WELCOME AMBASSADORS

Between moving to Glasgow for work, not knowing anyone, and just being able to do a 5k when I joined, it was safe to say that I was a bit worried when I joined.

I've gotten so much out of GFR! A great group of friends and social life, exercise and improvement in running. I trained for and did a half marathon with the club! I've also managed to become a jog leader with the club and now regularly lead club runs and Couch 2 5k sessions, something the kid who was picked last in PE would never have guessed!

I’m Alex, I joined GFR in 2020 and completed my first marathon in Brighton with the club in 2022.

The club has done wonders for my physical and mental health and everyone is so welcoming and accommodating.

I have aspirations to do more marathon and trail runs in the near future and the support from GFR (not just on race day) but throughout your training and weekly club runs is just phenomenal.

I'm Billy and I joined GFR back in January 2020. I didn't have much queer connection or running ability so was very apprehensive to get going. Soon found my groove in both aspects as well as the motivation, encouragement and support to keep healthy and active. As an injury prone runner it would be very easy for me to give up, but the social dynamic of the club keeps me on track.

Hello! I'm Claire and I've been running with GFR for the past year. As a kid I always wanted to be able to run a marathon like they showed on the telly in London every year, but in school I was never very athletic and as an adult I couldn't get past seeing myself as an unfit asthmatic who could barely run for a bus, never mind a marathon... 

It wasn't until I joined Glasgow Frontrunners and completed their Couch-to-5K programme that I realised - shock - I could run!

GFR has helped me find confidence and fun in running. I'm now a regular Parkrunner and am working towards that lifetime goal of completing a marathon. The club has also helped me re-enegage with the LGBTQIA+ community. I love chatting to people about their own experiences, dreams and goals, and that is why I wanted to bring my enthusiasm and own experiences with running to the role of Welcome Ambassador.

Hi my name is David and I started running in 2020 when the pandemic hit with gyms and indoor exercise spaces being closed. Before that I would not have considered running.

Once I started though I quickly learned to love running outside and the way it boosted my mood and allowed me to maintain fitness.

I heard about Frontrunners and joined the club in early 2022 and started actually training in late 2022.

Since then, and totally unexpectedly had support to run a marathon (my first) within the first 6 months.

At GFR first I found a community of people of likeminded people, in a safe space, who enjoyed running and who pushed me, and now a place where friendships have developed organically. My only regret is that I didn’t start training with the club sooner, come and join us!

Hi everyone 👋

My name is Duncan and I have been a GFR member since January 2023.

I joined the club during the 2023 C25K and managed to complete my first 5k in March 2023. Since then I have gone on to run many races including my first half marathon in September.

Joining GFR has been an amazing experience and the friends I have met through the club are genuinely the best bunch of people I've had the pleasure to be around. I guarantee that running with the club will be the best thing you will do for yourself.

Look forward to running with you!

Hi I'm Frankie and I joined GFR on August '21. I had just moved back to Glasgow after living in London for a long time and was looking for a friendly running club that would feel comfortable for an older lesbian.

Everyone was very friendly and genuinely welcoming. On my first run someone introduced themself and instantly made me feel at ease. There are lots of different runs to choose from and the club manages to offer a great selection of running options and a safe, friendly place for LBGTQIA people. The socials are good fun too,

It didn't take me long to feel at home with my new running buddies, some of whom have also become good friends.

Hello! I'm Freyja, half Icelandic, half clown. I joined the club in 2022 after seeing the enthusiastic 'cheer squad' at the Great Scottish Run and thought to myself "they look very friendly" and since then, I haven't looked back!

I was looking for a group that was non-judgemental and would make me feel safe and supported while improving my running fitness, but I found far more than that, I found community, family and endless laughter. Welcome to GFR!

Hi, I’m Gordon and welcome to our club! I first joined about 4 years ago and really quickly worked out how great it was. I’ve never been considered ‘sporty’ before so was really nervous but the committee and jog leaders were lovely and put me at ease from the get-go. GFR has become a really important part of my life and I’ve made some fabulous friends out of it. The club doesn’t take itself too seriously; it strikes a great balance between keeping fit but managing to have fun and socialise at the same time.

I am Ioannis. I joined GFR in July 2021 and since then I have become a regular member. I started running during the pandemic for stress relief and over the past two years I have managed to build up my distance from 5k to half marathon. The club has contributed a lot to my progress and running achievements.

I will never forget the warm welcome of the runners I met my first day. I always struggled with unfamiliar situations, or joining new groups, but everyone at the club made me feel very comfortable.

Growing up in Greece, in a country that LGBT rights are far behind from Scotland, it was always difficult for me to accept myself and feel accepted. The club has helped a lot with self acceptance, gave me a sense of community and the chance to spend time with like-minded people.

Joining GFR was the one of the best things I have ever done and I wish I had done it years ago. Therefore, if you are shy or struggling with unfamiliar situations, I can reassure you that you will be met with smiles and good chats.

Hi! I’m Jane and I’ve been a member of GFR since joining the Couch to 5k programme in May 2021. Because it was mid pandemic our runs were small and local, so when it was time to move back to the Arc for proper club runs (and socials) I definitely felt the anxiety levels rise! However I can say with 100% certainty that everyone at the club is truly welcoming and you will make many friends for sure. GFR will help with your motivation to keep active with the added bonus of an genuinely friendly environment.

Hi! I'm Jonny, and I'm fairly new to GFR myself. However, my time with the club has been an amazing experience so far. I've been running for a few years, but find going out with the group has been a much more enjoyable and rewarding way to train.

Joining a new club like this can be daunting, but you won't find a friendlier group of people. Plus there are runs and challenges for all abilities, so everyone is welcome. Hopefully see you soon.

Hello, my name's Rheinallt, but people call me Reg. Welcome to GFR!

I've always enjoyed running but struggled with motivation due to anxiety and depression, and, as you'd expect, less running led to worse mental health. Joining GFR in September 2022 was a lifeline! Not only did regular running improve my mental and physical health, but the great group of people in the club became motivation enough to turn up to every session - running's now an added bonus!

I very much look forwards to welcoming you to the club as warmly as I've been welcomed!

When I joined GFR I think I was a little apprehensive at first, not knowing how everything worked or not knowing anyone else in the club. I soon realised however everyone is genuinely really friendly and look out for each other. What I enjoy about GFR is that I like the fitness aspect obviously but I think the social aspect is just as important for me. It’s nice to run with likeminded people in a safe environment.

I'm Scott and I've been a member of Glasgow Frontrunners since July 2021. I'd been running for about five years and decided to join GFR as I was becoming less motivated to run alone. I was quite nervous coming along to my first group run. I was worried that everyone would be much faster than me and I'd hold the group back. That wasn't the case at all. Everyone is so welcoming and inclusive - it's lovely to run and have a chat at the same time!

Hi, my name is Torsten and I have joined GFR in summer 2022. I moved over from Germany in 2020 and didn‘t know a lot of people over here. The pandemic hitting a few months after arriving in Glasgow did not help neither.

I have been running (on & off) since I was young, so a friend of mine recommended joining GFR to meet a bunch of very welcoming people - and damn was he right! Since joining GFR I have made a lot of new friends (who all like running!) and I never felt part of something like that before. Joining the club was one of the best things I have done since moving to Scotland - and I am sure you won‘t regret getting your feet onto the streets of Glasgow with GFR either.