Girls on the Run gives girls in grades 3-8 the tools to break out of the girl box. Adolescents enter the girl box when they begin to morph into what they think they should be instead of who they really are. The 10-week program is open to all girls and is designed to educate and inspire each one to be true to her self.
“The girl box is different for everyone,” said Jennifer Sublett, executive director. In adolescence, outside messages begin to take hold and the pressures to act a certain way and to look a certain way are amplified. This program encourages girls to talk about their feelings and ways to handle these pressures.
Molly Barker started the program in 1996 in Charlotte, N.C., with 13 girls. Barker, who has a master’s degree in social work and a background in education, designed the curriculum. The curriculum is divided into self, team and community. Each lesson focuses on a specific topic and uses running activities to reinforce the life lesson.
“This program is about setting goals,” said Sublett. The culmination of the program is a 5K run that is open to the community. This year it will be held May 17 at Lincoln Land Community College. “It’s powerful to see so many people come out and support the girls,” she said. “I love to see dads running with their girls.” Girls feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish.
Deb Shultz started the local chapter in 2004. She partnered with the Girls and Boys Club and had 13 brave girls in her first group. Sublett said a lot of great things have come out of her vision. The local chapter serves a 10-county area in central Illinois and 3,400 girls have participated over the past 10 years. More than 650 girls will take part this spring and the chapter plans to register its 4,000th girl.
The program couldn’t do it without its coaches and practice partners. More than 250 adult volunteers work with the girls. “All the girls love their coaches,” said Sublett.
Each team meets twice a week after school. There is a fall and spring session with different curriculums and girls can participate as often as they like. Girls on the Run is geared towards grades 3-5 and Girls on Track is geared towards grades 6-8. Girls on Track follows the same format as Girls on the Run except it is age appropriate.
Sublett said it’s nice to have older girls involved with the program. “You can see more of their personalities,” she said.
“Girls in grades 3-5 are still trying to figure out who they are,” continued Sublett. Young girls are bombarded with messages and at that age don’t have the ability to process the information they are receiving. This program gives them the tools to filter out the message behind what the media is selling and how it makes them feel.
Sublett said the girls get it. “It amazes me to hear the emotionally mature depth of their responses,” she said. They’re receptive to the positive messages this program instills. It gives them a base to take into junior high.
Parents need to create a safe space where their daughters feel comfortable talking to them about what is going on in their lives. If parents notice changes in their daughters’ behavior, such as focusing too much on what others are doing or on how others look or dress, talk with them and reassure them it’s all right to be an individual and they don’t have to be like everybody else.
“It’s easy to say don’t let it bother you,” said Sublett. Parents need to reinforce positive messages and tell their daughters that it’s okay to experience the feelings that they’re having.
Studies show there is a connection between physical activity and how girls feel about themselves. Girls who are physically active are more alert and do better in school.
One way to create a safe space is for parents to set aside time to do something fun with their daughters like going on a bike ride or a run. “It’s a time to be together,” said Sublett. “It opens up a space where you can talk about things and discuss what they’re going through.”
This program has inspired families to become more active. Sublett said 95 percent of the families enrolled in this program are more likely to participate in healthy activities than they were before. She encourages families to incorporate fun activities into their daily lives.
“We want to make sure girls have fun,” said Sublett.
Roberta Codemo lives in Springfield with her 1-year-old cat, Coal. She is a great-aunt and aunt to three nieces and one nephew. She can be reached at [email protected].
