Girls on the Run



Our Approach

Our program is offered twice a year, during the spring and fall, at various locations throughout the Tri-Cities. Each program session is 10 weeks long and consists of 20 lessons. Program sites meet twice a week for 1½ hours in the afternoon. Each session is led by a team of trained female volunteer coaches that guide and mentor the girls through the fun and uplifting curriculum. Along the way, the girls train together to walk or run the non-competitive 5k (3.1 mile) event which takes place at the end of the program session. Completing the 5k event gives the girls a chance to shine and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment!

Girls on the Run is the name of our organization, but we have two programs:

  • Girls on the Run -- for 3rd-5th grade girls
  • Girls on Track -- for 6th-8th grade girls

The principal philosophies and psychological research for both programs are the same yet the depth of processing the topics varies with the two different curricula.  We can go into more targeted and age-appropriate discussion regarding certain topics (eating disorders, tobacco and alcohol use, personal/internet safety and harassment to name a few) with the middle school participants, whereas with the younger girls the discussion remains a bit more vague or may not occur at all. 

Curriculum Structure

Our volunteer coaches facilitate a well researched and copyrighted curriculum. The curriculum is divided into three parts to encompass the following concepts:

  • Part One: All About Me…Getting to Know Who I am and What I Stand For!
  • Part Two: Building My Team…Understanding the Importance of Cooperation
  • Part Three: Community Begins with Me…Learning about Community and Designing Our Own Community Project

Each lesson focuses on a specific topic and follows a five part format that provides consistency and structure for the girls’ experience.

  1. Getting on Board: The lesson begins with an activity and brief group discussion that brings the girls’ focus onto the day’s topic.
  2. Warm Up: A short interactive running game that incorporates the lesson topic for that day followed by a stretching and group discussion.
  3. Workout: A running activity related to the topic of the day. Workouts grow longer over the course of the program as the girls build stamina.
  4. Cool Down: A stretching period and group discussion.
  5. Positive Words: Coaches recognize positive individual and group behaviors.

Sample Lesson

We have provided a sample lesson so that you can get a feel for the structure of the lessons. Please click here to view the lesson.