GOTR Fall 2011

Its hard to believe that another season of Girls on the Run has ended. I just wrapped up coaching my fifth season this past Thursday, and the prior Sunday before the girls all ran in the Sparkle & Shine 5K. I absolutely LOVE Girls on the Run, and while I'm a little sad each season to see the girls go, I have so many new memories from the 12 great weeks I got to spend with the girls.

 

Showing Off One of their Lessons

In my first three seasons coaching I was with the elementary school girls in the Girls on the Run program, and in the past two seasons I've been with the middle school girls in the Girls on Track program. Both programs are pretty similar - they cover topics "All About Me", "All About My Team", and "All About Community". The lessons are a bit more mature in nature for the older girls, and have a few totally different topics such as Internet security, pressure from boys when dating, etc. 

Carmel Valley Coaches - We're Strong!

Community Project Day - Hot Chocolate Stand
(Proceeds benefiting Helen Woodward Animal Shelter)

I'm always impressed by the energy and enthusiasm each set of girls bring. In the beginning of the season there are always a few girls who "hate to run", and by the end of the season they are almost always running and laughing with their friends as they go around the track. This season in particular I had a group of girls who really became friends and bonded together (our season end party goodbyes included "Facebook me!"), and on our last lesson this past Thursday when they shared what they had taken away from the program, I was really moved.

Showing Their Silly Moose & Llama Faces

Season End Party

(Notice their SF Marathon Wristbands!)

Some of the things I heard from the girls were:

• "I learned something new with each lesson."
• "I realized that I actually do like running. I hated it for a while when I was in track because everything was about time, and splits, and it was so much pressure. This made me realize that running is fun and that I enjoy it."
• "Girls on Track has helped me become more confident with my body. I was depressed before because I felt overweight. Now I feel good, I feel  healthier."
• "Girls on Track has showed me that you can have fun even if you're not hanging out with your friends all the time." (Shared by one girl whose BFF was in the program, but she always ran her laps without her."
• "I used to be really self-conscious of my size. Girls on Track has helped me feel better about myself and accept that we're all different." (Spoken by a very petite 8th grader, the oldest and smallest in our group.)

 I loved seeing the girls grow and become friends over the season. They became more confident, more outgoing, and those who doubted themselves and their running ability truly did gain confidence as they surprised themselves and slowly ran further and further. Our season end 5K is one of my favorite days of the year. I usually just play course cheerleader for the girls, but this season I cheered for a bit and then went to the finish line to hand out medals. 

Carmel Valley Girls on Track at the 5K

As girls from the different teams (my team was one of 20) approached the finish line with their hands over their head in victory, I became really emotional. I'm emotional in general but I was fresh off my sub-4 hour marathon victory and felt as happy for this girls crossed the finish line of their first 5K as I was for myself after finally beating my evil nemesis of a goal. (More on my blog CIM - Finally Sub 4!)

Here Come My Girls! Coach Heather is PUMPED!

When my first few girls came across the finish line I actually cried. (In public! In a tutu! So embarrassing.) They looked at me a bit oddly and I tried to wipe away the tears. I loved putting medals around the necks of each of the girls. They all did so great! Some people will never run a 5K in their life. These girls just ran a 5K at the age of 8-12. Amazing.

My Former Colleague & His Daughter - Both in Tutu!

On a side note - another part of the 5K that was especially exciting for my friend Tara and I was that our tutu business Glam Runner was an official sponsor of the race! We started by making pink tutus for a Ragnar Relay team back in April, and we've grown to a substantial tutu slave shop factory that has raised thousands of dollars for Girls on the Run San Diego. That's a whole lot of tutus!

Glam Runner is Open for Business!

If you are interested in finding out more about Girls on the Run, check out the International website to see if there is a location near you. There are 160+ chapters all over the US and Canada, and the program is constantly growing! When I first started coaching we had 6 sites and we piggy-backed onto a community 5K. Now we have 20 sites, and 24 planned next season, and for the third time we held our own 5K. I love Girls on the Run and can't wait for our next season!

We Love Girls on the Run!

GOTR Coaches Can Fly!

Coach Monika

Girls on Track Carmel Valley Head Coach

Director, Marketing Chair, Girls on the Run San Diego Board