Running coach and fitness expert Emma Kirk-Odunubi has opened up about a racist encounter she experienced while taking part in the Great North Run. The annual half marathon takes runners through North East England, beginning in Newcastle upon Tyne before finishing in South Shields, with thousands of spectators lining the route to support those taking part.

Reflecting on the race in a video shared online, Emma described much of her experience as “incredible,” praising the supportive atmosphere and encouragement she received throughout the day.

However, one moment stood out for a very different reason after Emma says she was booed while running.

Speaking about the encounter, Emma suggested the reaction was connected to “the colour of my skin,” with the incident noticeably contrasting with the reception she had received from other spectators along the route.

Despite the encounter, Emma stressed that the wider experience had been “lovely and encouraging,” describing the finish line in particular as “amazing.”

However, she admitted the incident continued to play on her mind after the race, saying it had “just sat with me” afterwards.

Emma explained that she had even “literally wrote something down” as she processed what had happened, before ultimately deciding to speak publicly about the experience.

The running coach made it clear that she did not want one encounter to overshadow the encouragement she received throughout the Great North Run, but equally felt the behaviour was something that should not be ignored.

Following her video, Emma’s comments were filled with messages of love and support, with many expressing disappointment over what she had experienced.

“I hope she never loses her faith and confidence. She’s resilient and it shows,” one person wrote.

Another condemned the behaviour, commenting:

“This is disgusting. I’m so sorry you experienced it. Please believe that any British person with an ounce of intelligence do not support this vile behaviour.”

Others similarly sent Emma words of encouragement, with the response to her video largely reinforcing the supportive side of the public that she had experienced throughout much of the race.

While Emma refused to let the encounter overshadow an otherwise incredible day, she made one thing clear: hate has no place in running. A sport built around community, encouragement and people pushing themselves towards the same finish line should be a space where everyone feels welcome, regardless of the colour of their skin.

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