Great Outdoors - San Diego
A run with Frontrunners
Tuesday 10/21 at 6pm sharp and Sat 10/25 at 8am sharp *Check website for location.
Multiple walk/run options will be announced at the beginning of this event at 6PM. Walking through Balboa Park past the bridge, running University, and running around Air & Space, and then to University. For this event, I will be walking. However, you may decide on any of the options when you get there. Make sure that you bring a map. Maps are posted below. See Trail.
The meetup is in the blue square. The red arrows show what direction walkers and runners will be heading after the group photo. PLEASE DO NOT START WALKING/RUNNING UNTIL AFTER THE GROUP PHOTO!!!
Front Runners & Walkers is San Diego’s LGBTQ+ running club. This group currently meet weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays to walk and run in Balboa Park at 6th Avenue and Laurel Street (10/4/2025, frwsd.org/)
For this event, I will be walking with Frontrunners through Balboa Park and then back. For the next event after the 25th, I will be jogging Air & Space. My average/continuous running speed is 5.2mi (and 2.2mi above my average at the beginning) in 55min non-stop. I’ve been running with this group for about a month after 2025 Pride. I’m doing it for my health.
Host: Jeremiah O’Neal
Trail: https://frwsd.org/schedule/#routes-distance (Click Routes)
Length: up to 5.5 miles (Air & Space) (See Frontrunners website for all routes)
Difficulty: Easy (walking) to Difficult (running)
Elevation Gain: up to 30 to 200 feet, depending on the route taken
RSVP: Please visit https://frwsd.org/ and familiarize yourself with the information on the website, including the times and routes, before joining. Registration is not required since we’re joining as a guests with the Front Runners group. The group meets in a circle. You’ll want to mention that you’re joining as Jeremiah’s guest and briefly discuss yourself, such as your favorite walks around Mission Bay, etc. You can then say that you would like to walk. Or if you wish to run, you can do University/Air & Space. It is a very difficult run for beginners, but easy after your 2nd or 3rd time running it, and a lot of fun.
Meeting Location: https://frwsd.org/schedule/#general-meet-up-schedule Click General Meet up Schedule
Meeting Date & Time:Tuesday 10/21 at 6pm and Sat 10/25 at 8am *Check website for location.
Parking:It is currently free to park in Balboa Park, nearby to our meeting spot next to the Information Center Booth
Cost: Absolutely free.
Time Commitment: Plan for 1.5 hours (1hr when we start walking or running). Please do not leave early and meet back at the starting location before 1hr after the run. Saturday runs will sometimes include a breakfast after the run in the Hillcrest shopping center.
Dogs: Follow Balboa Park rules if you decide to bring a pet. Most frontrunners do bring pets on Saturday.
Trail Details: Sidewalks, stairs, parking lots, congested areas, restrooms along Air & Space route, grass. Note, all of the bathrooms are locked at 6PM except the ones on Air & Space route.
What to Bring
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Food. Some people may experience dizziness due to strenuous physical activity. Food can sometimes resolve this.
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Ten Essentials
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Phone/camera
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Walking and running clothes, including good-quality shoes.
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Any prescription or other needed medications
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Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunblock, lip block)
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A reflective vest and a light vest are highly recommended. It gets dark, and you will be jogging across busy streets at dusk. Example of one on Amazon
Suggestions:
You may be running/walking with people not in Great Outdoors. Please be careful crossing streets running/walking. Its best to use the pedestrian walk button when crossing, even when others are crossing without the green walk sign. Print the map so you have a copy.
You will be crossing multiple lanes of traffic and walking/running along crowded areas. Call-out/shout when passing anyone/anything and hold your hands out and use eye contact when crossing alleyways and stop signs. If you bump anyone, take notes on exactly what happened.
The run starts a little after 6:00PM. Wear bright colors and lights. It gets very dark towards the end of the walk/run.
Be careful around dogs/children. Do not assume all dogs are friendly.
If you get lost, backtrack. We meet up at the same location we started from. The group rarely leaves the starting location until everyone has returned. If you intend to run, try a practice 5-mile run before this event. If you cannot finish within 60 min. You may want to run partway and then reverse and run back the way you came, cutting your distance.
There are devices/apps that will call 9-1-1 if you fall/become unresponsive. Consider getting a device/app that does this if you’re worried about falling.
Wear a good pair of running shoes. If you feel pain, stop and then walk back. In addition, keep track of sores. Go to a hospital if you notice any change. Talk to your doctor prior to the run if you have any kind of medical problems.
For the University and Air & Space run, there is active construction at the corner of University Ave and 6th Ave. We’ll take a shortcut through alleyways to avoid this area in order to get back onto 6th Ave on the return back. (7th, then Pennsylvania, then 6th)
Cell Phone: Bring your cellphone with you. If you run into any medical issues, dial 9-1-1.
Health Problems/Allergies: It is the responsibility of participants to carry on their person a record of significant allergies, medications, and medical history in the event of a medical emergency. Discuss any medical concerns with a trip leader if you wish. Optionally, you’re more than welcome to wait for the group to return to the starting spot in less than 1 hour if you feel this walk/run will be too much. Please do not leave early. Stay for the entire hour and a half.
Contact/Question - If you have any questions not addressed by the information above or on our registration page, please feel free to contact the trip leaders: Jeremiah O’Neal (Text 619-788-9407), but please do so before the day of the event. I will not be reachable during the event.
This is an event not organized by Great Outdoors. You must agree to any terms and conditions listed on https://frwsd.org/ to participate with Front Runners & Walkers.
Great Outdoors San Diego EDI Statement
Great Outdoors San Diego and our members enjoy the privilege of using the outdoors for recreation. We strive to include more of our community, especially those historically not included. Please encourage your friends, neighbors, and community members to come out and join us! If something is holding them back, please contact GOSD to explore accommodations including equipment available for lend or sponsorships for events.
