The Girls on the Run program at Crim Elementary School had its practice 5K on April 19. Twenty girls in third through fifth grades participated in the program, coached by Sara Buddemeyer, Michelle Crider, and Rachel Snyder.
Bobby and Betty Bobcat and Bowling Green State University’s mascots Freddy and Frieda Falcon supported the students during their practice 5K, as it was the first time they had attempted the total distance.
The students smiled and sometimes sang together as they went around the track. They got a stretchy bracelet to wear each time they went around to keep track of their laps. Many of the first runners to finish their 5K kept going to support their teammates.
As each participant finished, the coaches held a streamer across the track so they could break through it. Each of the girls crossed the finish line with a triumphant smile as their coaches and teammates cheered them on.
The official Girls on the Run 5K race is on May 11, at The Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee. Here’s the website with more details: https://www.girlsontherunnwohio.org/5k
Buddemeyer said this is a program she wished she would’ve had when she was their age. She said it helps girls build their confidence, develop friendships, learn about being positive, setting goals, combating negative self-talk, encouraging others, being a good friend, and what to look for in a friend.
When asked what they liked about participating in Girls on the Run, several students said they liked that it brought them together, where they made new friends, learned about teamwork, and supported each other. It wasn’t a competition between them – they were competing against themselves to keep improving at each practice and do their best.
With this being the program’s first year, they secured a grant to cover the registration cost for all participants. Each student received a T-shirt and water bottle. Additionally, each student received a new pair of running shoes through a partnership with Adidas.
To train for a 5K, the students met with their coaches after school twice a week for 90 minutes. They had a snack and an opening discussion about the day’s theme, and then they warmed up, stretched, and had their practice.
Girls on the Run Northwest Ohio hopes to inspire participants of all abilities to recognize their inner strength, make meaningful connections with others, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others. Trained coaches use physical activity and dynamic discussions to build social, emotional, and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits for life. For more information about Girls on the Run of Northwest Ohio, go to: https://www.girlsontherunnwohio.org/@BGSU
