Spring-time message

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  • 2007
    • January - April 2007
      • Spring-time message
      • Tips for spring running!
      • St. Patrick's Day run
      • Stars on ice! Nancy
      • Stars on ice! Roger
      • 1st North American Outgames
      • Upcoming running events
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Contributed by Suman Bhattacharyya

I remember back to the mid-April snows outside our windows: it was easy to put off training. I sure have! An exciting season of races and other running events is now upon us, including the flagship event for our club, the National Capital Marathon race weekend, which took place at the end of May.

But getting out there and running clearly has not been the only reason to come out. It is important to take stock of what we have achieved over the past 4 years. The club has forged a strong sense of community among GLBTQ runners and friends in the National Capital Region. We have nurtured and built a consistent network of GLBTQ runners and friends who have organized their own running, social, and community events over the years. Our coffee breaks and breakfasts following regular runs have been an important meeting place for the community. We have forged strong links with other Frontrunner groups and community organizations too, including the Rideau Speedeaus, Ottawa Gay Hockey Association, and Gay Ottawa Volleyball, as well as others with a wider reach, such as the Pride Committee, the LGX, the AIDS Walk for Life, and the CIBC Run for the Cure, to name a few. We have revamped our Web site. And last but certainly not least, last summer, we sent an impressive contingent to the 1st World Outgames where members persevered in achieving personal bests in a variety of events.

While we can certainly feel proud of what we have accomplished over this short time, there are important challenges that we will need to continue to address. Although we have been making inroads in reaching out to a wider cross-section of the community, we need to reach out to those segments that remain under-represented, including women, young people, and visible minorities. At this year’s AGM, we welcome your feedback on how we can reach out to these target groups to enrich our membership base and to improve our visibility. We also need to ratify updates to our constitution, nominate and vote for the members of the Executive Committee, and discuss other potential activities for the group. We encourage members to attend this meeting and contribute to the discussion.

Wishing you a successful season for 2007!