NFR News and Race Reports
Secretary’s report
Well 2020 won’t be a year we forget quickly! Despite the turmoil I’m delighted that the club has continued to grow and the members gain such satisfaction from activities and friendship we promote. More on the pandemic in a moment, but there’s been plenty besides this. At the start of the club year we moved […]
Finance report
I wish to start off my summary by thanking all our members and volunteers for their continued support of the club during this difficult year. The disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant and unprecedented impact on our lives. It has been fantastic to see the continued engagement and the way we as […]
Grand Prix 2020
Like so many things in 2020 our Grand Prix season started out with so much promise, but quickly needed to adapt to the changing world we found ourselves in. The Grand Prix team, led by Kris Bailey and assisted by Jo Morrissey and Kristian Burgess compiled a varied programme of local races with a mixture […]
Virtual 5k Festival of Running 2020
The 2020 festival was set to be special with Newcastle Pride hosting UK Pride and Newcastle Frontrunners being an integral part of the Pride plan, but it ended up being special in a very different way. The organisational baton was passed to us, Jo and Patrice, from Russell and Nat who arranged a very successful […]
Socials update
The 2020 NFR social calendar got off to a flying start with well-attended weekend events at The Stand comedy club and The Punchbowl, as well as a film night at the Newcastle Arts Centre. We also enjoyed post-run socials at The Bake One, The Queen Vic and Barca. The advent of social distancing, self-isolation and […]
Communications update
It’s been an exciting year to be responsible for club communications because, as Covid-19 restricted our physical meet-ups, we needed to find new ways to keep members engaged and to deliver a publicity campaign for our first-ever virtual event – the LGBT5kFest. We were strongly supported by our fellow Frontrunners in Glasgow who not only […]
Chair’s report
As we started the club year in November 2019, no-one would have predicted the challenges we would soon be facing, both as individuals and as a club. The beginning of the year was one of continuation of a successful mixture of sessions including S&C, Pilates, Run Development, our regular Sunday and Wednesday group runs and […]
Doing London in Lockdown
One of our newer members, Andrew, ran the Virtual London Marathon last weekend. Here’s a heartfelt piece from him about his experience: “Having completed two GNR’s I thought I would enter the ballot for the London Marathon, thinking I would never get a place, but how wrong I was. And after restarting training twice I […]
Trails and Tribulations
Garry exclaimed, as we approached the cattle, “are you sure we should be walking through this field?” “Yes”, said Andrew, “it’s a public footpath.” He was right…but as the cattle turned and started to charge towards us, and we scarpered left, right and centre (climbing over barbed wire, squeezing through metal fences, or sprinting back […]
LGBT5k Raises £5000 for Rainbow Home
By Patrice and Jo What an amazing LGBT5K Running Festival we had this year. It was certainly a very special event in many ways. Instead of our usual event on the Town Moor, we ventured into the virtual world. We ended up with just over 700 entrants from all corners of the UK and indeed […]
Return to group training
It’s been a long wait, but today (July 1st) we are re-starting official training in groups. Initially in groups of 4 including a qualified Run Leader (LiRF), our Rainbow Groups defined by pace will meet at different locations and run different routes, but we will be training with others at last. We have taken advice […]
Virtual LGBT5k Festival of Running
Virtual LGBT5k Festival of Running Following Northern Pride’s announcement that there will be a Northern Pride Online on July 18th, and demand from our followers, we are super excited to announce that we will hold a Newcastle Frontrunners virtual LGBT 5K Festival of Running on Pride weekend (July 17th to 19th). Obviously, everything is hugely different this year and we all need to […]
UK Frontrunners Reunite for the Big Club Run
COVID-19 has “run riot” through the spring events and training calendar at all running clubs, with many runners losing motivation when faced with tight restrictions on when and where they could run. To combat this situation, at the end of April the committee of Glasgow Front Runners asked other UK clubs if they’d like to […]
