Seattle Frontrunners History
Seattle Frontrunners has grown to be one of the oldest and largest clubs affiliated with International Frontrunners. The first attempt at forming the club was in 1983, the same year the Lesbian Resource Center (LRC) sponsored Seattle’s first Gay Pride Run. That initial club didn’t last, and neither did the second attempt in 1984. However, after the third try in 1985, Seattle Frontrunners was officially on its feet and has grown continuously since. Meanwhile, the LRC’s Gay Pride Run transitioned into the popular fundraiser we know today as Run & Walk with Pride.
2020 was a challenging year for everyone. See how Frontrunners around the world helped each other survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by our own, Leung Weiwen.
1974
The first Frontrunner Club was started in San Francisco by Jack Baker & Gardner Pond. It was listed as an Introduction to Jogging group in the bi-monthly publication of Lavender U. Bud Budlong and other “joggers,” inspired by Patricia Nell Warren’s book The Frontrunner, named the group Frontrunners.
1980
2nd Frontrunner group forms in New York City.
1981
Los Angeles Frontrunners is organized.
1982
First Gay Games (I) held in San Francisco promoting Frontrunners and gives way to other Frontrunner clubs springing up around the U.S. and around the world.
1983
Tom, Virginia H. & Rob M. organize a Seattle FR group. They meet discreetly behind Evans Pool. Larry Yok drives from Tacoma to run. That group does not survive.
The Lesbian Resource Center sponsors Seattle’s First Gay Pride Run, which transitions into the now famous, annual Run & Walk with Pride organized by Seattle Frontrunners.
1984
Dick Todd, Kit Warfield and Sue Schafer reincarnate a small SFR group.
1985
“Third time’s a charm” - Sabina Havkins, Phileo McAlexander and Greg Fischer unite in June of 1985 to provide the “kickstart” needed to get the club going and officially begin the Seattle Frontrunner club that continues on to this day.
1986
Meredith Channel promotes our welcoming club, “I found out about SFR through an announcement in the SGN. I had only been in Seattle since July of 1985 and it was a great way to meet new friends and to become a part of a great community!”
In March there were 33 members, 17 women (51%) and by November there were 55 members, 13 women (29%). SFR has it’s first T-Shirt, teal with an outline of the Seattle skyline, designed by Phileo McAlexander.
The first Wednesday night seasonal (nice weather) run was started. Attendance was light.
SFR has two, 5 runner teams in the Falls to Gasworks 50-Mile Relay, starting at Mt. Si and ending at Gasworks Park. SFR continues to have teams through the 80’s.
1987
SFR finds a home at Mae’s Phinney Ridge Café. Someone in the Saturday circle was designated each week to bring a quarter for the pay phone to RSVP for the group.
1988
SFR Saturday morning runners experience a schism with some abandoning breakfast at Mae’s for pastries at the Honeybear coffee house in Wallingford.
SFR makes its first memorial gift to Children’s Orthopedic Hospital (now Seattle Children’s Hospital) on behalf of SFR member James Calvo who died in a motorcycle accident.
1990
Gay Games III held in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. SFR, including many women, run the 5/10K . There are some good relay races and individual performances by the SFR Track Team.
1994
Len Tritsch comes on as SFR track coach and prepares the track team for Gay Games IV in New York, which becomes the first time track goes to Gay Games.
1995
Nicholas Honner moves from Atlanta and revitalizes the now, highly successful, Wednesday night run which attracts 40 -70 runners each week all year round.
1998
Gay Games V held in Amsterdam; SFR dominates track & field events.
1999
Saturday morning coffee after our run and walk moves from the Honeybear to Zoka's.
2000
Seattle Frontrunners goes digital; SFR website was established. Turnout for runs is in the 20’s on Wednesdays and the 70’s on Saturdays.
SFR Mark Nagen passes and his parents set up the Mark Nagen Award to be given to a SFR who excels in promoting the club’s mission.
2002
Gay Games VI held in Sydney. A record number of 108 Seattle Frontrunners compete and return home with the, now traditional, a large number medals (over 130 from track & field) outnumbering Sydney Frontrunners in their home city. Many SFR set Gay Games records which stood for many years!
2005
Russell LaMar Jarquet-Acea comes on as the SFR Field coach, helping many Seattle Frontrunners to try, succeed in, and have fun with several field events.
2006
Gay Games VII held in Chicago. SFR sent only a handful of track folks to Chicago, but they brought back plenty of medals and featured in Seattle Gay News, Aug. 11, 2006.
Out Games I held in Montreal. Overall attendance is smaller due to the splitting up of Gay Games and Out Games. About 70 Seattle Frontrunners compete and again SFR dominates track & field events.
