Why should you register your daughter in Girls on the Run?

It's a program where she'll make lots of friends, learn a love of running, feel empowered and finish after 10 weeks having raced in a 5k solely created for girls like her.

The fall running session did just that on a warm Sunday in November where a sea of pink hair, green glitter, navy shirts, and hair bows of all colors descended upon Somerville, New Jersey in anticipation of the Girls on the Run 5k. The race celebrated the end of another successful season; a culmination of the hard work and training of hundreds of girls with their coaches over the two previous months.                                                                                        

Girls on the Run ^® is a non-profit prevention program for girls in grades 3-5, with a Girls on Track program for girls in grades 6-8. The 10-week program follows a national curriculum focused on building self-esteem and improving emotional and physical health with training for a 3.1 mile (5K) event. The program centers around finding your inner strength and defining your life in your own terms based around the things that make you feel strong and unique.

Girls on the Run of New Jersey East has been fostering the physical and mental wellbeing of adolescent females since 2000, with girls returning to the program in both the fall and the spring. Under the direction of a dedicated staff of trained male and female volunteer coaches, more than 1,000 girls in five counties in 2012 participated in lessons about friendships, peer pressure, gossip, and emotional wellbeing while preparing to complete a 5k.

Registration for the fall season opens in March at www.girlsontherunnj.org. All Union County program sites meet twice-a-week for 1 hour and 15 minutes per practice with teams in Berkley Heights, Clark, Springfield, Rahway, Roselle Park, Summit, Scotch Plains, Westfield, and Union. Residency is not required.

Please contact Union Country Director, Denise Holan, at denise@girlsontherunnj.org with any questions regarding the program or financial assistance. The program cost is $185 per girl and is available regardless of family income. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the most updated news, information, and events regarding the program.