Front Runners New York was founded October 1979 by Malcolm Robinson. This family album serves as an online "scrapbook" for past and current members.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the club was still in its infancy with only 35 members in its roster for the first year. It took Malcolm Robinson's and Steve Gerben's leadership to stabilize and strengthen the club to have over 400 members in 1985. Front Runners members Harold Brueland and David Pitches were the first Front Runners members to race in team FRNY at the New York City Marathon back in 1977 (the novel The Front Runner was published in 1974.) Guy Zelenak and the FRNY board back in the early 1980s kept very good records and several photos of club members that are now part of the FRNY archives. The LGBT community at the time recognized the club's members as runners first, and being LGBT second. Below is a photo of club members after a Central Park Run in the early 1980s. Steven Gerben is standing directly below the Tavern on the Green sign (he's the one standing right in front of the bicycle.)
From the late 1980s to the 1990s, the AIDS epidemic greatly affected the club's members. Past FRNY presidents, board members, runners, and walkers were all affected by the disease. Despite that fact, FRNY members still competed at the first and second Gay Games both held in San Francisco. The club also continued to be the only running club in New York City to host its own road race in Central Park (the annual Pride Run) and the only running club to volunteer at a water station (mile 24) in the New York City Marathon. Below is a photo of FRNY members celebrating the arrival of the new year of 1994 at the annual NYRR Midnight Run.
Today, the club is proud of its diverse members (both male and female, young and old, competitive and recreational, single and partnered/married, rich and poor, etc.). Even with the addition of new traditions (Awards Night, Cross-Country Meet, Reach the Beach relay), the club still cherishes and continues its annual traditions (Pride Run, mile 24 water station) that commenced over 25 years ago.
