While some Long Beachers are deep in slumber recovering from the festivities of the first night of Long Beach Pride Festival, nearly 200 local LGBTQ+ and allies are lining up Sunday morning to run the 2019 Pride 5k/10k along the bike path.
Why? To celebrate Pride, of course!
“This is my favorite time of year,” said Asaaf Weinberg, the president of Shoreline Frontrunners and Pride Run race director. “The Pride Run is a great way to get ready for the parade.”
Historically, the Pride run, which has been in existence for 27 years, was always on Saturdays. However, Weinberg said that they switched it to Sundays about four years ago so that it would be the same day as the parade.
“We see better turnout,” Weinberg explained.
Last year, the Frontrunners – the running club that organizes the event – saw 185 runners in attendance. This year, they hope to break 200. In comparison, the pride run in New York – where World Pride will be held this year – sees over 10,000 attendees each year.
“We might not make those kind of numbers,” Weinberg said playfully. “But it is a lot of fun. It is a celebration of who we are because visibility is so important.”
This year’s theme for the run is the Stonewall 50th Anniversary. The theme is decided in January, and usually the Frontrunners try to match or compliment the Long Beach Pride theme.
“This year we were a little eager though,” Weinberg said. “This theme was kind of easy to come up with.”
This year, there will be complementary bag check donated by FedEx. There will be a medal ceremony rolling the run, awarding the “most spirited individual” and “group running attire.” The Long Beach Pride Run is apart of a pride run circuit, in which runners will received a bonus medal for running four West coast pride runs. The Long Beach Pride Run is on Sunday, May 19 at 8 a.m. For more information, visit the Shoreline Frontrunners website HERE
