A dialogue between jewellery and runners.

Be Constant Baroque Lace Plaque

Despite the echoes of many a P.E. teacher telling me to take off that bracelet or asking why I hadn’t covered my freshly pierced ears with plasters, almost every woman and many of the men I’ve run with would never think to remove their jewellery before lacing up and jogging out the door.

On the contrary, one of the more interesting shifts to emerge from the post-Covid running epidemic is the extent to which people bring more of themselves into their sport. Now more than ever, athletes and everyday runners are encouraged to lean into their personal tastes, bringing individuality to their performance and pushing the boundaries of self-expression in competition. This year alone, both professional and amateur runners have celebrated their achievements through bold race-day hairstyles, customised kits, and personalised jewellery worn for the big day.

For many, a simple chain, a lucky bracelet, or a well loved pendant is a reminder of who they are, the people they love or are loved by, and the ambitions they carry forward.

What makes someone wear the same chain through thousands of miles? It’s likely because these objects carry people with us or they represent the continuity between life and sport. Life is always happening and running is only one part of it. In my eyes jewellery is often a bridge between the two, reminding us that we’re more than runners and allowing us to carry all that we are on the run with us.

Be Constant.

To be constant is to be firm and steadfast in resolution.

Running can be a constant, a way to carve out space for your mind and body to feel alive, or to put distance between yourself and the trials of the day, month, or year. A way to sit with the elements each season, embracing discomfort, dark evenings, and solitude.

Anything can be a constant: gardening, hiking, crafting things. Wear this jewellery on your wrist or footwear, and with every step show up for whatever it is that makes you feel alive and connected to the world around you. Be constant.