Member Profile – Zack Taylor

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Meet Zack Taylor

Why did you join the DC Front Runners? I had just moved to DC and was looking for a running group to connect with. My friend mentioned to me DC Front Runners and I showed up on an unseasonably warm February evening. There was a really large group and the run was a lot of fun. Everyone was very friendly and I knew then it would be a good group to get involved with.

Why is the DC Front Runners important to you? I think in addition to the running, DC Front Runners has provided friendships that have helped me connect to the city. I wasn’t necessarily looking for an LGBTQ running group but I’m really glad I joined. In the cities I’ve lived in before DC, there weren’t any LBGTQ running groups and for me, my running life was kind of separated from the rest of me. Meeting and getting to know other gay runners through DCFR has allowed me to integrate that, and that’s been very positive for me. Everyone I’ve met has been incredibly friendly and welcoming and that’s what I appreciate the most.

You ran the Boston Marathon, can you tell us about the experience? After my first marathon in 2013, I made it a goal to qualify and run the Boston Marathon one day. I had a lot of time to cut off my marathon time, but over several years and many attempts, I qualified in 2016. I ran Boston in 2017 and again in 2019, and getting to run that race is incredible. The crowd support, spectators, and excitement the whole city brings to the race is something else. Boston is a tough course and the weather is wildly unpredictable for mid-April but the whole experience is a lot of fun. I hope to get back one day.

What was your first race ever? And your favorite race? Tallahassee Half Marathon 2011. I was new to running longer distances and a group of my grad school friends decided to do the half marathon. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into – no training plan, no nutrition, no pacing. It went about as miserable as you can imagine. But I was hooked after that!
My favorite race so far has been the Ragnar Relay Florida Keys in 2015. Getting to run from Miami through the Keys with some really good friends and then end up in Key West for a few days of fun was amazing.

Do you have a favorite memory or story from the DC Front Runners? My favorite DCFR memory isn’t necessarily very exciting but it was a typical Saturday morning run. The group I ran with settled into a good pace and conversation and it made the entire run fun. That’s what I enjoy most about running groups…the conversation, camaraderie, and how quickly the miles fly by.