Girls on the Run is SO MUCH FUN...WOOOOH!

I've been lucky enough to participate in the Girls on the Run program as an assistant coach for the past 1.5 yrs. For all you who don't know about GOTR, it's a 12 week program for 3-5th grade girls, and focuses on developing self esteem while training to ultimately run a 5k race. At the race, each girl is then paired with a Running Buddy Lady who helps pace and encourage her. Well this morning was our 5k race, and my experience as a this lil' girl's Running Buddy was priceless.


Because today was not just a race, but a journey with a gal who kicked booty running her first 5k while simultaneously sharing her world with me. From the minute the race started, and the blood started flowing she started talking. Talking about her day, her weekend, her school, her family, her favorite animals, her dreams, her friends, and so on and so on. She just kept talking while running and I just listened in sweet awe. The race wasn't a race anymore but a peek into this lil' girl's world, and how comfortable she felt talking with me as we ran. 

And she ran the entire time. No stopping for her, no siree. And because she was able to talk the entire time- I knew she had a lot left in the tank. So when we came up to the last ~quarter mile of the run I told her I'm gonna push her a bit- and she was on it. So at the end I told her to try and pass me, which had us sprinting to the end. She is one strong and fast cookie.

Bottom line is I simply felt honored to be with her every step of the way in her first 5k. The physical and social/emotional experience of it all. I know she felt proud of herself and gained so much from the event, but I gotta tell ya...I think I gained more from running with her. So thank YOU lil' Running Buddy;)