Girls on The Run

Girls on the Run® gets up and running at Grand Canyon School this spring



Girls in rural area learn new skills and discover hidden talents and interests

Among the over 80 girls participating in the spring season of Girls on the Run® are a special bunch from Grand Canyon. When Kelley Ingols, the health and wellness teacher at the only school in the Grand Canyon area, contacted Girls on the Run® about offering a spring program we were thrilled. Within a few short months Kelley and her co-coach Karen Cain recruited their team, completed their coaches' training, and sought funding from the Grand Canyon Community Recreation Center to provide scholarships for over half of their team members. Now they are actively recruiting 5K Running Buddies for their team. We think Grand Canyon is a excellent example of what can happen when members of small community work together to offer a big opportunity for their girls.

Coach Karen Cain has this perspective on Girls on the Run® at Grand Canyon:

I was inspired to be involved with GOTR because I love how it aims to teach young girls to be comfortable in their own skin and appreciate themselves for who they are. I have experienced this myself and seen many young girls feel pressured to become who they think they are expected to be and not truly appreciate their own unique gifts. Peer pressure, media pressure and parental pressure can be so influential (positively and/or negatively) in young girls trying to 'find their place'. GOTR presents girls with tools to help overcome some of these pressures and discover their true selves.This is the first thing I really liked about GOTR and I wanted to become involved. Since becoming involved, I have discovered so many other positive aspects of the program! As a coach, I have enjoyed building relationships with these young girls. They are a great group of energetic, excited, funny girls and we are having a LOT of fun! We live in a unique community here in Grand Canyon, where extracurricular activities are somewhat limited. GOTR gives these young girls an opportunity to create positive relationships with other teammates and coaches. It also provides an opportunity for girls to learn new skills and discover their own possible hidden talents and interests.

See Kelley in our Spring Season YouTube video!



Be a Running Buddy for a girl during the New Balance GOTR 5K this spring

Make a difference in a girl's life by helping her reach a running goal




Every girl finishing the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Buffalo Park will be accompanied by a Running Buddy or family member as she reaches her goal of completing the event. Running Buddies are women from the community who volunteer to run, walk, skip, hop, or dance their way to the 5K finish line with a "girl on the run." A Running Buddy serves as a positive female role model, while supporting and encouraging a girl to complete the untimed, noncompetitive event at her own pace.

Are you a woman over 18 who wants to positively impact a girl's life as a Running Buddy?Just submit the volunteer application available on our website by March 28 and register for the 5K. Running Buddies attend an orientation on March 30, a practice 5K session in early April, and then join their girls for the 5K on May 1. Questions? Contact Stephanie at stephanie@gotrcoconino.org.

· Click here to download a Running Buddy application!
· Click here to register for the spring 5K!


Olympian, American record holder Jenny Barringer to support GOTR

Newest member of Team New Balance says GOTR major factor in her decision

New Balance recently announced that Jenny will be the newest member of Team New Balance. As part of this relationship, she will join New Balance in its support of Girls on the Run®. At the New Balance games on January 22nd Jenny exclaimed, "I'm thrilled to join the New Balance family and am eager to represent a brand that I find both inspiring and authentic...I'm particularly excited to work with the Girls on the Run® organization, encouraging young girls to respect themselves and develop a healthy lifestyle through running." A special thanks goes out to Girls on the Run Manhattan for their hard work organizing a team of girls to join Jenny on the track for the event!

Jenny holds the American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, and is a seven-time All-American and 12-time All-Big 12 honoree. Jenny also won four NCAA titles and two national steeplechase titles.

· Read more about Jenny, New Balance, and GOTR!



Bring Girls on the Run® to girls in your community for the Fall 2010 season

Coconino, Apache, Navajo, and Yavapai County schools may now apply to participate in season

Girls on the Run® will begin accepting site applications for the Fall 2010 season after March 23. All schools, community centers, youth centers, and other organizations in Coconino, Apache, Navajo and Yavapai Counties may now apply to host Girls on the Run® through our council. For more information about becoming a program site and to request an application, please contact Stephanie Ludwig at stephanie@gotrcoconino.org. All applications will be due by April 30 and new sites will be confirmed by May 5. The Fall season will begin September 7 and conclude November 24. The New Balance GOTR 5K will be held on November 20 in Flagstaff.

Girls on the Run® Gratitude Corner