• 54% have completed a marathon.
• 62% have completed a half marathon

Our Mission

The National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA) is a not-for-profit organization. It is open to everyone, regardless of your athletic ability or previous marathon experience. (Over 40% of our members have never completed a marathon and many are walkers.) Our objectives are to

• Encourage Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy life-style through long distance running and walking.

• Serve as a vehicle for Black American distance runners across the nation to meet in mass at a single marathon.

• Provide scholarships to deserving high school boy and girl distance runners.

Here's how we hope to make these simple dreams into reality

1. Either (a) provide your email address and/or (b) periodically re-visit this website. Your email address will not be shared with any other organization.

2. Once a year, a "multi-race" marathon will be identified for the members to meet and run. A multi-race marathon is a marathon that also includes a variety of other races, such as a 10K, half marathon, or marathon-relay. This allows runners of various abilities to participate.

3. The race will be identified at least six months prior to the start. This allows you time to train for your event and make travel arrangements.

4. You will be asked to wear a red or lime green jersey and black shorts or pants. If you happen to already own that color, then you're ready. If you don't already own that color, you may purchase it from your local merchant. (Note: The NBMA lime-green jerseys are available at our webstore.)

5. This website will be updated with the "multi-race" marathon event. If you provided your email address, you'll receive emails with the upcoming event.

6. You register for the race and make your travel plans as you would normally. Be sure to mark the NBMA box on the entry form.

7. At the start of (and during) the race, look for someone with the appropriate color jersey and provide extra encouragement.

That's it!!! Hopefully, from this experience, you'll be able to meet and offer encouragement to other walkers and runners, perhaps, make a life long friend, and help to send a student to college with your scholarship donation.

facebook company & group pages

Photos and videos from our past events are posted on our Facebook company page.

Keep up with your fellow members on our Facebook group page.

may 26, 2012 Weekend u.s. Gathering

The NBMA will hold our Ninth Annual Gathering at the Madison Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, and Kids Events. Be sure to come out and join us for a great weekend.

Registration opens on November 11, 2012. More information will be forthcoming.

January 17, 2011 Weekend International Gathering

NBMA, Decatur, GA’s South DeKalb Striders, and Bermuda’s Swan’s Running Clubs gather before the half and full marathons.

Other photos are on our LinkedIn group site and eNewsletter #14.

Latest News Bulletins

• Where in the world have you been? Be the first to send us a photo of you wearing the NBMA authorized logo in a State or country and get on our website.
• The National Black Marathoners Association, Atlanta's South Fulton Running Partners, Black Girls RUN, and other organizations and bloggers are featured in the December, 2011 issue of Runner's World magazine. The ten-page, Special Report is entitled "Why Is Running So White?"
• Scholarship applications for the 2011/2012 year are now available to be downloaded. If you know of any deserving high school senior cross country or distance runner (1500 meters or longer), please direct them to our site. Scholarships are available for both boys and girls. The submission deadline is April 15, 2012.

• For those of you who travel for business or pleasure, we've started compiling a list of Black Running Clubs in the US. If you know of any, send us an email at Comments@BlackMarathoners.org.

• Don't forget to make your tax deductible donation to our scholarship fund.

Downloadable Paper

Maintaining Life Long Fitness Goals For The New Year