by Na’Tasha Jones

#GRLsWhoRace - In this series, we’re celebrating the running trailblazers who inspire us. From elite running legends to hometown heroes, these ladies shine with Black Girl Magic and show us that everything is possible.

What started as a quest to lose weight and become healthier has turned into a fitness lifestyle for Darietta “Taj” Lee, 42. After years of yoyo dieting and failed fitness fad attempts, in 2011, she and her friends started a local running group in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the goal of supporting each other in their weight loss journeys. They called it ‘Women on the Groove’.

“I was 248 lbs. at 5’2 with prehypertension. I was struggling with depression and low self-esteem and I knew I had to make working out and taking care of my health important to really make a change in my life,” she says.

From Starting Slow to Uncharted Territory

At the beginning of her new running journey, on a three-mile trail near Duke University, she found herself struggling. “It took me an hour and some change to finish,” says Taj, “but then I thought, ‘When I come back to this trail, I want to be able to run it.’”

Over the following year, she worked out to lose weight but, she says, she still didn’t really push herself. She started with a couple of 5Ks to get used to racing. Her first “real race”, she says, was the 2012 Raleigh Turkey Trot, an 8K, Thanksgiving-themed race. “It was super cold!”

After getting called out by a friend, she next agreed to sign up for her first half marathon, The Flying Pirate, which encourages you to sport your best pirate-themed costume! The running bug really took over from there.

She now has a goal to run in all 50 states and she’s done 11 so far. She took a break to train for her first triathlon, a triathlon sprint that included a 750-Meter swim, a 12.4-mile bike route and a 3.1-mile run.

Taking on a triathlon was a whole new sort of challenge for Taj. “I had to both learn how to swim and how to ride a bike,” says Taj. “Growing up in Chicago, I lived in a high rise. It wasn’t conducive to kids riding bikes very much.” As a child, she lacked access to be able to learn what to many might seem commonplace. She was in new territory, but it only motivated her to push harder.

To date, Taj has completed 1 marathon, 1 triathlon sprint, 14 half marathons, and numerous 5Ks and 10Ks. Her current focus is on lifting weights, however. She’s training as a powerlifter and plans to compete in her first powerlifting competition in 2020. But she doesn’t plan to stop racing.

“Now don’t get it twisted,” she explains on her Instagram page, “I’m still a distance runner but I have temporarily swapped a ton of miles on the pavement to pick up heavy weights.”

Running ‘Covered’

In her running, as in her daily life, Taj chooses to dress modestly as part of her Muslim beliefs. For her, that includes running with a hijab or other style of headwrap, as well as long sleeves, long pants/tights and a running skirt.

“I am capable because I don’t allow my hijab to define my boundaries. I am capable because with everything I wish to accomplish, I give my all and I believe in my strength, endurance, and unwavering determination.”

— Darietta "Taj" Lee

Taj does not view her hijab or other modest clothing as restrictive and she wants other young women to know that they, like her, are capable of all things.

“I am capable because I don’t allow my hijab to define my boundaries,” she says. “I am capable because with everything I wish to accomplish, I give my all and I believe in my strength, endurance, and unwavering determination.”

More athletic apparel companies are also beginning to offer options for those who prefer to run covered.

“As a Muslim woman, particularly as a Black Muslim woman, you don’t see much diversity [in runners’ representation] that includes women like me. I appreciate that some companies now are looking to appeal to more Muslim women who are thinking about getting fit because it means we have more options. I appreciate them making [fitness] more inclusive which also means it’s more accessible,” says Taj.

Taj particularly loves Skirt Sports, a woman-owned company that makes athletic skirts, for their “array of designs, different pockets, dry wick fabric, and full range of sizes. She also recommends Jog On Sportswear, based in the UK, that makes athletic hijabs for women.

Sharing Her Black Muslim Experience

Although there is slowly starting to be more representation for Muslim women in fitness, what she sees in the media is often more focused on Arab culture, and more for younger women, says Taj. At age 42, she hopes to show a more diverse perspective that includes African American Muslim women and women of all ages. Taj says many people have reached out to her to say that her posts have inspired them to get started or to head back to the gym.

She and some of her fellow Muslim women fitness enthusiasts recently started the hashtag on Instagram #MuslimahFitnessJourney to share their diverse perspectives on fitness and wellness.

In her posts, she openly shares her past struggles with mental health and weight loss and overcoming her own negative thoughts, as well as negativity from others.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taj 🧕🏽♐️ (@concrete_rose_76) on Sep 25, 2019 at 3:18pm PDT

Taj’s Tips for Running ‘Covered’

As someone who’s now been running covered for more than seven years, Taj knows the ins and outs of running with more gear. Here are her tips for style and comfort:

Don’t overdress. Although you may choose to run covered, like Taj, you still want to avoid too many layers. Remember that once you begin running it can feel 10-20 degrees hotter than what the thermometer reads.
Always choose moisture-wicking fabrics. You’re going to sweat! Having moisture-wicking fabrics—particularly in your hijab—will allow your body to still breathe and stay cool. It also helps prevent your extra garments from weighing you down when collecting perspiration.
Hydration is of the utmost importance. Hydrating before, during and after a race is important for any runner, but especially so for those who wear more covered clothing. This is especially true during races. Taj recommends planning to stop at every water station during hot races and keeping salt tabs handy in your running belt. This may also mean having a chat with race organizers ahead of time about hydration stations and other accommodations to make sure they aren’t cleared out too early for those who may still be in need toward the end of the planned race period.
Plan ahead for extenuating circumstances and special holidays. If you know a day is going to be very hot, be sure to plan your runs around the cooler times of the day such as early morning or after sundown. If you plan to run or workout during fasting times, such as Ramadan, take care to plan your workouts around what is sure to be a very different schedule. “This past Ramadan, I was more tired than normal. My sleep schedule was much different. I chose to only go to the gym and not do any running during this time,” she says. When deciding if it is right for you, be sure to consider the many factors related to sleep and energy while one is fasting.
Have fun with it! Taj’s hijabs and running skirts both come in an amazing array of colors and patterns. As with any running gear, you’ll want to choose gear that is not only functional, but that also reflects your personality and makes you excited to get out and hit the road for your next run.

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*Note: Items in this post are based on the featured interviewee’s own recommendations. Some links in this post are affiliate links and RUNGRL may receive compensation for your engagement with them. See full terms of use for details.