I first joined Liverpool Frontrunners in October 2023 with the basic goal of getting into running to improve my fitness. The thought of running alone on those pitch-black autumn evenings as a queer woman was terrifying, so Liverpool Frontrunners was the perfect solution. Now, if you had told me that after about a year I would be signing myself up for the Liverpool Half Marathon, I would’ve laughed at the thought. I could barely breathe, let alone hold a conversation whilst running, so signing up for races was the last thing on my mind. But here I am, having just completed my first half marathon alongside my fellow Frontrunners, raising money together for the incredible charity that is Sahir.
For those of you that might never have heard of us before, Liverpool Frontrunners is an LGBTQ+ inclusive running group that meets up at Sefton Park every Wednesday, light or dark, rain or shine, ready to run. The club welcomes runners of all abilities, whether you’ve completed countless marathons, enjoy a casual jog, or it’s your first time giving running a chance. We operate three loops each week, facilitated by our lovely run leaders who are there to guide you every step of the way. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome to participate, running whichever combination of our loops works best, whether that’s just loop 1, the 1st and 3rd, or all three! Many of our members’ favorite section of the night is the cool, crisp pint/soft drink on Lark Lane once all the running is done.
Additionally, many Frontrunners regularly participate in Parkrun on a Saturday morning, a free 5km run that occurs in over 2,000 locations globally. We tend to meet up for a freshly brewed coffee, a Full English, and a lot of yapping following Parkrun. We’re an ever-growing community that welcomes new faces, celebrates the progress of our members, and is here for a good time.
Liverpool Frontrunners was established in 2015, making this year our 10-year anniversary (cheers to that!) The absence of LGBTQ+ sporting groups at the time presented the perfect opportunity for Liverpool Frontrunners to be born. There are many barriers that LGBTQ+ people face when trying to get involved in sport, including underrepresentation of queer people, a lack of safe, accessible options, and being deterred from participating since childhood. The aim of the club is to overcome these barriers, increase LGBTQ+ visibility, promote physical and mental well-being amongst the community, and allow queer people to embrace their whole identities to live as their most authentic selves.
We are proud to serve our local LGBTQ+ communities, providing a safe space away from homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. Liverpool Frontrunners is home to over 300 members and is proud to be one of over 120 LGBTQ+ running clubs that make up International Frontrunners, a global network that began in San Francisco in 1974.
Although we are primarily a running club, our Social Secretaries organize a variety of social events to allow us to make true connections with one another and build friendships to last a lifetime. From go-karting to scenic hikes to trips abroad, we’ve got a bit of something for everyone. Here’s what our members have to say in response to the question: ‘What do you love most about Frontrunners?’
“The beautiful friendships I’ve gained and the memories I’ve made.”
“I feel just as comfortable going out for a run as I do going out for a drink, it’s a fab group of people.”
“The support and drive from your Frontrunners to be the best runner you can be.”
Since joining Liverpool Frontrunners, I personally feel like I’ve come a long way compared to where I was when I first started (and not only in kilometers run!) In terms of my fitness level, I don’t think I’ve ever been as healthy as I am today, and I wouldn’t have had the resilience to keep running if it wasn’t for this gorgeous community. In terms of my confidence, the support I’ve found at this club has driven me to join the Committee and become a Run Leader – despite consistently taking wrong turns when left to my own instincts. In terms of embracing my queerness, I will never be able to thank Frontrunners enough for the beautiful friendships I’ve made and the opportunity to meet so many diverse, open-minded LGBTQ+ people. As a queer woman, it can feel almost impossible to find other queer women to connect with, and so being part of a club that welcomes and embraces LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people is a dream come true.
So, what did Liverpool Frontrunners do to celebrate this wonderful community and honor our 10-year anniversary? As I teased at the beginning, Liverpool Frontrunners partnered up with Sahir to fundraise for this amazing charity in the lead-up to the Liverpool Half Marathon. For many Frontrunners (myself included), this was their first half marathon, and what better way to burst onto the race scene than by raising money for an excellent cause?
Sahir is the Liverpool City Region’s largest and oldest LGBTQ+ charity, which has supported and empowered LGBTQ+ communities and people living with/affected by HIV since 1985. Much like Liverpool Frontrunners, Sahir is celebrating an important milestone this year as they reach their 40-year anniversary! By providing services such as counseling, HIV support, sexual health services, and support groups, they have helped transform lives and improve local communities for four decades.
We hoped that through this fundraiser, we could contribute to the vital work that Sahir undertakes day-in, day-out, to see a brighter, healthier future, and give back to an organization that has done so much for us already. Thanks to our generous donors, we have already increased our target twice after smashing our original goals and have raised over £1500 to date. If you are able, please click here to donate today, where 100% of the money raised will go directly to Sahir.
Sahir has a plethora of exciting events around the corner, including their Eurovision All Stars night at OMG on Friday 16th May, as well as their second annual Drag and Drop event, a charity abseil down Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral on Saturday 19th July. They also have the Pound for Sahir appeal, whereby donating just £1 a month, you can contribute to the facilitation of the vital services that Sahir delivers to those who need it most. If you’re interested in finding out more and supporting a great cause, please check out their website by clicking here.
Sahir isn’t the only one with a busy schedule for this year – us lot at Liverpool Frontrunners have plenty in store from races to kit drops to sunny socials, our 2025/26 Committee is going to be busy indeed! If you’d like to find out more about our club, please visit our Instagram page by clicking here, and we hope to see you at a Wednesday run or Parkrun soon!
Love from,
Poppy (She/Her) x