When I started reaching out to race directors about addressing the exclusion of nonbinary folks, they had all sorts of questions on how to do it. I didn't have those answers, so I set out to gather information from industry professionals.

So that's how my guide to non-binary inclusion in running was created -- I sent an email to advocate for space for myself, and realized I could use my voice and my experience to help enact change in an industry for an entire community.

That has been really exciting, rewarding and exhausting.

A couple of months ago, I started to get hate mail, trolled and whatnot on social media. In order to combat situations like that, one has to have a solid understanding of who they are, what they are doing, and what their purpose is.

When other folks are stepping into an advocacy-type role, I encourage them to have a strong foundation, because it is crucial in giving you the strength to go out into the world and to speak on behalf or to advocate for a community.

For me, resetting is about sitting with that foundation and making sure that I have the tools, energy, and resources to come back, and continue that fight.

Because at the end of the day, I'm human and I have all sorts of things that I'm dealing with as well.

I want to make sure that I am the ‘best possible me’ when I step into these spaces and if I don't feel ready to do that, then I shouldn't be stepping into those spaces.

I have to take care of myself first, whether that's reading a book, spending time outdoors, going for a run, shutting my phone off, or closing my computer.

That's really the goal – continuing to enter, re-energize, reset, and make sure that I'm taking care of myself before I continue any more advocacy.

[As told to @Ragi Gupta — continued]