Each month, I'll feature a great girl organization in the Chicagoland area. Girls on the Run is the featured girl group this March.
Today is the kick-off of the Girls on the Run Chicago spring season. This week, about 150 sites will kick off and more than 3,000 girls will start getting ready for the Girls on the Run 5k in June. Along the way, they'll learn how to stay true to themselves and make healthy choices. Read on to find out why 5th grader Olivia Atkins thinks Girls on the Run is great!
A Life-Changing Run: Girls on the Run
by Olivia Atkins, 5th grade
An exciting new program has started at Holy Family Catholic Academy. It's called Girls on the Run. Thousands of girls have been through this program, which was founded by Molly Barker in 1996. Ms. Barker is a four-time Ironman Triathlete, a high school teacher and track coach. She also has a Master's Degree in Social Work.
When Molly Barker was a teenager, she started to run. Running made her feel strong, beautiful and powerful. As long as she ran she didn't have to feel like she had to be popular to feel good about herself. Running made a big difference in her life and she wanted other girls to see how running could change their lives, too. The mission of Girls on the Run is "to educate and prepare girls for a life time of self-respect and healthy living."
Since so many girls have benefited from Girls on the Run, Holy Family Academy thought it would be good for girls in third through fifth grades to participate. Many people, including myself have been inspired by this program to lead a healthy lifestyle.
You may be wondering, "Why are these girls running 3.1 miles?" Well, one of the most important reasons is the feeling of achievement. A lot of work goes into training for the run. The girls work with their coaches to set goals. Working toward a goal keeps the girls focused, and meeting goals gives the girls the great feeling of achievement. Not everything in life is easy. Families encourage their girls to join this program because it will prepare the girls for a lifetime where they have to work to achieve their goals.
Studies have shown that girls that feel good about themselves are more likely to make better choices when they become teenagers. An important way to feel good about yourself is to set a goal and work hard to achieve it. Also, you will feel better because you will be physically fit. That is what Girls on the Run is designed to do. If you respect yourself, chances are you will live a lifetime of healthy living.
In the Girls on the Run program you don't need to do it alone. Many people run each race. You also learn what it's like to be part of a team. The program is for third through fifth grade girls only. But anyone can join in on the run, even dads. Once this program had caught on with third through fifth, the Girls on the Run program realized many girls did not want to quit once they got to middle school. As a result, they started Girls on Track for girls in sixth through eighth grades. But that's a different story.
The Girls on the Run program has already had a positive impact on girls at Holy Family Catholic Academy who ran the race last year. Here's what they had to say:
"I thought I couldn't do it but so many people believed in me."--Anna
"After the run I felt as if I were at the top of the world." -Kay
This program has helped the many girls who have participated to make better choices by living a healthy lifestyle, setting goals, and working hard to achieve them. As a consequence, girls that have been through this program have a higher level of self-respect. Girls on the Run has changed many lives, including some of my best friends. And now it's about to change mine.
Filed under: Girl Organization of the Month
Tags: Girl submissions, Girls on the Run, Girls on the Run Chicago, Molly Barker, Olivia Atkins
Olivia, I am so glad you are a part of GOTR with us this season! We're going to have a great time and a great run. You did an awesome job on this article..."SUPERSTAR" AWARD TO YOU, OLIVIA!
-Mrs. Biere