If you ever thought about running a 5K, but were too nervous or hesitant to give it a shot, Front Runners & Walkers Fort Lauderdale wants to train you. And the best part – it’s free.
“As a peer coached program, our training is unique,” said Eric Runyan, president of the LGBTQ running club. “Participants not only benefit from the experience of seasoned runners, they are integrated into the social life of the club. This social aspect is what keeps people training for the long haul.”
The program starts Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a nine-week program for new or aspiring runners. However, interested people can join anytime.
“We will help you prepare to complete a 5K race,” an announcement reads.
People who show up regularly will receive a free registration for the group’s race on April 21 at Holiday Park.
The training will be offered three times per week during the group’s regularly scheduled meets on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Holiday Park; Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. at Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale; and Sundays at 5 p.m. at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors.
Membership in FRWFL is not required.
Front Runners won OutSFL’s first Readers Choice awards in December for Best Sports League and Best Sports Team in Broward.
“The comment that I hear most often from our visitors and members is how welcoming, and friendly we are for a sports organization,” Runyan told OutSFL at the time. “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 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.
“We are truly a diverse sporting community that brings together people from across the LGBTQ spectrum and our allies,” Runyan previously said.
To learn more, visit www.frwfl.org or email