DC Front Runners Washington, DC's LGBTQ+ Running & Walking Club

Member Profile – Brandon Williams

Preferred Name: Brandon Williams
Profession: Medical Technologist, DC Department of Forensic Science, Public Health Lab
Education: BS, Biology, Coastal Carolina University
Member Since: 2018
Favorite Route: Union Station
Bet You Didn’t Know: The scar on my forehead is from a spider bite I got when I was ten.

Why did you join the DC Front Runners?

I first saw DC Front Runners at the Capital Pride parade in 2017 when I was visiting DC. When I moved here the next year, I knew I wanted to join! I never had the opportunity to be a part of a running club that also promoted the LGBTQ community. I started attending runs regularly, met lots of new people, and have been a proud member ever since.

Why is the DC Front Runners important to you?

Running has been a hobby of mine since my mid-twenties. It can be a lonely hobby, especially when you are new or just starting out. The best thing about running is when you have a running friend or group of friends to encourage you and keep you going. That is exactly what DCFR offers! Joining DC Front Runners has given me the opportunity to be part of a community while still being able to enjoy my hobby.

Do you have a favorite memory or story from the DC Front Runners?

One of my fondest memories of DCFR is the Christmas party of 2019. It was one of the last times people could gather and just enjoy each other’s company. I enjoyed dancing with my friends and shutting the dance floor down until the DJ stop playing music.

What was your first race ever? And your favorite race?

My fist race was a 10K trail run, called Harbison Forest Trail Run in South Carolina in 2008. One of my favorite races is the Palmetto 200 relay race, where 12 members of a team run 200 miles from Columbia to Charleston, SC. My team, Van On The Run, was a two-times back-to-back winner.