RUNNING DUSTY
It’s a testimony to Errol May’s contagiously positive ‘yes’ attitude that, when I suggest playing a game of Hide and Seek amidst the crowds spilling out from a packed King’s Cross station, he immediately responds with, “Let’s do this!”. Happily, for the sake of this interview, all ends well and we are soon ensconced in a nearby cafe and doing the thing that runners do best: swapping notes on injuries. For someone who, at the time of our meeting, can’t do a lot of the thing that brings them so much joy, Errol is incredibly upbeat.
Perhaps this is because Errol’s passion for running is symptomatic of his passion for, well, life. Indeed, he didn’t grow up running; he grew up gaming and he’s quick to enthuse on those early years.
“I was a big gamer when I was younger. I still low-key play now, but it’s hard to find the time these days. But, yeah, I really didn’t have a consistent relationship with movement when I was younger.”
It was only when he moved to London that he really became interested in exercise. He noticed that everyone in the city seemed to take their physical wellbeing more seriously and reflected that he needed to “up his game a little bit”. The app he was using at the gym suggested 50 minutes of cardio (an amount that we both agree is quite steep for a beginner!) and he thought that a more time efficient way of incorporating this was to run to the gym instead. Living in Clapham, he also noticed on these gym commutes that people were running around the Common after work.
“I got a bit of FOMO if I’m honest; I wanted to run in circles too! I was quite new to London, and I wanted to be part of the culture.”
Errol’s first goal was to do a complete lap around the Common but then, when that felt good, he was curious to venture further, bopping and weaving amongst people in the High Street who, he laughs, he looked to for affirmative admiration that he was “still going”. Wanting to challenge himself, he signed up for his first 10km, inspired by a house mate who ran half-marathons. The emotional significance of completing that race hit home when he “cried a little bit" upon receiving his t-shirt and medal.
“I just loved that feeling of dedicating time and effort to something that is all you: you did this, you accomplished this. The rest is kind of history!”
I ask whether this was the moment that he ‘became a runner’ in terms of finding a new aspect of his identity? Errol is circumspect, “I’m not sure I’d even class myself as a runner now. I don’t completely dedicate my time to it like an elite; it’s a part of me, but I have a life outside it. Saying that, I can’t have a conversation without running coming up!”
After the 10km came a half-marathon, which proved challenging, even in the training, with new injuries rearing their heads with the step up in training. Errol admits that he was a little disappointed with his performance since he had to walk for portions of the course. His girlfriend at the time encouraged him to celebrate the work put in, advice which he can see, in hindsight, was 100% right.
“Anyone who shows up on the day, deserves huge kudos.”
It’s really hard not to be endeared by Errol’s warmth and egoless reflections, and I inquire as to whether this ease and confidence was always there or whether that’s something that has grown through engaging with the running community.
“I think running is another avenue to channel that friendliness, but it’s something I’ve noticed more since joining Run Dusty. At that point I kind of knew how far and fast I could run but, with them, it wasn’t about running up front but supporting everyone to enjoy the experience.”
Errol first joined the East London based group through a friend, endeared by the promise of “a free beer” at the end of the run, having initially been against the idea of a running club, where he assumed people talked about nothing but sports, as well as from a fear of being too slow.
“I had this idea that I had to be in good shape before I joined because I didn’t want to be THAT person. But then, having spent time with them, I realise that it wasn’t about that at all. It wasn’t long before I was volunteering to be at the back!”
Having joined a running club to be fast, running slow in fact proved to be a superpower, I comment, and it’s true that, when he started running with other people, Errol was able to flip the self-critical narrative that he had flagellated himself with as he pushed through the last kilometres of his first half-marathon. It’s been an interesting journey in leaning into the ‘can’ rather than ‘can’t’ narrative, to the extent that he’s shown up to meetings, even when he’s been injured, to welcome new members and connect with friends.
He is now one of the run captains at Run Dusty – a position that he assumed through showing the kind of long-term commitment and care that the founding members value as part of the club’s ethos. Since then, he’s brought his own stamp of friendly energy to meet ups, aiming to make the sessions as inclusive as possible.