Joining NFR Taught Me About More Than Just Running
We are all realising that both sexual and gender identity are complex issues, and on IDAHOBIT Day 2020 it is fitting that we feature a bio written by one of our members Jo about her own growing awareness. “I started running at age 39 in an attempt to get fit and lose a bit of […]
More enthusiastic supporters for Rainbow Home’s Virtual Run
Since we posted about Rainbow Home’s fundraising drive last week a good number of runners and walkers have signed up. Typical is Kirsten, who says, “After seeing a post about supporting Rainbows Homes, during these exceptional times, I wanted to help in any way I could. I know that NFR support the charity via our […]
Support Rainbow Home
While we all struggle with the demands to stay home and not meet up with friends, at least we all have a place to call home. Some are not so lucky. Newcastle Frontrunners have supported Rainbow Home (RH) for several years, and now they need our help more than ever. One of our club coaches […]
Keep on Running: The UK Frontrunner Clubs Get Creative
“Don’t meet up. Don’t get close to others. Don’t race. Don’t sit-down mid-run on a bench…” With all the restrictions on activity during the UK’s lockdown it would be easy to think “why bother”, yet we know that running is good not just for physical but for mental health. Across the UK our Frontrunner family […]
Jo – a passionate committee member
Last year for Lesbian Visibility Day we featured a bio of recent member Jo. Since then she has joined our managing committee and helped both with guiding our LGBT5k preparations and representing our lesbian cohort. For Lesbian Visibility Week 2020 she’s written an updated piece about her experience in the club: “It’s been a year […]
Member Bio – Emma
During Lesbian Visibility Week 2020 we are delighted to introduce a comparatively recent lesbian member of our club – Emma. “I ‘came out’ fairly recently in the grand scheme of my almost 35 years on this Earth & although I didn’t make a big deal or announcement of coming out, I’ve been a very excitable […]
ALL ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED
In light of advice from the government and England Athletics, we are currently on hiatus. There are no planned meetings – social or running – until at least the end of April 2020. We are supporting and motivating our runners and community via social media.
Member Bio: Becky
This month we feature a recent joiner, Becky, who has quickly become a regular. Mind you, when she says NFR is the least competitive club she found on Google, we’d disagree – we have a ferocious competition every week for best cake… “I moved to Newcastle in June 2019 for a new job, and was […]
Couch to 5k 2020
Want to learn to run? Returning after a long time away from running? Our 10-week Couch to 5k programme could be just what you need. Free of charge, it starts on Wednesday March 18th and comprises three sessions per week (2 with us and 1 on your own or with other programme participants). Booking is […]
Member Bio: Dave
In 2019 we have featured biographies of lots of our members – male and female, gay, lesbian, trans, hetero and bi. We finish the year with gay royalty – our very own Pride Radio DJ. Meet Mr Dave Ryan… “I’ve been running on and off since the age of 13. I even got involved in […]
Member Bio – Siobhan
In our latest member bio, we feature mother-of-4 Siobhan who is a fantastic ally to the LGBT community and a valued member of the club (after all, she is one of our star bakers!) Here is her story, in her own words: “With a degree of trepidation we set off for Gosforth Pool on a […]
Red Run 2019
UPDATE December 1st 2019: Over 70 people came along to run or volunteer at our run on World AIDS Day, with a sea of red streaming across the Town Moor. It was a beautiful sight, and we raised over £250 for Blue Sky Trust, our chosen HIV support charity. See more photos at the end […]
Running for Mental Health
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. MIND, the mental health charity, recognise that the LGBT population is more likely to suffer mental health issues than the wider population. Exercise is recognised by the UK’s NHS as positive for mental health and a significant contributor to positive metal well-being. The NHS Choices webpage states “exercise […]
Member Bio – Holly
