Rainbow Runners
Rainbow Runners is a group of runners who advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, open to members of the community, their families and their allies, without regard to age or physical fitness.
The group was formed in January 2022 with the goal of bringing LGBTQIA+ visibility to the Brussels 20km by running as a group and representing the community in all its diversity and activism. In 2023 and 2024 we have reunited to train together again with the same purpose, and we come back in 2026 with the same motivation.
Everyone is welcome to run with us and set their own personal objectives. Rainbow Runners is an inclusive initiative and not a competitive group.
In the months leading up to an event, we train regularly under the supervision of a professional coach. The coach helps each member develop their own personal training program which responds to the needs of each individual.
Rainbow Runners is for you if you want to meet people who share the same values and to train with a diverse and inclusive group of amateur runners towards a common goal: to fight for the rights and visibility of LGBTQIA+ people.
In this spirit, and for the very first time, we are proud to partner with Le Refuge LGBTQIA+ Opvanghuis. Le Refuge provides a crucial safe haven for LGBTQIA+ youth in Belgium who can no longer live at home, offering shelter, guidance, and hope.
As RainbowRunners, we are committed to supporting their work. Throughout the months leading up to the 20km, we will actively participate in fundraising initiatives and help increase visibility for Le Refuge LGBTQIA+ Opvanghuis. Together, we can make a meaningful impact—one step, one voice, and one community at a time.
- Practical info
We are currently preparing for the next edition of the Brussels 20km on the 31st of May 2026
The group trainings will take place on Tuesdays from 7.30p.m to 9p.m at the Terdelt Sportpark in Schaerbeek as of February. These will take place under the supervision of a professional trainer.
To properly train for the 20km race, each participant is advised to run three times per week. A great way to do so is by attending the regular BGS running sessions, but you can also train individually and share your runs with the other participants in the WhatsApp group.
To secure your spot, register before 15th January 2026. After this date, you can still register until the maximum number of spots is reached, and at the latest by 15th March 2026. There is a registration fee of 30€, which includes the professional training, registration in the Brussels 20km and one of our amazing Rainbow Runners T-shirts! BGS offers social tariffs, so if you would like to benefit from these, please contact us with your request.
If you aren’t a BGS member yet for the current season 2025-2026, we will ask you to pay the BGS membership fee (€20) in advance so that you are covered in case of injury. The BGS membership fee is valid for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season and is valid for all sports (it doesn’t include specific activity fees). BGS offers reduced rates, so if you are facing financial difficulties, contac us and we will find a solution for you.
If you’re already registered as an individual for the 20km and would like to join our team on the day of the race, you can still do so via your registration, or contact us and we will do it for you.
Contact
Do you want to join us? Send an email at rainbow.runners@bgs.org
Do you want more info on the acitivty of Le Refuge LGBTQIA+ Opvanghuis? Visit their website.