WILMINGTON — Young girls from East End Elementary began their after-school program 4 p.m. Tuesday by munching on graham crackers. It’s a treat but also an energy snack — after all, they’re participants of “Girls on the Run.”
While it’s a national program, this is the first time the 10-week program has been offered at East End. Gathering twice a week for an hour and a half, Girls on the Run is about more than running.
The goal is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident through a fun curriculum that integrates running and fitness, said Erin Sutton. She is one of the East End program’s six coaches, all of whom are East End teachers. Coaches underwent training last summer to prepare.
Fourteen girls, all in the third- through fifth-grade, tried on new tennis shoes bought by their parents that were waiting for them Tuesday. Then they went outside and interacted with a coach about the day’s theme which was “Stop and take a breather.” The expression applies to running and also can apply to managing emotions such as anger or frustration, feelings the girls talked about during theme time.
Usually there is a game activity but they were “running behind” Tuesday due to the new shoes and posing for a group photo taken by a newsman. They took time for warm-up exercises and stretching just prior to running laps and keeping count of how many they completed.
Fifth-grader Kensey Parker is a participant. She said, “It gives girls a chance and an opportunity to be with other girls, and experience trying to get better at things you like to do and learning new things from others.”
Third-grader Gabi Newkirk said, “What I like is you get to be with your friends and have fun while you are exercising.”
And third-grader Jackilyn Brausch said, “I like having to run and helping others.”
At the end of the program, the girls will take part in a Girls on the Run 5K event in Cincinnati. This is a celebratory, non-competitive event.
Girls on the Run has introduced a middle school program, called Heart & Sole.
Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
