Runner’s World+ Member: Dinée Dorame
Dinée is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
I was a high school basketball player and cross country runner who suffered lots of ankle and foot injuries. It took years until I was finally diagnosed with Accessory Navicular Syndrome, which is associated with having an accessory navicular bone in each of my feet. On top of that, I have very flat feet! For a long time, I thought running was not for me–that I was not a “runner.” After years of challenging myself and pushing the distance, I’ve learned that I am strong and resilient! I have found running to be the most empowering thing I can do in combating chronic pain because it keeps me stretching, strengthening, and moving. I have become a more confident woman by proving to myself that I absolutely can tackle long distances and that if I’m out there, I’m a runner.
I’ve been reading Runner’s World (the physical magazine) since I was in middle school. My dad was a monthly subscriber so I would always flip through his issues when he was done. I would definitely say I’m a student of the sport, so as soon as RW+ launched I joined without thinking about it! I like to stay up to date on running news, trends, and gear reviews.
In Navajo culture, we’re taught to run east towards the sunrise each morning as a way to strengthen your body and relationship with the land. For myself, and many other Indigenous runners, running is a ceremony. It teaches you to thank your body for its power, exhaustion, resilience, and emotion. I don’t just run for myself, I run for my relatives, for those who cannot, for those who are going through a difficult time. I always dedicate my runs to someone else and hope to inspire other young Native women. I’ve noticed elite running can be a homogenous community and media doesn’t highlight Indigenous runners very often. I love that I can share more about my culture and use this platform to speak up about the importance of running to our tribal communities.
Running was a gift passed along to me by my parents. My dad is a longtime track and field coach here in Albuquerque and he ran for the University of Colorado–Boulder in college. My mom was a high school cross country runner for Winslow High School in Arizona. When I was a kid, they frequently entered local 5Ks, 10Ks, and half-marathons, often letting me wait at the finish with one of their close runner friends, or trading off race entries themselves in order to wait with me. I was completely in awe of all the strong and graceful runners and remember seeing my parents as part of that community. My dad has always told me that you should run when you visit a new place. It’s the best way to connect to the land around you and make new spaces familiar–I love this particular piece of advice!
In Albuquerque, we have a sprawling green space cutting through the center of the city that technically belongs to the local university but feels more like a community park. It’s called the UNM North Golf Course and if you’re a runner in ABQ, you probably know it well. Rumor has it many developers have tried their hand at demolishing the lush foliage in favor of a “luxury” apartment complex. I’m grateful that our community has stood up against this and prevented any major changes thus far. It also happens to be the same place that I did mile hill repeats and logged daily runs with my teammates while in high school cross country.
The golf course is where my love of running began, somewhere around five years old and in the late nineties. We lived in a nearby, affordable apartment complex and I was an only-child, forever at my parents’ hips when we made the trek to the golf course for our nightly running routine. I like to imagine the flat, dirt packed trail is like a never-ending red carpet, being rolled out especially for me. I think about it in these terms because this is the only place in the world I have always felt welcome, celebrated even, by the swaying cottonwoods and their exposed roots, the sunset at what I like to call “Lion King Hill,” the bunnies, and even the scraggly, wayward coyotes I encounter on the back straight-away. It is in the middle of the city, but always felt like it was one of the few places I could escape in nature and take in the fresh air. Somewhere along the way, I realized that the UNM North Golf Course wasn’t just my fitness center–it was my room, my safe haven, my journal, my friend, the storage unit for my deepest insecurities, and the grounding under my feet.
I am obsessed with my Garmin! My partner always says that I can’t function without it and I think he’s right! I have the rose gold Garmin Vivoactive and enjoy counting my steps and keeping my running log through the iPhone app. It’s my #1 training tool. My honorable mention item are Oofos recovery sandals. With such flat feet and chronic pain in my arches, I often need those as soon as I cross any race finish line!
I’ve been a fancy shawl powwow dancer since I was about 5 years old. My mom has always taken me to local and regional powwows to compete in my category, which is a fast-paced and requires a strong fitness level. After years of being part of the powwow community, I ran for Miss Indian World, North America’s largest cultural pageant/ambassadorship for Indigenous women, in the spring of 2018. We were judged on cultural knowledge, essay writing, dance, traditional talent, and public speaking. I was awarded second runner-up (representing the Navajo Nation) out of 30 contestants.
My life goal has always been to complete a marathon. This November, I’ll be toeing the line at the 50th Annual TCS New York City Marathon in order to raise charity funds for Girls Inc. of New York City. I am thrilled to finally go after my biggest goal while uplifting and empowering young women along the way!
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