Rhythm of the Run

Radio-maker and runner Ricardo Burt hits the London streets to explore the rise of DJ run crews across the capital. In the South East, in Peckham, he meets up with Tempo LDN. Founded by DJ Martha, the collective’s running sessions are sound-tracked by a curated playlist of beats and led from the front by women; and in the north of the city, he joins Run Dem Crew, whose founder DJ Charlie Dark MBE speaks of opening up the sport to new audiences: “What do I need to swap, change, embellish…? My approach to running is through the eyes of a music producer and a remixer.”

Why do we run? And what might it mean to join together to navigate the city in this way? The runners in the crews - Ricardo included - all turn up with their own motivations and meanings. This personal radio essay borrows from the sound world of DJ-ing as scenes from the warm-up routines and the words of Ricardo’s interviewees are cut up and sampled, rhythm and reason become one.

With thanks to Martha and Tempo LDN, Charlie Dark MBE and Run Dem Crew.

Written, presented and produced by Ricardo Burt
Original music: Parkland
Programme image: Emma Stevenson
Executive producer: Phil Smith

Commissioned as part of the Multitrack Audio Producers Fellowship

Listen here.