History...

Girls on the Run and Girls on Track are interactive learning programs for 8-12 year old girls that combine training for a 5km running race with life-changing, self-esteem enhancing, uplifting warm-ups and workouts. Each individual lesson plan is based on the "whole person concept" that stresses the importance of equally developing emotional, spiritual, social, mental, and physical development to create a well-balanced, whole person. They were designed to celebrate the gifts of girlhood and provide pre-adolescent girls with tools that will allow them to embrace these gifts as they enter middle school, high school, and adulthood. Girls on the Run and Girls on Track use sports, in this case running, to teach very specific and well-defined social and physical skills. Research indicates that development of these skills will prevent the future display of at-risk behaviors resulting in fewer adolescent pregnancies, fewer eating disordered girls, less depression and suicide attempts, fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems, and fewer confrontations with the juvenile system.

Life is a journey...train for it!

The idea came from Molly Barker, a former four time Ironman Triathlete, who began the program in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1996. She struggled with the expectations placed on her as a woman versus an athlete. Furthermore, she continuously heard the words of high school girls, whom she taught, describing their struggle to fit into the "Girl Box" while desperately hanging onto the little girl inside with the "big sky dreams" and the "I can be and do anything" hopes. They feel the push toward the "Girl Box" around the time they enter middle school, and once they enter, they leave behind their natural and uninhibited exploration of the world, their spirited playfulness of girlhood, and step into the MTV images, the cultural and social expectations of an advertising industry, and the ‘90’s woman stereotype.

Each team is made up of at least 2 volunteer adult "coaches" and 12-15 girls, who assemble at their school after class dismissal and meet for 1½ hours. The 10-12 week program allows each team to meet twice a week. The Girls on the Run program takes place each Spring, Girls on Track is in the Fall and new this year we are beginning a Fall Girls on the Run program for new schools to join. They are based on the work of Mario Fantini and Gerald Weinstein who found the problems expressed by students fall into three classifications: lack of identity, lack of connectedness, and feelings of powerlessness (i.e., lack of control over one’s own life). The curriculum is divided into three 4-week programs that foster these problems. The first four weeks helps girls gain an understanding of themselves, their own strengths and weaknesses, examination of their core values, and what makes them unique. The second four weeks explores getting along within a group, good listening and confrontation/assertive skills, good decision-making skills, and the importance of "positivism" when dealing with others. The third four weeks explores responsibility to the community, cultural and social messages received through the media and other institutions, stereotyping and discriminatory behavior, and participation in a community project of their choice.

Each girl receives a practice t-shirt, a new pair of New Balance running shoes, a water bottle and a team t-shirt to wear for the 5K Celebration Run. There is a fee for providing quality programming, however full and partial scholarships are available for families who qualify.

The 5K Celebration Run allows the girls to participate in a fun run with several hundred other area girls and celebrate their achievements throughout the season. Before the run begins they participate in a pep rally with fun games, music, dancing and singing. There are no clocks at the event and every girl wears a number 1. This is to remind girls that it doesn’t matter when they finish the run it is about setting a goal and achieving it. Every girl that participates in the event receives a ribbon for her amazing accomplishment.

For more information visit the National Girls on the Run Website