In Bisexual Awareness Week 2019, we bring you our latest bio. This one is written by Holly, one of our bisexual members, and an enthusiastic eater of cake. “My running ability as I entered 2019 had recently edged from ‘couldn’t run a bath’ to ‘could probably run for the bus’. I had a mediocre Race […]
Glasgow OUTrun 2019
Led to the start by a bagpiper…joined at the finish line by a man-sized dog called Jog Scotty…dancing the Gay Gordons . not your typical race weekend! Since 2015, Glasgow FrontRunners have hosted a 5-mile race called OUTrace in August each year. As it takes place early (9.30am) on a Saturday morning, it gives us […]
Member Bio – Carolyn
Hi my name is Carolyn. When I started running in 2012 I decided I needed a club but being a trans woman was nervous how I would be treated. Going to Pride that year I saw leaflets for Northern Frontrunners and after a couple of months decided to pop by and see what they were […]
Member bio – Callum
Continuing our theme of introducing club members and showing the diverse backgrounds and motivations they all have, this month we feature Callum. Having finally reached that age when I couldn’t eat what I wanted and stay as thin as I wanted I was on the look out for a form of exercise I could do. […]
Member Bio – Stevie G
Since this is National Volunteer Week in the UK, it seems appropriate to feature our Training Co-ordinator Stephen, better known as Stevie G, who is responsible for making sure we have a full roster of volunteer run leaders available at all of our sessions. “When I joined Newcastle Frontrunners in 2014, I wasn’t driven by […]
Member Bio – Mary
This latest bio in our series is being published to coincide with Lesbian Visibility Day, and features Mary, another of our amazing, inspiring female LGBT members. I joined Frontrunners during the first couch to 5 k programme. I had not run since my schools days and had been trying to complete a couch to 5 […]
Member Bio: Claire
Our latest bio in support of Lesbian Visibility Day is from Claire, our first female coach: I joined NFR after a recommendation from a friend, I wasn’t initially keen because I was really unsure about joining a specific LGBT running club feeling that sport shouldn’t be about separation of participants based on sexuality/lifestyle choices – […]
Member Bio: Kim
We’d like to introduce you to our latest bio: Kim. I’d been aware of Newcastle Frontrunners for a couple of years before I joined. But as I hadn’t done any long-distance running at all I wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea to give it a go, even if it was an LGBT […]
Member Bio: Hannah
Our next bio is from one of our newer members, Hannah. I have been a member of NFR since October 2018. I used to run regularly but had stopped running for a while. In September, I ran the great north run without much training – I realised how much I had missed running and that […]
Member Bio: Heather
In the lead up to our Lesbian Visibility Day event on 24th April 2019 we have produced several bios. Here we meet Heather: I joined NFR in 2015 because I was training for a triathlon, and what could be better than to combine training with socialising? I had started running with a friend – she […]
Member Bio: Karen
Day 2 of our week of bios in the lead up to our Lesbian Visibility Event on Wednesday April 24th 2019. Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen. I joined NRF because I wanted to get fit, I was over 50 and feeling fat and frumpy! I’d led an active life prior, managing sports […]
Member Bio: Jo
It’s 1 week until our Run and Cake in support of Lesbian Visibility Day. And in the lead up we’d like to introduce you to some of our members. First up we have Jo I became a member of Newcastle Frontrunners just over a year ago having made a New Year’s resolution to get fitter. […]
Face of an Angel
The Angel View Run 2018 A report by Aisling This year’s Low Fell Angel View run took place on a roasting hot Thursday in June, and seven Frontrunners set their sights on conquering the 5.17 mile course. The race started behind the Angel Inn, with views of Gateshead and the Angel itself creating a fairly […]
“Cross Country Isn’t For Me” – or maybe it is…
Thornley Hall Farm Race Report, February 2018 by Stephen “Cross Country isn’t for me” – this is what you would have heard if you’d asked me about taking part in the North East Harrier League before this year. As a runner with about 3-4 years’ experience under my belt, I was quite content with road […]
