Springfield College Hosts Girls on the Run 5K

Girls on the Run of Western MA will host its 5k celebration on June 4th, 10:30am, at Springfield College. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in 3rd to 8th grade. During the ten-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season celebratory 5k event.

Participation in the 5k event on June 4th is open to the public. We have 500 girls and 160 volunteer coaches in our program this season and expect to have over 1200 participants. Last season’s 5k event brought together over 1000 participants including program participants, their family and friends and community members. Registration cost is $20 for adults and $12 for children and includes a GOTR 5K event shirt. There will be food trucks, face painting, a group warm-up and lots of fun and excitement.  The event will begin on the track and do two loops around the campus.

Registration is open on our website, www.girlsontherunwesternma.org. We will also have registration the day of the event beginning at 8:30am.  The run will begin at 10:30am, but the festivities including a group warm up and talk by president of Springfield College, Mary-Beth Cooper, will begin at 10am. Early arrival is suggested. For more information about the event, how to register and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.

Girls on the Run is a national physical activity-based positive youth development program for 3rd-8th grade girls. Participants develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care, create positive connections with peers and adults and make a meaningful contribution to community and society. Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches that guide and mentor the girls. The ten-week program concludes with all participants completing a celebratory 5k event which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving                                          life goals.