The results are in, and Front Runners San Diego’s kick-start to Pride weekend was once again a huge success. Run and Stride With Pride was held on Saturday, July 26, in Balboa Park, and featured a 5K run and 1.5-mile walk under cloudy skies that kept runners cool throughout much of the race. The free event, celebrating its 22nd anniversary, is the club’s gift to the community and has become a Pride tradition.

Co-chairs Adrienne Schlang and Emil Montoya welcomed over 200 runners and walkers to the 8:00 a.m. event, which spotlighted the club’s community outreach activities, including the pre-Pride mixer that benefited the Gay Youth Alliance and Ebony Pride.

Co-chair Schlang noted, “Run and Stride with Pride is our most anticipated event of the year. Front Runners and the community continue to work together to help make this a very popular and classy affair. We’re proud of our club and proud of our community and we thank everyone involved.”

Councilmember Toni Atkins, the post-race guest speaker, won rounds of applause from the crowd of over 200 runners and walkers when she reviewed how far lesbians and gay men have come in the fight for human rights and dignity. She drew laughter by requesting that constituents contact her about street repairs during office hours — not when she is on the treadmill at Frog’s gym.

This year’s top finisher in the race was Dustin Whiston, with a time of 16:18. Lauri Stock was the first place finisher among the women, with a time of 19:17, a 41-second improvement over her time last year. Stock won the race last year as well, and this win marks her 6th since she began running in the pre-Pride race seven years ago.

In the 1.5-mile walk, Judy Pitts was the first female to cross the line, with a time of 16:40, and Chris Rosendall was the lead male at 16:25.

The Front Runners host three weekly runs/walks throughout the year. Anyone interested in joining the Front Runners can simply meet them in Balboa Park at the corner of 6th and Laurel at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays, or Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. For more information and a link to the Front Runners website, visit the Gay and Lesbian Times online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com.