LGBT running group welcomes all skill levels, lifestyles
The Los Angeles Frontrunners is a running and walking club for people of all ages, levels, backgrounds and sexual identities. For over 30 years, LGBT folks and their friends have been staying active, fit and healthy as members.
One of more than 100 Frontrunner clubs across the country and around the world, the Los Angeles group offers a great way for members to stay in shape, all while meeting like-minded athletic people.
L.A. Frontrunners sponsors both competitive and noncompetitive running events including weekly fun runs, a Grand Prix racing series and an annual Pride run.
The weekly fun runs are after-work affairs that take place at 6:30 p.m. in five different areas: West Hollywood, Griffith Park, Silver Lake, Santa Monica and Pasadena. For early risers, a weekly Saturday fun run begins at 8 a.m. at Griffith Park.
Runners of all skill levels are welcome, from those who burn up the path to those who prefer a steady jog and even people who would rather just walk the route.
The L.A. Frontrunners also sponsors the Grand Prix series, in which members run in a variety of 10K and marathon races over the course of 12 months and are awarded points for their performances.
Like other LGBT organizations and groups, Frontrunners does something special for Pride. The annual Pride run includes a 5K race, a 10K race, a 5K walk and even a kids’ race. The recent Pride run on June 8 was the group’s 33rd annual event, sponsored by Christopher Street West and the city of West Hollywood.
Members can keep track of both past and future events with the L.A. Frontrunners’ monthly newsletter. While more than a few gay and gay-friendly celebrities have been known to participate in Frontrunner events (this is, after all, Los Angeles), the newsletter has a way of making every member feel like a celebrity. In addition to honoring members’ birthdays, the newsletter is loaded with photos featuring some well-toned eye candy.
Membership dues are $25 per calendar year for singles and $35 for couples who live at the same address. Membership includes the monthly newsletter, plus — something every runner needs — a club T-shirt.
To support and encourage young LGBT athletes, there’s the L.A. Frontrunners LGBT Athletic Scholarship program — which awards two annual $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school athletes.
More information on all things L.A. Frontrunners can be found at: www.lafrontrunners.com.
—By Adam Sandel, Brand Publishing Writer