Front Runners & Walkers

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale's Premier LGBTQ Running and Walking Club

Wilton Women's Week Walk/Run & Breakfast on April 26th - Register Free & See More Information

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Who We Are

Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale, is not only an LGBTQ+ friendly running and walking group, it also has a social component that provides a supportive environment for its membership. The group offers activities designed for runners and walkers of all abilities. Although the group primarily has a LGBTQ membership we welcome people from all walks of life and see diversity as a strength. The club seeks to build bridges of belonging across south Florida's running & walking communities.

Where To Find Us

Join us for a run or walk.

Wednesday at 7PM

3, 4 or 6 mile Run or Walk

Holiday Park (Between the Gymnasium and the Football Fields), Fort Lauderdale

Saturday at 7:30 AM

3, 4 or 6 mile Run or Walk

Galleria Mall

Meet behind the Bank of America, west end of the mall, Fort Lauderdale

Sunday at 6:00 PM

3, 4 or 6 mile Run or Walk

Pride Center, Wilton Manors

FRWFL Pride Center Water Fountain Dedication

Thanks to all who donated we will be annoucing the date of the dedication ceremony soon!

Welcome our latest sponsor - Our Fund

We are most appreciative that the Our Fund Foundation has granted us $750 to help support our FRWFL Triathlon Team. You can help support their mission by donating here.

2023-2024 Race Season Superlatives

Evan Richard

Highlights: Fourteen events, including one marathon and six half marathons

Craig Booth

Highlights: Thirteen events, including four half marathons

Thomas Nguyen

Highlights: Gay Games 2023 medalist, plus two triathlons

Michael Nendick

Highlights: Nine events, including five half marathons and two triathlons

IN THE NEWS

The Best Sports Team in Broward County Goes to...

By Jason Parsley,

OutSFL, December 2024

For the second year in a row, The Front Runners & Walkers have won the Your Choice Award.

The organization started in San Francisco in 1974 as a jogging class. In 1978, they adopted the name Front Runners after Patricia Nell Warren's 1974 novel “The Front Runner,” about a gay track coach and a gay runner. Today there are running clubs all over the world, including Fort Lauderdale.

"We are proud to have the LGBTQ+ community recognize our organization. This award helps us make ourselves known to others who might enjoy being part of our team," said Eric Runyan, President of the Runners.

They are celebrating their 35th Anniversary ending the year on a high note thanks to their continued growth with up to 260 members and counting who attend their events. They also have a growing philanthropic presence in the community. As the name suggests, the organization is about running and walking, but it is really about celebrating everyone.

"We encourage everyone in their pursuit of a healthy and fit life. We are a diverse group not only in terms of fitness but also in that we welcome individuals from every stripe of the rainbow flag and even some allies as well," said Runyan.

Youth Race Grants

In order to promote the sport of running, racing and general health among LGBTQ Young Adults (18-22) who are residents of Broward County Florida, Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale is offering a limited number of Race Grants worth up to $50 to pay whole or in part for races in Broward County. Jump to our Race Grants page to apply.

Strava Challenges Grand Prize Contest

Strava is an app that can run on your phone or smartwatch to track your runs, walks and other athletic activities. If you use another tracker app, most will sync to the Strava Platform. Each month a "Challenge" is issued for Running and one for Walking. We also encourage other club members by giving them "kudos" for their workouts. At the 2024 Annual Banquet will will have a Strava Challenges Grand Prize Drawing. Here is how you participate:

