Girls on the Run 5K: The Ultimate Celebration for 3,600 Incredible Girls

Training for your first 5K isn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially when you’re nine years old. It can be both painful and exhausting. Many times you reach for a goal and fall frustrated when you fail to reach it on your first try.

The same can be said for a third grader’s life at home and school – it’s a roller coaster of obstacles and achievements. But when she has the support of others, oversight from caring mentors, and confidence in herself, she can overcome any challenge – on the 5K route or in her everyday life – and discover how strong she is in the process.

Since 2002, Girls on the Run St. Louis (GOTR), a transformational youth program, has combined an educational curriculum with running training to help girls in grades third through eighth become physically, socially and emotionally healthier. What started as 20 girls on a park bench 13 years ago has grown into the second largest GOTR program in the country.

“This is so much more than running,” said Courtney Berg, executive director of GOTR St. Louis. “We’re equipping the whole girl with the skills she needs to tackle the factors going on in her world and positively navigate her teen years.”

Over a 10-week training period, girls participate in GOTR through their school or a local community organizations. At each meeting, they take part in an information session that covers a particular topic, such as cooperation, and then play a game that relates to it. Afterwards, they begin the running portion of the session to put what they’ve learned into practice.

Explained Berg, “The difference between Girls on the Run and your average track practice is when a girl crosses the finish line, she’ll turn around and work with her teammates to get them across. When they know they have someone supporting them in their goal, it makes them work harder to achieve it.”

Erin Kaminski, a coach for GOTR at St. Joseph School in Manchester, agreed. “The girls are always excited about having a comfortable place and safe place to express themselves. They look forward to working on building healthy habits and learning more ‘girl power’ strategies in fun ways.

In addition, each team participates in a community service project, whether it’s a drive for Nurses for Newborns or a volunteer day at an animal shelter, to show the girls they can make a significant difference in their community, regardless of their age. And with 3,600 girls in the region participating this season, that’s a huge contribution to the St. Louis area.

The culmination of training

The main goal every team works toward each season is the final Girls on the Run 5K held twice a year in downtown St. Louis. The largest timed 5K in St. Louis, the run on May 9 is not only for the girls, but for their fellow runners in the community who want to show their support for their accomplishments by running alongside them and cheering them on.

Said Berg, “For those who’ve never run our 5K, it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced. The end of our race evolves into a huge dance party, complete with tutus and spray-painted hair. It makes it a great first timed race for families – it’s stacked with positive encouragement the whole way, and while it’s timed, its focus isn’t on competition, but fun.”

For Madeline Dodd, a fifth grader at St. Joseph School who ran the 5K last fall, crossing the finish line gave her a sense of accomplishment she will always carry with her.

“If I had to say what the best day of my life was – that was it,” she said. “It was the longest time I’ve ever smiled!”

Moreover, the 5K is a way for the community to give back to the girls in the program. Proceeds from entry fees and sponsorships fund GOTR’s scholarship fund. And even with 70% of girls on scholarship, Berg noted no girl has ever been turned away from the program thanks to the generosity of our fellow St. Louisans.

The positive effect on the girls and the region

In its 13 years, GOTR has made a significant difference in the lives of the girls who participate. All curriculum is evidence-based, and outcomes are analyzed every season to determine the program’s impact. In fact, researchers from Washington University found GOTR fuels significant increases in body satisfaction, self-esteem and a dedication to healthy living among the girls, and in turn, helps them better navigate adolescence and ignore negative behaviors.

The program has a ripple effect on the St. Louis community as well. A survey conducted by public health researchers determined that 60 percent of parents whose daughters participated reported an increase in their own physical activities because of their child’s participation in the program. Families have changed how they view health and wellness, powered by their child’s determination.

“More than 30,000 girls have participated since we started,” said Berg. “That’s the size of a large city, which is incredibly encouraging in terms of public health in St. Louis, These are strong, confident, amazing girls who will one day be the boss of us and help us all make smarter, healthier decisions. They’re going out in the world as their awesome selves and will never doubt their worth.”

Run to make a difference

By lacing up your running shows, you can make an impact on a girl’s future. Registration is still open to those who want to participate in the Girls on the Run 5K on Saturday, May 9 at Soldiers Memorial in downtown St. Louis. The 1-mile fun run begins at 7:45 a.m., and the 5K starts at 8 a.m.

The entry fee is $30 ($20 for children under age 12) through May 8 and $35 ($25 for children under age 12) on the day of the race. All finishers will receive medals, and awards will be given to the top three finishers in each age bracket. To register, sign up online at girlsontherunstlouis.org/run-our-5k.

In addition, if your daughter is interested in participating in GOTR, but a program is not available in your area, step up and become a coach! GOTR is currently accepting new site applications for Fall 2015 through May 31, and in the middle of May, it will open up coach registration. For more information, contact GOTR at 314-862-6266.

With support from donors and volunteers, girls like Ellie Kaminski can achieve the amazing through GOTR. “It makes me happy to be a Girl on the Run because we get to accomplish a lot of things we never thought we would, like running a 5K, being more of a leader, and being more comfortable speaking up.”