A week from today, I get to participate in one of my favorite sporting events, the Girls on the Run 5K. If you are even remotely interested in seeing girls grow into healthy, happy women and you aren’t familiar with “GOTR”, I strongly recommend checking out this program. With more than 200 councils and more than 700,000 girls completing the program so far, there is probably one in your community or a community nearby. GOTR practices all include running and its signature event is indeed a 5K, but anyone involved with GOTR will tell you THIS IS NOT JUST A RUNNING PROGRAM. I would say it is a “reach your dreams and goals program” and a “build up strong confident girls program”. It is so many different things to so many different girls who have benefited from it over the years and it continues to ripple to all those who touch the lives of these girls – parents, families, coaches, teachers, communities.
So where does it begin? Girls in 3rd through 5th grade (and 6th through 8th in the sister Girls on Track program) join through their schools or communities, regardless of their ability for sports or anything else. All girls are welcome. The coaches and almost everyone involved in making GOTR happen on the front lines are volunteers. Volunteers, I might add, who believe in the importance of girl power and of nurturing healthy happy kids. That is where the magic begins. Twice a week for a season of 10 to 12 weeks, these girls and their coaches meet, talk, grow, share and run. And whether they have ever run before or not, they set at least one goal – to finish a 5k (3.1 miles). The core curriculum is taught around three areas – Self-Esteem, Peer Interactions, and Community. And at the end of each season, the 5K event is the culmination of it all, celebrating each girl as a unique, amazing individual who can accomplish anything she wants if she sets her mind to it and keeps moving forward. The joy of this program is not limited to the girls. If you are on facebook, you likely have seen emotional, joyful parents, running buddies or coaches posting pictures with their girls on 5K day. And you can feel that magic in those pictures, even through your device screen. So, join us in cheering on these fabulous GOTR Girls as they celebrate themselves, each other and the joy of…well…being joyful. You Go GOTR Girls!!!