2008
SFR participates for the first time in the Ragnar Relay and has had Ragnar teams every year since. In 2014 SFR had 3 teams. The 2 competitive teams finished 3rd and 5th out of 422 teams. Our fun team has also performed well and had lots of fun doing it!
2009
Out Games II held in Copenhagen. 37 SFR athletes, age 28 to 84 compete. An unexpected hate crime caused a hand injury to SFR teammate Dean Koga. “SFR resumed competition because they were determined not to let the incident succeed in stopping the OutGames" reports Seattle Gay News (SGN). Dean competed in a relay run the following day.
SFR's first Underwear Fashion Show hosted by Matthew Love, was and continues to be, a great success raising over 18K for our Run/Walk with Pride beneficiaries.
2010
Gay Games VIII held in Cologne, Germany. A small number of SFR competed in both Laufen (road running & marathons) and Leichtathletic (track & field) reports John Longres.
2012
Go Long is started by Jon Nicholson and Andrew Williams as a long-distance training group. In 2015, their Facebook Page (GO LONG) have 114+ members. Trail running is added to the Go Long training runs in 2014.
2013
Out Games III held in Antwerp, Belgium. This was the track’s last meet with Coach Len. SFR brought back over 70 medals, and Len made sure each SFR got at least one.
2014
Gay Games IV held in Cleveland/Akron, Ohio. SFR competes in road running and track and field events bringing home medals as well as Frontrunner pride.
A record of 7 Seattle Frontrunners run the Boston Marathon.
Regular attendance on Wednesday night during the summer grows to 40 people and up to 70 - 100+ on Saturday morning.
2015
On February 7th, over 140 SFR members gather at the Mt. Baker Community Clubhouse to celebrate 30 years of Seattle Frontrunner magic!
2018
Launch of the Thursday trail run.
A crew of mostly Seattle Frontrunners wins the Ragnar Trail Relay for the first time under the name “SeaHunks” in a time of 21:35:21.
A small crew of Seattle Frontrunners attend the Paris Gay Games where Gabe Gunnink wins the marathon.
2019
A team of mostly Seattle Frontrunners wins a second Ragnar Trail Relay in a time of 20:21:47.
Seattle Frontrunners create cookie creations to compete in the first ever Gingerbread Drag Pageant at the annual holiday party.
2020
A crew of six Seattle Frontrunners wins the team division of the Bridal Trails Relay in Bellevue.
Runs/Walks stop because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Annual holiday party held virtually on Zoom because of Covid--including virtual drag performances!
Linda Baker hosts “Zoomka” virtual meet-ups for 40 consecutive weeks!
In November 2020, a team of Seattle Frontrunners competes in a month-long virtual racing series organized by the San Francisco Frontrunners with other Frontrunners clubs around the country. The Seattle Frontrunners’ men’s open team places third behind New York and San Francisco.
2021
Runs/Walks resume as Covid restrictions ease.
35th Anniversary Brunch celebration held after a year’s postponement due to Covid.
Track program re-starts for the first time since the year 2018.
In June 2021, the club celebrated its return to in-person events with a Pride Picnic in Genessee Park. It was raining, and event organizers did not realize that the picnic shelter they reserved had a large opening in the roof, but people had fun being together again and (mostly) stayed dry.
In June 2021, a team of Seattle Frontrunners competes in a month-long virtual racing series organized by the San Francisco Frontrunners with other Frontrunners clubs around the country. The Seattle Frontrunners’ men’s open team places second behind San Francisco and boasts the top athlete in the non-binary division.
A team of 12 Seattle Frontrunners places second in the 200-mile Northwest Passage Ragnar Relay in a time of 22:37:40.
A crew of eight Seattle Frontrunners completes the three-peat, winning a third consecutive Ragnar Trail Relay in a time of 19:19:50.
12 Seattle Frontrunners compete in the Bellingham Marathon--claiming 7 of the top 21 spots! 24 runners competed in all events combined--including the half-marathon and 10k. Gabe Gunnink wins the marathon.
The Wednesday run regularly attracts over 50 people--the largest the Wednesday group has ever been!
The Saturday post-run/walk social migrates to the PCC courtyard and Shelter Lounge.
The Seattle Frontrunners board reaches its capacity of 15 members for the first time.
2022
16 SFR members comprised three teams at the January 8 Bridle Trails Relay in Kirkland.
To date, Seattle Frontrunners has donated over $170,000 to the LGBTQIA+ community from the club's Run & Walk with Pride.
Beneficiaries throughout the years have included: Peer Seattle, N.W. AIDs Foundation, Lesbian Mothers National Defense Fund, the Yes on Campaign 7 Campaign, Lambert House, The LGBT Community Center, Rainbow City Band, Safe Schools Coalition, Seattle hosted International FR track event, PFLAG, Center for LGBT Health, Team Seattle, Gay City, Chicken Soup Brigade, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), and Seattle Area Support Group.