Being a girl has always been tough, but as any mother of a girl knows, it's only getting tougher. Ironically, in an age in which women have achieved so much, today's girls are bombarded earlier and more frequently with concepts of female sexuality and body image that support the idea that a woman's worth lies in how she looks, not who she is.  At no time are these pressures more influential than during the pre-teen years - a time when a girl's self image and esteem are being formed.

Girls on the Run is an extraordinary non profit program started by triathlete Molly Barker in 1993 that encourages preteen girls (ages 8-13), self respect and healthy lifestyles through running.

Centered around a cirriculum combining training for a 5K event with regular workouts, Girls on the Run programs strive to reduce the potential display of "at-risk" behaviors and activities among participants - fewer eating disorders, pregnancies, incidents of depression, substance abuse and suicide attempts- by encouraging positive emotional, mental, spiritual and physical development.

The organization, which started as a single chapter in North Carolina has expanded throughout the United States and Canada.

I was so moved by the Girls On The Run Website and what Molly had to say, I really wanted to share it with you guys;

"In 1976, I bought my first pair of running shoes. I was fifteen then and like most fifteen year old girls, trying to figure out who I was inside a changing body. I was desperately wanting to be liked by the beautiful crowd--popular with the boys. But I couldn't fit into the box the world placed over the spark of my spirit. The box told me things I knew in my soul weren't true: That the way I looked was more important than who I was inside. That being a woman meant keeping emotions like anger to myself. That having a boyfriend meant giving up part of my own identity. But I stepped in anyway. Hours spent trying to mold my body, my lifestyle, my life into what the box required were extremely painful.

So I ran. I'd strap on those running shoes and head for the woods, the streets, wherever my feet would take me. I felt Beautiful. Strong. Powerful. I felt a part of something greater than myself.

On July 7th, 1993, I remember it well. I put on my running shoes and ran at sunset. I'm not sure what instant of the run the box disappeared, but like a glass womb it shattered around me and pushed me out, born to an entirely new freedom. It was a moment of personal awakening." More...

 

If you are mom to a girl - or even if you're not, please go to Girls on the Run to learn more (there's even a place on the website for your daughter).  And hats off to Molly...she's so awesome and so are the girls!  Traxee to the core!

• Currently 2.5/5 Stars.

Tags: girls on the run, girls running, charities, molly barker

Right on! That is so awesome that your daughter runs with you. What a great time for you two to share. Posted by: bmoore on Jul 05, 2008 at 12:16 AM

Awesome. Thank you. My daughter runs with me on some of my shorter runs. I know she finds a great sense of accomplishment and we get in some much needed bonding time. Just took a peak at the site...can't wait to share it with her tonight! Thank You. Posted by: Sarah on Jul 03, 2008 at 02:28 PM

That age group is so vulnerable. It's like there's this point in a girl's life where she's deciding if she is going to live for herself and be herself, or sucumb to all the peer pressure and either 1) Try to be popular or 2) Try to be "anti-popular". Even my niece was talking about the "mean girls" at school when she was 9! Girls need all the support they can get - wspecially through this tough time and GIrls on the Run is such a fantastic concept! Posted by: bmoore on Jul 03, 2008 at 02:10 PM

Goosebumps. what a great story, of which I can fully relate to. Running was my 'me' that no one could touch. I never did become a part of the popular crowd, tho I had friends in every cliche' group...the most important thing I came out of high school with was MYSELF. As a mother of a young daughter who shows promise in the arts, I know she too will be faced with being different than the crowd...I do, and will, encourage her to take part in self-realizing sports..like running, swimming, cycling, skating. To feel strong and powerful is to be strong and powerful. Thank You B. I will definitely be looking into this site! Posted by: Betty on Jul 03, 2008 at 01:12 PM