What is Girls on the Run?
Girls on the Run®” is a life-changing, non-competitive character development program for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 5km run/walk event with self-esteem enhancing running activities. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Each lesson is taught through fun running activities while focusing on a “topic of the day” such as; bullying, values, or self-respect. During the course of the program, Girls on the Run® GTA partners with a local charity and conducts a community project entitled “Run for a Reason”. The program concludes with our “It’s Cool to be ME 5K” celebration.
Who are your coaches?
Our coaches come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all share one thing in common – their commitment to empowering girls and helping them realize their true potential. We have heard time and time again from our coaches “I wish this was around when I was a kid!” The safety and wellbeing of every child is something we take seriously, therefore all coaches are police screened and participate in curriculum and CPR/First Aid training.
Is it safe for young girls to run the 5K distance?
"Children's bodies are well suited for endurance exercise, and numerous studies have shown that children show many positive physiological adaptations to endurance exercise training. The keys are gradual progression and common-sense adult supervision. If those conditions are met, running 3 miles is a reasonable goal for most young people." - Russell R. Pate, Ph.D. with the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina.
How long does your program run?
Our participants meet twice a week for nine-weeks every spring. We commence the program in late March and conclude at the end of May. Each session is one hour and fifteen minutes in length.
What times do your programs run?
Currently we operate as an after-school program. Programs generally run between the hours of 3pm and 5pm weekdays.
Do girls have to be runners to sign up for the program?
Unlike many programs, Girls on the Run is a non-competitive program. This allows each girl to set her own personal goal and achieve it in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
Do you have a summer program?
With the Girls on the Run spirit in mind, we run a non-competitive, fun and interactive summer camp during the months of July and August for girls ages’ eight to twelve. Please see camp section for more details.
Do you have a boys program?
Girls on the Run International piloted a boys program within their Charlotte, NC Council for several years. In early 2005 they made the difficult decision to cancel the pilot program due to lack of interest and to not roll out the boys program to the other councils within the United States. We hope that the support needed to have a successful program will present itself in the future. Girls on the Run International will continue to have Boys on the Run in its long-range plan. It is our wish that one day we will have a program equally as successful for boys as we have for girls.
What does it cost and what’s included?
The cost to operate Girls on the Run GTA is $139.00 per girl. All girls are encouraged to participate in GOTR YR/GTA regardless of ability to pay the full fee. It is our policy to never turn a child away due to financial difficulties. Should the need arise, we offer scholarships on an individual basis. Each girl will receive curriculum and CPR/First Aid coaches, 18 lessons, handouts, water bottle, t-shirt, writing journal, finishing medal and free entry into our It’s Cool to be ME 5K celebration.
