Published in Block Club Chicago Aug. 26, 2025
LOGAN SQUARE — A new group centered on LGBTQ+ and transgender athletes is uniting runners, walkers and even occasional swimmers.
On a recent warm Wednesday outside Park and Field, 3509 W. Fullerton Ave. in Logan Square, organizers for a club called Out There split members into three groups: 1-mile walkers, 1-mile runners and 3-mile runners. Early finishers outside the bar’s patio entrance formed a cheer tunnel for the longer-distance runners before grabbing a drink or a bite to eat.
Out There describes itself as a “queer and trans led weekly social run and walk.” The group meets Wednesdays for a free run/walk by Park and Field, and also schedules Thursday lakefront excursions near the Montrose Bird Sanctuary for 1- and 3- mile runs, followed by an optional lake dip. The group says it welcomes all levels and paces, ranging from an 8.5-minute mile to a 14-minute mile.
“The vibes are gay and welcoming, which are synonymous with one another,” said Marty Glodz, who has attended every since the club’s first step-off in late April.
Out There joins a vibrant network of LGBTQ+ athletic groups. For example, members of Frontrunners Frontwalkers meet Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings along the Lakefront Trail. That group has operated since 1982 — the same year of the first Proud to Run, an annual race and fundraiser for organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.
Out There is a new walking and running group centered on LGBTQ+ and transgender athletes. Credit: Casey Alexander
Vanessa Righeimer, Out There’s founder, said she drew inspiration from the local scene, as well as the San Diego running group Lez Run, which gave her a community when she lived in California.
“When I came back to Chicago, I realized we didn’t really have something that met weekly, specifically that was more lesbian-led and trans-led,” she said. “I knew that I had a few queer running friends that also voiced interest and passion of wanting to start something like this, so we kind of combined our heads.”
Ace Porter is one of Out There’s several leaders. As a transgender man, Porter said that while other running groups are welcoming, it was important to him to build a space that explicitly supports and uplifts transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.
“Every week I’ve seen a few other trans men come out. We’ve had a couple of trans women come out,” they said. “I want everyone to feel really welcome here and safe.”
Out There’s Wednesday runs regularly draw 60-70 runners, with a sizable contingent of returning members, organizers said. Porter said he’s enjoyed watching the group grow from familiar faces to newcomers. Members text Righeimer, Porter and other leaders about new friendships formed.
“That’s just what it’s all about, right?” Porter said. “It’s having people find their space, feel safe to be who they are and show up and meet new people.”
Erika Snell, a board member of Proud to Run, described Out There as an easygoing club where members are eager to strike up a conversation.
“People stay and they cheer on the people that are coming in last, which I think is a beautiful thing because not everybody is a runner,” she said.
Out There recently held its first hike at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in nearby Darien with Queer Chicago Outdoor. Righeimer said she would like Out There to host more hikes in the future. She said she would also like to eventually hold walks in other parts of the city.
“I think that’s important for consistency so people can count on a location, a group of people, but it’s a big city,” Righeimer said. “We want to get a group out in the South Side, we want a group out in the North Side so people from all parts of the city are able to have this space to come to. We know it can be difficult to get to different parts of the city during rush hour.”
For now, Out There runs start at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in Logan Square and Thursdays at the lakefront, barring extreme weather. Meetup information is available on the group’s Instagram page.
Kailey Broussard 