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.
Runner-up for sports league: Softball (SFAAA)
Runner-up for sports team: Pride Riptide
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