Gilbert Gaona (he/him) has recently moved back to San Diego, California, but has become a staple in the New York running scene. Born and raised in Atascadero, California, he moved to San Diego, California to attend San Diego State. Gilbert has always had a passion for sports and staying active and it was this love for fitness that eventually led him to this world of running and, in particular, the world of queer running.

Gilbert began running with Front Runners and Walkers San Diego, a local (and international) queer running club, where he found a supportive community that shared his passion for running. This community would eventually lead him to the largest queer running club in the world, Front Runners New York (FRNY), where he became president in 2021 and 2022. Under his leadership, FRNY became larger and more diverse than ever, with members from all walks of life.

One of Gilbert's main goals as president of FRNY was to provide more inclusivity and diversity within the running community. He worked tirelessly with New York Road Runners (NYRR) to create a Non-binary category for all NYRR races, which started with the 2022 Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run. His efforts also helped with the establishment of regular calls between FRNY and NYRR, opening up a line of communication that would prove instrumental in creating more opportunities for non-binary runners.

Gilbert's hard work and dedication have been instrumental in breaking down barriers in the sport of running. He was also involved in working with the NYCRuns Brooklyn Marathon and Half and the Boston Marathon before they opened up their Non-binary categories, expanding opportunities for all non-binary runners.

During his tenure as President of FRNY, Gilbert also worked to create the first-ever Trans and Non-binary committee, as well as the first-ever all Non-binary Performance Team. This team went on to win the Inaugural NYRR Non-binary Club Points Series in 2022, where the team took first in all 11 races!

Gilbert has always been an ally to his trans and non-binary siblings, and he has worked hard to ensure that representation exists within all minority groups. As a cis-gay Latino man, Gilbert has learned the importance of using his platform to support and uplift marginalized groups, and he has continued to be an inspiration to many within the Queer Community.