Published in Next Magazine, June 17, 2010
Published in Next Magazine, June 17, 2010
"Just Doin’ It!"
By Jeff Kagan
"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." Those words of wisdom came from Fred Lebow, the co-founder of the New York City Marathon.
Those sentiments are echoed by Rob Lennon, the President of Front Runners New York, the local gay & lesbian running club that has been Keeping Gay Runners On Their Toes For Over 30 Years. Lennon has been with the club for the past seven of those 30 years.
Every week, you’ll find him shakin’ a leg at the Front Runner’s Saturday Morning Fun Run. While you may be sitting on your couch watching cartoons, the Front Runners are out in Central Park, dripping with perspiration and endorphins, as they take the loop.
These Adidas-donned dandies meet up at the Rutgers Presbyterian Church on West 73rd Street just before the 10am run. They drop off their bags and hit the pavement. When they return, it’s bagels and coffee all around thanks to the generosity of some member volunteers. And for those who want more (running, not bagels), there is another weekly Fun Run at 7pm on Wednesday nights. Don’t worry Brooklyn hipsters: there’s a weekly jog through Prospect Park on Tuesday nights, too.
Front Runners New York started with just a few dozen people and now they have close to 700 paid members. The membership fee is only $30 per year. That gets you access to their programs on running, cycling, swimming and multisport workouts. “It’s the best $30 you can spend,” says Lennon. “You can do something with the group almost every night of the week.”
The group’s marquee event is the 29th Annual Front Runners New York Lesbian and Gay Pride Run, on Saturday, June 26, 2010. It started out as a small race with only a few hundred runners back in the early 80s, when the magical sounds of Olivia Newton-John were dancing through the airwaves. Now, about 5,000 joyful joggers participate in this 5-mile race, which attracts people from all over the United States and the world. There are prizes and raffles, and even a special guest star to sing the national anthem! Thinking about participating? Just do it. (We can say that, right?)
For more information, go to www.frny.org.
Quickies
Touch My Scrum: The Gotham Knights Rugby Club raised over $8,000 at their annual Bachelor Auction on Wednesday, May 26th. Next stop is Minneapolis for the biannual Bingham Cup, June 18th thru 21st.
Hooking! Jeff Kagan got the “triple-crown” in hockey (according to Captain Bob Glasscock) on May 22nd by lighting up the score board with a goal, an assist and a penalty (Hooking! No, it’s not what you think…) The B-17 Bombers went on to win the game 4-2! On June 5th, the Bombers stepped on the Spiders 4-2 in an epic gay hockey battle.
Dribble on a Lay-up: The Men’s Division playoffs bounced by on June 6th. The B-Division Natural Burn Killahz whipped the asses of Splash Bar by 21 points thanks to Greg Romer’s scoring barrage. Final score, 45-24. The Killahz will face Gym Bar in the Finals on June 13th at the Field House at Chelsea Piers.
Endless Luv: Congratulations on the Metropolitan Tennis Group’s 25th Anniversary. Be sure to check out MTG’s upcoming Liberty Open Tournament, July 3rd – 6th at USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. For more information, email libertyopen@aol.com.
