By DESSISLAVA YANKOVA
A local fourth grader ran her first 5K road race on Saturday and is already looking forward to her next run. A student at Grassland Elementary, Warner Neal was one of almost 400 girls most of whom ran on Dec. 3 at Shelby Park their first 5K organized by Girls on the Run of Middle Tennessee.
https://youtu.be/uFvAD7DK0s0
The nonprofit’s goal is to inspire girls to feel joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. Nonprofit leaders envision a world where every girl activates her potential and pursues her dreams, according to the mission and vision of the Charlotte, N.C.-based Girls on the Run International.
This fall marked the most-attended event so far with approximately 950 participants, including 375 girls, 400 running mentors, teachers and parents from 31 school teams, GOTR Program Coordinator Brigid Bresnihan said.
Program triples
The program has tripled or grown 200 percent in the past 5 years. In 2011, GOTR served 196 girls in the Nashville area. In 2016, they served 561 from 37 schools, GOTR Executive Director Tiffany Patton said.
Saturday’s was one of two annual big running events — with the other in the spring — that the local Girls On The Run organizes as part of a leadership program. The runs are the culmination of a 10-week period, during which girls meet twice a week. They work on a character development curriculum while also training to run in the 5K, Patton said.
At the events, a running buddy or an adult volunteer mentor accompanies each participating girl.
“As a running buddy, you’re mentoring the girl,” GOTR board member and running buddy Janelle VanHootegem said. “You’re volunteering your time to give her one-on-one attention. You’re also teaching her how to pace herself in the race. A lot of girls get excited and want to sprint too fast, and get tired. So you teach them to run at a steady pace. They’re very proud of themselves when they finish.”
Team pride
Neal was proud after she crossed the finish line.
“It was fun,” Neal, 9, said. “I like all the bridges and running on them. It was hard, kind of tiring but I feel pretty good. I’m proud of myself and I want to do it again.”
Her running buddy and father Paul Neal said the bonding experience with his daughter warmed him on the chilly Saturday morning.
“It gives girls camaraderie and it’s a fun spit to exercise,” the father said. “It keeps it fun so they’re more likely to exercise.”
This was the first year for Grassland Elementary School girls to participate on a GOTR 5K. Elsa Grude, who teaches special education at the school, organized a team after inspired by a friend who had couched GOTR runners.
“We really believe in the program, what it stands for and the values they teach the girls,” Grude said. “They teach them to be strong, independent and know they can make their own choices, be leaders instead of followers. It’s a strong message and they take a lot from it.”
‘Equal opportunity’
Before joining the nonprofit, VanHootegem, an avid runner, participated in her first GOTR 5K five years ago in 2011 when a coworkers invited her.
“They needed a running buddy and I volunteered,” VanHootegem said. “We finished within 30 minutes and I was very proud. The girl and her parents were very happy and excited that she reached her goal. It was a very rewarding experience.”
The GOTR board of directors consists of 12 members and as David Thompson described, “it is an equal opportunity.”
A father of two girls, Thompson is one three men on the board.
“I’m a big runner, so I like the fact that the organization promotes running and fitness,” Thompson said.
After completing a Young Leaders Council program, board member Bobbie Beach joined GOTR because she believes in the mission of the nonprofit.
“It’s important for the girls to have this type of experience because it gives them a goal and they feel accomplished when they complete it. It’s also important for them to build those friendships early on,” Beach said. “The partnerships we have with the schools are very valuable. The teachers and the administrators are so supportive and are always willing to go above and beyond to help us and the girls.”
Learn more about Girls on the Run at girlsontherun.org
Reach Dessislava Yankova at 865.384.1973. Follow her on twitter @desspor.
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