Jason L. Russell is the co-founder of Black Men Run who was born and raised in Memphis, TN. At an early age Jason took to sports under the tutelage of his father, James Russell who is an active runner and community servant. Jason’s first love was basketball and he spent many days and nights shooting hoops with his neighborhood friends in the backyard of his childhood home. Jason played on local recreation teams in his youth and always understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Jason discovered running from his fathers who was one of the few black men in Memphis is in 70’s and 80’s to take running seriously as a sport and form of recreation. Jason remembers his first real race being on May 2, 1987 as a part of a Fun Run for the annual Memphis in May events. After that first race Jason understood what all the fuss was about. There was a shared sense of comradery amongst the runners throughout the race. Even then Jason noticed a lack of youth and diversity on the race course.
When Jason moved to Atlanta to obtain his MBA from Clark Atlanta university, he was once again hit by the running bug and noticed something very interesting and that was the lack of African American men that were participating in distance races around the city. The few men that he did see seemed to have no comradery and did not seem to know each other. He quickly had a conversation with his co-worker and friend Mr. Edward Walton who had recently coached Jason on completing his first 10k on the Silver Comet trail in Atlanta. Both men understood the need to create an organization where black men could train together but also have an avenue to fellowship so they launched Black Men Run and created what we know today as the Healthy Brotherhood.
Since the creation the organization has been featured prominently in Men’s Health and Runner’s World magazine along with numerous television appearances by member’s recruiting for others to join the Healthy Brotherhood and to spread the message.
In 2017, Jason suffered a massive stoke and a ruptured brain aneurysm that left required months of rehabilitation and recovery and in a wheelchair. Thankfully, Jason is back running today and has become an advocate for stoke awareness and recovery along being an active fundraiser for the American Heart Association. He thinks that his health prior to the injury aided in his being able to walk and run again. Jason’s 16-year-old son Miles is a soccer player and was league MVP his sophomore year and enjoys road racing like his grandfather, father, and uncle.
Jason believes that Black Men Run has the capability to transform countless lives promoting a tangible sense of health and wellness physically and mentality throughout the African American community.