“Girls on the Run”

A program that’s offered to preteen girls across much of the country is getting more popular in our area.

It’s called Girls on the Run.

It’s designed to promote healthy lifestyles and self respect among young girls.

The program started back in august of 19-96.  A local council then formed in Lynchburg in 2006.  That year 26-girls participated in the program.

But this May, 107 girls are expected run the 5K they’ve been training for.  For the first time the run is open to the public.

Here’s more on what the girls learn from the program, how it may help your daughter and why it means so much:

Anna, Kristen and Jamie love playing outside like most kids, but they are also part of a group called Girls on the Run.
Karen: What can a program like Girls on the Run give young girls who are preparing to become young women?

Mary Ann Doss/Parent Coach: We are giving them tools they need to go into middle school and to face all of the issues they are going to face.

The Girls on the Run group meets twice a week for about an hour and a half.  The first part of the meeting is a lesson and the second is running usually outside if the weather is nice as they work up to the 5K distance and the girls tell me their favorite run is the silent run when they cheer on their friends with sign language
Karen: What kind of signs would you give people?

Anna, Kristen and Jamie: Like a thumbs up or a wave.
The running teaches the girls how to have a healthy body image and support others.  Parents are the coaches and teachers. 

Kristen:  If we ever want to gossip what we learn to do is write it down rip it up and then throw it away so you don’t feel like you want to anymore.

The run is the last step in a 12 week program that empowers girls.

Kristen: It really doesn’t matter if you are the last person to finish.
Mary Ann says her daughter Anna makes healthy choices now more than ever.

Mary Ann:  She chooses water over soda at a restaurant she makes really good choices about exercising daily.

12 weeks of lessons focusing on building character and self esteem for life, one 5K at a time.

The main group in our area is the Greater Lynchburg Council.  Mary Jansen tells me by this fall they will have people participating from 13 different locations.

Link to more information about Girls on the Run in Virginia
Link to FAQs about Girls on the Run

Link to Girls on the Run 5K race schedule