More than 800 girls and their coaches, parents and friends descended on Oakland University’s Rochester Hills campus last weekend for the Girls on The Run 5K.
The run is a culmination of months of training for the girls who spent the spring participating in either the Girls on the Run program for ages 8-10 or the Girls on Track program, which reaches middle school age girls. The girls meet twice a week to do training runs, but the focus goes far beyond exercise. Led by volunteer coaches, the girls also learn about self-esteem, stress management, and being true to themselves, among other life lessons.The Girls on the Run philosophy is to teach girls to Honor Their Bodies, Celebrate their Voices, Embrace their Gifts and Activate Their Power
The Y sponsors the program locally; Ashleigh Schiffler directs it from her office at the Plymouth YMCA. Several programs happen at local schools, but many of the local Y branches host teams as well.
While the unseasonably warm weather on race day provided some hurdles, overall it went very well, Ashleigh says. Girls and their families and coaches enjoyed face-painting and hairdo stations, refreshments and other fun things in addition to the race. And most importantly, it showed hundred of young girls the importance of goal setting and gave them a taste of what they can accomplish if they set their minds to something.
