If 2011 is your year to share your love of running within your community, I don’t think you could pick a better organization to get involved with than Girls on the Run (GOTR).
Girls on the Run® is a 501(c)3 positive youth development program that combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls. The GOTR core curriculum addresses many aspects of girls’ development - their physical, emotional, mental and social well-being - providing girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.
The program combines training (provided in 24 training sessions), for a 5K event with life-changing, confidence building lessons that enhance the physical and mental health of girls between the ages of 8-12. Each of the 24 sessions adheres to a formal structure that combines physical activities with experiential learning activities.
Every session begins with a getting-on-board and warm-up activity that brings the girls' focus to the lesson topic. The warm-up is followed by a stretching routine that allows for question and answer time and deeper discussions around the topic. A workout game follows, where the girls participate in a variety of running activities that incorporate individual or team goals. This is followed by a wrap-up that includes cool-down stretching and final discussion. Each session closes with positive words from the team coach regarding individual and group behaviors.
Girls on the Run is the only positive youth development program for girls with evidence based results.
Unlike traditional athletic programs, the Girls on the Run curricula couple physical activity with a whole-person philosophy to provide the positive benefits of physical activity without increasing the risk of unhealthy attitudes about body image and eating. Evaluation results show that participation in Girls on the Run improves girls' self-esteem, body size satisfaction, and physical activity behaviors to a statistically significant extent. Also noted are positive changes regarding attitudes towards physical activity, health behaviors, and empowerment.
To Get Involved
GOTR Councils have expanded exponentially across the U.S. and Canada over the past several years. I found a brand new chapter locally that’s not even on the organization’s website yet through my local running store. If you’re interested in getting involved, I suggest you contact the organization to find a Council near you (or perhaps even consider starting one in your area!)
Could there be anything better than creating healthier young women in our world?
Check out Girls on the run at www.girlsontherun.org.
