variety of community organizations helping to address issues of food insecurity, homelessness, helplessness, and more. Participating in neighborhood clean-ups, assisting groups that serve our youth, adding our voices to issues of social justice, etc. There, activities have all been physical affirmations of the value we place on community.
Family
“We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.”
― Gwendolyn Brooks
Although running is the catalyst that brought us together, the strength of our interpersonal relationships is the glue that has kept us together. Supporting, embracing, challenging, working together, and lifting each other up, are all elements of the bonds that have strengthened and sustained the Partners for more than 45 years.
Food
“Food is cultural sustainability. More than mere sustenance, food rituals and customs are symbolic for what they convey about who we are”
― Psyche A. Williams-Forson
Food is Life. Some have joked that the Partners appear to be more of an eating club that runs, verses a running club that eats. As fitness advocates, the Partners understand that food is fuel. But more importantly, we acknowledge that as is tradition in African and African American culture, food is about connection, honesty, identity, and love. From our social functions to our weekly runs, food is the ingredient that bridges our differences and highlights our commonality.
Ted Corbit
“There are two things we all should care about: never forget where we came from and always praise the bridges that carried us over”.
― Fannie Lou Hamer
The Partners and the entire global running community stand tall only because we stand on the shoulders of giants. None is more impactful and signifiant than Ted Corbitt. The grandson of slaves, Ted Corbitt, would come to be known as the “Father of Long Distance Running”. He was on the US Marathon Olympic Team in 1952 and he was the US National Marathon Champion in 1954. He completed the Boston Marathon 22 times and was consistently among the top five US finishers. His marathon personal record of 2:26:44 set in 1958 was the third fastest time in US history. TedCorbitt.com
Run With Us!
Run with us any Saturday morning as a guest of the South Fulton Running Partners. We welcome guests at all of our runs.
Welcome to South Fulton Running Partners!
At South Fulton Running Partners, we believe in the power of running. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just starting your fitness journey, our club is here to support you every step of the way. Join us and discover a community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for running and a healthy lifestyle.