The Strava Challenges Grand Prize for this Race Season run from October 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024 will culminate with a drawing to be held at the Annual Banquet in May 2024. One winner will be drawn for the Running Category and one for the Walking Category.
The actual prizes have yet to be determined, but we expect them to be of some significant value.
Participants must be members in good standing of FRWFL at the time of the drawing and must be members during any month in which they accumulate virtual tickets.
Participants accumulate virtual tickets by actively participating in a Strava Challenge each month. Each month there will be a 50 km Walking Challenge and 100 km Running Challenge.
Members must choose to participate either in the Running Category or The Walking Category. Due to the possibility of injury by a runner, or walker who wishes to start running, members may change categories once during the term of this contest, by notifying the Club President.
Participants will earn one (1) virtual ticket when they complete at least 50% of their challenge and may earn one (1) additional virtual ticket when they complete over 100% of their challenge. (e.g. A walker who complete 25km earns 1 ticket while one who completes 51km earns 2 tickets)
Members may join the contest at any time, but increase their odds in the drawing by joining early.
Although members may use any tracking app that syncs to Strava, only results in Strava will be considered official.
The official Ticket Tally will be viewable in our Members only Website https://www.frwfl.org/members-only
As this is the first instance of this contest the Board reserves the right to alter the rules if necessary.

Don't miss a kilometer! See our Strava Page for all the details

What's Coming Up

Looking for this month's social? Jump to our Social Page

Want to be in better shape? See what Training Club has in store this month.

Did you miss our monthly newsletter? See it here

Annual Awards & Banquet

Saturday, May 3rd, 6PM

Hagen Park Community Center

Early Bird Ticket Prices until April 15th Purchase tickets

Join us as we celebrate with Race Season Awards, the Strava Grand Prize Drawing, Couch to 5K Graduation and Humorous Awards as always. We'll have a delicious catering by Padrino's Cuban Restaurant, as well as complimentary wine and beer. BYOB encouraged if you desire a cocktail. Smart Attire preferred. We will have parking passes but we always recommend carpooling. Thanks to generous underwriting by OurFund we are able to offer tickets at a reduced price.

Please also put on your thinking caps for our Serious and Funny Awards presentations. You may nominate someone here

The Rainbow 5K

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Team Picture at the Start/Finish Line at 6:45AM

Charnow Park, Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

Join us for this FRWFL Club Race, Couch to 5K Goal Race and Pride Center Event. Be sure to see our discount in Members-Only Site then Register Here. The race is also eligible for Race Grants apply before the event. We also need volunteers for water stop for the race.

Please be sure to wear your FRWFL Team Shirts for the race and pictures!

Wilton Women's Week Walk or Run

A Front Runners Special Edition

Wilton Women's Week Healthy Kickoff

Saturday, April 26th, 8AM (Check-in begins at 7:30AM)

Pride Center at Equality Park

Register here for free (FRWFL members need not register unless they'd like to donate to Women With Pride). Join us for this "Special Edition" of Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale as we move our Saturday morning meetup to the Pride Center for a 2 or 3 mile walk or a 4 or 6 mile run followed by a complimentary breakfast served to all participants. There will also be a Prize Drawing and welcome gifts.

FRWFL Board of Directors Election

For Race Season 2025-2026

As you might recall from our Annual Members Meeting last Fall, the FRWFL Board modified the term of office to run from June 1 to May 31st of each year to more closely align with the Club's race and event calendar. Thus, we will hold election this month for the term beginning June 1, 2025 and ending May 31, 2026. Here is the schedule:

Nominations for Officers & Coordinators, April 16th - 23rd

Nominee Acceptance and Campaign Email, April 24th-25th

Voting, April 26th-May2nd

Results and Announcement of Winners, May 3rd at the Annual Awards Banquet

Term of Office Begins, June 1, 2025

The FRWFL BOD has designated that candidates must agree not to copy and utilize membership lists made available by the club for private campaigning. A personal campaign statement/profile for each candidate will be sent to members using the club's members' email group.

Paddlers Needed

FRWFL Island City Canoe

Race Team Forming

Registration fee is being covered by FRWFL this year!

Race Day is Saturday, May 17th, 10AM

We were excited with our first place division finish last year and want to build on that success! Join the FRWFL team for an exciting 7-mile relay race around the City of Wilton Manors! Paddle through the Island City and Middle River, exchanging at key points along the way. Canoes, life jackets, and paddles will be provided. Celebrate Wilton Manors' Anniversary with us, and enjoy a free BBQ afterward for all participants!