Cross-Country for Beginners
By Garry My attendance at the Herrington Park Cross-Country race of approx. 10k was one of those things that seems to happens by-proxy! I definitely think the cake induced euphoria (NFR members bake exceptionally good treats) and endorphin rush of a five mile run played some part in confusing my senses and over inflating my […]
England Athletics NE Club of the Year 2017
Good morning to the North East Club of the Year! Newcastle Frontrunners celebrate the prestigious award of England Athletics North East Club of the Year 2017 at the Annual Volunteer Awards. It was an amazing evening celebrating Volunteers across the north-east, with true local heroes being rewarded. From Kevin Carr (57-year member of Sunderland Harriers […]
Not For the Faint-Hearted – Hadrian’s Wall Half-Marathon 2017
Race Report by Jasmine Hazlehurst, June 2017 When I entered The Hadrian’s Wall Half Marathon I didn’t believe that I could do it. I thought it would be beautiful, interesting, challenging and if nothing else an enjoyable day out. The big day arrived and as we drove to the start on the top of a […]
“Walk as much as you like – except on the hills” – Pieces of Eight half-marathon report
by Andrew Etherington, June 2017 I once read an article by a well-respected OCR runner, who said his strategy for dealing with tough races was to allow himself to walk whenever he wanted, except when going up hills. The theory was that by the time he reached the top, he’d feel a great sense […]
A newbie runs her first parkrun away from home
New member Kirsten has only ever run Newcastle parkrun before joining our club. Read below her experience of going with the club to a different run… As part of the Grand Prix on Saturday 29th April some members were having an exciting fun weekend away in Manchester, an alternative to the Manchester 10K cake event […]
New name
We’ve changed! Welcome Newcastle Frontrunners, the new name for Northern Frontrunners. Great name, but why? Northern Frontrunners was born six years ago as the first and only running club in the northeast aimed at the lesbian, gay, bi, trans communities plus friends. In that time the club has grown tremendously, our ever expanding membership are often […]
Valentine Love to Run 10k
When I signed up for the Valentines 10k I was excited. I’d joined Northern Frontrunners at the beginning of January and with the support of the friendly Sunday morning runners I’d managed a slow 6 mile run after only 3 weeks with the club. Prior to joining I’d been a fair weather and intermittent jogger […]
Druridge Bay cross-country
BANG!! And it begins, hundreds of runners are off, jostling for position in the crucial first few hundred metres before the race becomes a slow grind of passing one runner at a time. I came into running only as an adult at the age of 36, so never grew up with cross-country or running events. […]
OUTrun 2016
Glasgow Frontrunners OUTrun Weekend Report “Tune” shouted Graeme as Florence and the Machine blasted out of the stereo in the minibus. It was getting to that stage of the trip when half of the 16 runners on board had polished off copious alcoholic drinks and were getting boisterous. The demands for louder and better music […]
Publicity in The Crack
In case you missed it, some great coverage of NFR and the LGBT 5k 2016 in regional culture-vulture rag The Crack: http://www.thecrackmagazine.com/view-editorial/3493
A Good Idea At The Time – Resolution Run 2016
In the drier days in the autumn of 2015, we decided it would be a great way to see in the New Year to add the Resolution Run on Newcastle’s Town Moor to our Grand Prix again. Little did we know that we would then suffer 40 days and 40 nights of rain… The day […]
Castleton Show Run September 2015
Three brave (or foolhardy?) Northern Frontrunners travelled down to the picturesque village of Castleton, a settlement nestling serenely in the Esk valley in the wild and rolling North Yorkshire Moors. The three runners, Allen, Russell, and Mark had arrived to take part in the ‘Castleton Show Run’, which is a 10k race described as a […]
OutRun (Glasgow Frontrunners) August 2015
A weekend away with car-sharing always gives a good chance to get to know people better, and our trip to Glasgow was no exception. 3 car-shares went up, and people from the club who hardly knew each other were put together in tin cans to drive the 3-hour journey to our latest Frontrunner love-in. We […]