Front Runners & Walkers

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale's Premier LGBTQ Running and Walking Club

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.

Donate to FRWFL Pride Center Water Fountain

We are seeking to place a water fountain dedicated to FRWFL (with plaque) in the plaza beside the Pride Center. Please make your tax deductible donation via Zelle (info@frwfl.org, with "for water fountain" notation) or if you prefer to donate via credit card use this Zeffy link **To Avoid the Zeffy Contribution (CC Fee) when paying select "Other" and leave the "Contribution" blank.**

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 League & Best Sports Team in Broward County Goes to...

By Jason Parsley,

OutSFL, 8 December 2023

The Front Runners 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.

As the name suggests the organization is about running and walking, but as Eric Runyan, president of the club, says, it's really about celebrating everyone.

“The comment that I hear most often from our visitors and members is how welcoming, and friendly we are for a sports organization,” Runyan said. “While we offer opportunities and push our participants to excel and be more fit, we celebrate everyone's efforts, whether they place first in a major race or simply attend and walk at our meetup on a regular basis.”

The group meets regularly three times a week on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Holiday Park; Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Galleria Mall; and Sundays at 5 p.m. at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors.

“We are truly a diverse sporting community that brings together people from across the LGBTQ spectrum and our allies,” Runyan said.

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

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 5:00 PM

3, 4 or 6 mile Run or Walk

Pride Center, Wilton Manors

What's Coming Up

35th Anniversary Party & Video Showcase

Thursday, November 21st, 6-8PM

Hunters Nightclub Dancefloor

Join us for happy hour & snacks as we celebrate our 35 years. Front Runners Fort Lauderdale (as it was then called) first graced the local LGBTQ scene in 1989. We've gone through many changes over the years, including the fact that inline skating (pictured above) has fallen by the wayside. But we are finishing 2024 in great shape with over 260 paid members, enthusiastic attendees, community engagement and a growing philanthropic effort.

The Video Showcase

We have many talented members, including three who are accomplished video producers: Ray Willis, Tom Conlon and Michael Gomez. Many of you saw the new promo video that Ray produced for the club at Outshine. You'll have a chance to see it on the big screen on Hunter's dance floor plus a sampling of YouTube Video's and Reels by Tom and Michael.

Race Grants Fundraiser at Bona Italian

Monday, November 25th, 4:30-9:30PM

Bona Italian Restaurant on Wilton Drive

Come out for an enjoyable evening and support the FRWFL Race Grants Fund! The restaurant will donate 10% of all receipts to the club—no flyer required! Bring your friends and family to dine anytime that day, and help us spread the word on social media. While you're there, don’t miss out on grabbing a raffle ticket for a chance to win an incredible gift basket!

Clue Chasers for SunServe Youth

Building the next generation of Front Runners!

We are hosting a fitness day in the format of a Clue Chasers (scavenger hunt event) for SunServe's LGBTQ Youth Program on Saturday, Nov 23rd. If you can volunteer to help with the event please email our Diversity Coordinator, Gabe Ferwalt, diversity@frwfl.org

2025 Member Shirt Design Contest

It is that time of year when we need to plan for next year's uniform shirts. Because our vendor uses sublimated printing, the entire surface of the shirt must be designed. For brand continuity we are seeking a design that incorporates our signature highlighter yellow color. However, as in the example from 2023, it need not cover the entire shirt. Perhaps 25% to 33% of the could be yellow. The design must accommodate both tee and tank styles as well as the printing of sponsors on the back. Besides bragging rights, we are offering a complementary 2025 membership as a prize if your design is selected. Please forward your design to info@frwfl.org as soon as possible.

Flanigan's Rib Run 10K and Water Stop

Sunday, November 17th, 7AM at Miramar Regional Park

Or 5AM at the Pride Center Wilton Manors to Car Pool

Many of our members will be participating in the this 10K run which is one of our designated FRWFL Club Races - This means race incentive grants and a discount code are available for FRWFL members on our members-only site . We have also volunteered to help with the water stop for the race. There will be free beer and ribs for all racers and volunteers. Please let us know here if you will be volunteering or racing. If you plan to run, register for the race her e.