This month's #FRWFLFlashback highlights Michael Hall.  Michael is a double dipper, being active with Front Runners in both Fort Lauderdale and New York.  He's also a relative baby to running, taking it up seriously only in 2015.  "I signed up for my first race, Philadelphia’s Broad Street run, which is 10 miles. I did the same race a second time in May 2016. Then in November, I did my first race in New York City.  Running in the streets of New York was exciting.  By the summer of 2016 I was running longer distances and decided to sign up for the Philadelphia Half Marathon in November 2016.  It was so amazing to run through the streets of my hometown.  In 2017 I started to run the 9 races so I could qualify to run the New York City Marathon in 2018. I ended up deferring to 2019. Because I was running so much I felt that I was ready to run a marathon in 2017 so I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon. I trained really hard with the training program that Front Runners New York sets up. My first marathon was a huge success. I finished sub 4 hours with a time of 3:53:12."

As we enter September, it's time to start finalizing our fall race calendars and nail down a training plan.  The calendar this month features a few opportunities to get into the Hall of Fame.  The weekend of September 9/10 sees two races in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks.  Saturday September 9 is the Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5K Run and Walk, taking place in Sunrise.  The following day, Sunday September 10, the Fire Hero 5K race takes place in Hollywood.  Later in the month, the 5K Gran Run will be held in Coconut Creek.  The race is held to support healthy aging in the community.   

And it's not too early to look ahead: October 1 finds the 27th Annual Dunn's Run in Deerfield Beach.  Tarpon River Brewery will host the 6th Annual Beer Fest 5K and the Craft Beer Mile on Saturday October 7. The race even features a team competition where you need to transport an (empty) keg for the entire race!

October will wrap up with the Halloween Half Marathon and Freaky Four Miler.  The race takes place in South Beach and features beautiful views from the course along the ocean as well as the finish festival in South Pointe Park.  Costumes are encouraged but not mandatory.  Best of all, the Halloween Half Marathon and Freaky Four Miler is a FRWFL club race.  This means it's eligible for our race grant program, which can help cover the cost of race entry.  Check out information on the race grant program here and see the list of all club races (including some with discount codes) in the members only section of our website.

Finally, the club is hitting the road and heading back to the St. Pete Run Fest.  The race features a distance for everyone and FRWFL will have a rented vacation house within walking distance of the festival.  All the details are available on the dedicated area of our website.

What is FRWFL Race Season?

This is a great place to start.  Race Season is a new initiative to encourage members to participate in more organized races.  Running and walking is at the core of what we do and we want to show off our club, our members and our accomplishments.  And we all agree, more running and walking is a good thing.  Race Season is underway now and will close with the date of our banquet in spring 2024.

The word “race” sounds very competitive: I am a slow poke or a walker.  Is this program for me?

Absolutely!  While we encourage competitive running, we recognize that this is not everyone’s style and this is OK.  Whether you complete a marathon in under three hours or walk a 5K, the program is meant to be inclusive and open to all abilities, skill levels and speeds.

I have never participated in an organized event and am new to the sport.

No worries.  The club is full of friendly people ready to help those just starting out on the runners’ journey.  And race season will culminate at the Rainbow 5K 2024, which will feature the Couch to 5K program.  There is plenty of time for you to get in on the fun.  

Races are so expensive these days.  Is there anything the club can do to help?

As a matter of fact, yes.  We will continue to promote certain races as club races and these will be eligible for our Race Grants program, which can help cover part of your entry fees.  Check out the Race Grant program at this link: https://www.frwfl.org/race-grants.  Also, club members are also eligible for discounts to certain area races.  Check out the race calendar in the member's only area of FRWFL.org.

OK, I’m in.  I guess I need to do something to participate?

Yes, but just the bare minimum!  We have created a link (FRWFL Race Season Submission) that we ask all members to complete before (or after) each organized event in which they participate.  It’s a questionnaire with five questions: name, race name, race location, race distance and date.  That’s it.  Once submitted, we will take it from there.  We’ll scour the internet for your results and collect the data.  Again, it’s one form per race and races since May 1, 2023 are eligible for submission. 

What happens after my race?

We will celebrate you and your accomplishment.  We will give you a shout out at the weekly runs, post on our social media and your results will live forever in a special section of our website, the FRWFL Hall of Fame.  Plus, we will recognize everyone at the 2024 banquet.  We will give awards to the fastest runners in various categories.  And everyone who completes an organized race will be entered into a drawing to win a prize for each distance (5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon).  Fast or slow, everyone has a shot to win!  Awards will also be presented for runners that go above and beyond (think, furthest distance traveled to a race, most races, etc.).

Anything else?

The office of the race coordinator will send a monthly e-mail, with information on upcoming races, shout outs, training tips and more.  And we’re open to suggestions, including recommendations for our monthly Training Club outings.

Is there any fine print?

Of course.  To qualify for awards, members will need to have been a paid member at the time of race completion and also at the time of the 2024 banquet.  Only organized races count: we love that you run or walk every day but those daily sessions in your neighborhood or our weekly runs won’t be eligible for the program.