This Sunday, 300 girls from 24 teams in grades 3-8 will lace their running shoes as they prepare to run a 5-kilometer race at 10 a.m. at Smith College athletic fields as part of the Girls on the Run program.
Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization that runs a 10–week program that teaches girls important life lessons, while preparing them to run a 5K.
“The program’s outcomes are the 5 Cs,” council director Alison Berman said. “Competence, confidence, care, character and contribution.”
Throughout the program girls gain confidence in themselves, develop and improve competence, learn to treat others with care and compassion, develop a good character and to contribute to their community.
The last “C” is one that all of the teams take pride in as all 24 teams will contribute in a community service project.
Last season, Tricia Loomis, coach of the Jackson Street School team, was proud when her team raised $200 for the Northampton Survival Center.
“This program is a concrete way of building character,” said Loomis.
Loomis is one of the 90 volunteer coaches within the program.
“To see them gain the skills is really rewarding,” said Loomis. “It builds social emotional intelligence.”
Girls on the Run teaches how to deal with situations like bullying and being a good friend.
“We talk about bullying and how not to be a bystander,” said Loomis. “But instead to be a standbyer and a good citizen.”
The goal for the last 10 weeks was to prepare the girls for the run. Running 3.1 miles is a challenge, but finishing it will be an achievement.
“They use the experience to conquer everything else that seems hard,” said Loomis.
Local schools involved with Girls on the Run include: Bridge Street School (Northampton), Ryan Road Elementary (Northampton), Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (Hadley), Easthampton Elementary Schools, Crocker Farm School (Amherst), Westhampton Elementary School, Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School (Easthampton), Lander-Grinspoon Academy/Northampton Montessori, Leeds Elementary (Northampton), Smith College Campus School, Hatfield Elementary and Jackson Street. School (Northampton).