“I helped lead training sessions for the Hackney Half race, and I tried to embody the ‘it’s just about crossing the line’ energy into helping other people. It became about enjoying the run and the atmosphere and people around you. Not every day has to be a PB.”
As I teacher myself, I suggest that it must also be a huge boost to see the positive impact that his on others?
“It’s been amazing to see good things come from a space that I’ve contributed to. I’ve even seen one lady who was super nervous in the first Hackney Half session now go on to complete ultras. The happy faces and ethos that we’ve brought to other events too, like Love Trails Festivals, is really rewarding.”
Witnessing the improvements in other runners in the club has also made him less hard on himself, and I reflect that this is something that can be particularly common in men in terms of being the ‘strongest’ or ‘fastest’; does running alongside others in a more social environment encourage opening up emotionally?
“During some low times in life, it’s been really helpful knowing that Run Dusty is a space where I can go and enjoy people’s company. It’s not necessarily about getting something off my chest but feeling comfortable around people.”
For Errol, being part of the group has also been a way of learning to lean into a ‘can’ rather than ‘can’t’ narrative, to the extent that he’s shown up to meetings, even when he’s been injured, to welcome new members and connect with friends.
“It’s important to have different mental health outlets and that can be just through talking. Having moments where you’re forced to slow down and take a step back can help you see who’s around you that you can share stories with and get advice. Also knowing, particularly as a man, that you don’t, as you said, have to be the strongest or fastest is really helpful.”
The mental health aspect of group runs for men is something that Errol has been keen to push forward in the group, and he recently asked for feedback regarding the impact of the community on their wellbeing.
“Some of the answers I got back were so beautiful about how having this outlet was a real help during rough times. I think there’s a good community of open men in our group who like having a beer together but are also willing to have deeper emotional conversations.”
Thinking about how this ‘come as you are’ ethos might engender such openness, we shift our conversation at this point to discuss inclusivity in the running space since running, particularly with others, is not, we agree, an activity that can be extracted from the web of personal, social, political and practical concerns that surround us every day.
Run clubs and the encouragement; sharing of knowledge, and reassurance of running with a group can certainly help with this, Errol reflects. From a safety perspective, for example, during winter, Dusty plans runs around well-lit streets so that everyone, men and women, feel comfortable, as well as actively setting expectations for mutual respect and kindness between club members.
“In terms of representation it’s more complex. Even in East London, where there’s perhaps a more diverse community, I often find myself being the only person of colour. For me, personally, I just enjoy the activity, but I’m trying to figure out why there’s this lack of representation. That being said, I’m trying to find a balance between exploring this but not having to be the ‘chariot’ for it.”
All this comes with a deal of responsibility. Indeed, simply the logistics of navigating London streets with a large group of runners in a manner that doesn’t disrupt other pedestrians and traffic, or end with an accident, is a feat in itself.
“Suddenly as a run leader, you realise that there are people depending on you and you have to be ‘on it’. Likewise, always keeping gratitude and kindness at the front of your mind when interacting with the general public on the road or trails.”
It’s a testimony to the fierce pride and love that Errol has for the club that he puts the hours in, whether that be towards the organisational or holistic development of the club.
“There’s AGM meetings and everything! When I first took on the role there was a bit of a ‘what have I signed myself up to moment!’”
And what does the future hold for Errol’s own running?
“Completing my first ultra is next. I was hesitant to dedicate that amount of time to the training for a while, but I’ve just heard so many good stories – as well as the brutal ones – about the experience. I also remind myself of how great I felt after that first 10km, and I just kind of think, ‘yeah, let’s do this!”
I’m realising that this seems to be a bit of a mantra for him, although he admits that it hasn’t always been the case.
“In the past, people have told me I’ve got flat feet and that I’m not ‘designed for running’. For a while that made me feel like I just wasn’t built to do it. But, with my recent injury, I went to an osteopath, and they explained that people with different types of feet can still run!”
So, having realised that he can, what is it that keeps him doing it?
“I just can’t imagine life without running. There's the community aspect of it, but I also still just run because I love it: lacing up, getting out, being in my own zone and feeling amazing for it.”
