We’re thrilled to announce that the Girls on the Run 5K registration is officially open. Tell a friend, make a plan, and embrace the spirit of connection with us at the 5K Celebration. Days like this were meant to be experienced with loved ones!

Girls on the Run Participants are already registered. Only family and running buddies need to register.

Date: Saturday, December 7

Time: 5K Festival – 7:30 - 11 am; We will meet between 8-8:30 to get bibs and shirt/warm up together, 5K Start – 9 am

Location: The Meadow at Piedmont Park (Charles Allen Gate, 475 10th Street Atlanta, GA 30309)

Registration Discounts

Caregivers of participants who qualify for free or reduced lunch have received an email and text message with discount codes to register one 5K Buddy at a free or reduced rate. Families can direct any questions regarding the discount codes to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

The big idea for Lesson 19 was Let Your Star Power Shine! In this lesson, we reflected on what it means to be a Superstar and celebrated being ourselves and shining in our own way! During our workout, we completed laps in honor of someone special. We each chose someone who encourages us to shine in our own way or who we want to encourage to shine in their own way!

In Lesson 17 the big idea was Small Acts Make a Difference. We began by reframing this project not as a large undertaking but as a chance for the team to exercise their agency, even with limited resources, to make a difference. During our warm-up, we moved and voted on the top project choices and then used our Speaking Star to narrow it down further. With lots of teamwork, communication, and the power of the Speaking Star we were able to plan out our Community Impact Project!

The big idea for Lesson 18 was special – instead of providing the big idea, the team came up with it themselves: Organizing a Food Drive! The team used their Star Power and Girls on the Run tools to make our community shine brighter. We had a wonderful time planning out which part each team member would take on. The girls have all decided to reach out to their classmates and family to help with this, so be on the look out for the announcement on our GOTR Food Drive!

The big idea for this lesson 15 was Teamwork. We began the lesson by learning about our new tool – the Speaking Star – that will help the team lead the conversations, instead of the coaches, from here on out. In our warm-up, we continued practicing our communication skills by completing a joint team lap.

The big idea for lesson 16 was Our Community Shines. We made a large map and filled it with the people, places, and things that make up our local community. As we completed our workout, we considered how each part of our community is valuable and shines in its own way. Next practice we begin our Community Impact Project using the community map we made to help our community shine brighter.

The big idea for Lesson 14 was Be an Includer! In our first activity, the team re-designed the game to be more inclusive by coming up with their own creative rules. In the warm-up, we practiced being an includer using real-life scenarios. During the workout, we learned that when we include others and encourage them, we can create Constellations – by bringing our unique stars together!

In Lesson 12, the big idea was Team Star Power. The team members built up their confidence for the end-of-season 5K by completing a practice 5K (3.1 miles). There were lots of smiles and high-fives as everyone cheered each other on!

The big idea for Lesson 13 was Perspective. We learned about the power of perspective where you put yourself in someone else’s shoes. We practiced being perspective detectives and understanding both sides of a story as coaches acted out skits. During our workout, we completed laps partnered up, and asked “Would You Rather questions” – the goal was not to share our own answers but to understand WHY our partner chose what they did, even if we didn’t agree!

Our mock 5K will take place next week on Tuesday Oct 29, 2024. Please come out and join us in celebrating the hard work our girls have put in as they run a full 5K. We will be outside on the MKES track at 3:20. You can meet us on the field, entering by the gym if you plan on attending.

Here are some suggestions for making this a fun event for our girls.

• Make posters or signs to encourage our girls
  
• Bring balloons and/or noise makers to cheer our runners on
• We would appreciate donations of Powerade or Gatorade if possible

The big idea for Lesson 11 was Friendship. The goals for this lesson were to identify the qualities we look for and bring to a friendship. In our first activity, we took time to consider friendship qualities that matter, and in our warm-up, we went on a scavenger hunt to look for these qualities in our teammates and in ourselves. During the workout, we continued to practice our Stop & Take a Breather strategy but in the context of friendship.

Our team shirts are here! Please make sure girls wear our purple GOTR shirts to practice.

Shirts, and shirt sizes, were ordered based on selections made during registration. We will use the same sizes for 5K shirts. If your GOTR girl needs to update her shirt size for the 5K, please let us know.

In Lesson 9, the big idea was Be a Star Sparkler! We began our lesson with the Star Sparkler story to learn about the choice we always have – to encourage others to be themselves and be a Star Sparkler or discourage others and be a Star Dimmer. In our workout, the team wrote positive encouragements in a different teammate’s journal each lap to create a reminder of all the ways they shine!

The big idea for Lesson 10 was Peer Pressure. We learned about a GOTR tool we can use to activate our Star Power and choose what’s right for us despite peer pressure. This tool, Stop & Take a Breather, helps us Stop, Breathe, Think, and Respond – allowing us to press pause on an intense emotion and think through our choices before responding. In the workout, the team practiced using this tool in their own, real-life conflicts.

The big idea for Lesson 7 was Feel Your Feelings! In this lesson, we learned to recognize how different emotions feel in our bodies and the importance of feeling all emotions. The team also explored different kinds of emotions and learned to classify them as comfortable or uncomfortable, rather than good or bad.

In Lesson 8, the big idea was Sharing Emotions. We learned that once we know what emotions we are feeling, it’s important to courageously share them with others and ask for what we need. We taught the team the “I Feel” tool for sharing our emotions:. “I Feel… Because... I would like…” They practiced saying these phrases in order during the warm-up and then applied them during the workout to situations that may cause them to experience a strong emotion

In Lesson 4, the big idea was Happy Pace! We learned about the importance of finding our happy pace in running and life. We practiced finding and going to our happy pace throughout the workout. Happy Pace is one of many GOTR tools we will practice throughout the season to help us build stamina and endurance for the end-of-season 5K!

At the end of each practice, we reflect on how the GOTR tool we learned that day activates our Star Power -- helps build our confidence to be ourselves and love ourselves. We learned that finding our happy pace – a pace that’s right for us, not anyone else – is one way to activate our Star Power. We wrote or drew in our journals one thing we learned about this tool. Over time, our GOTR toolbox will fill up with what each team member has learned and will take with them after the season ends!

The big idea for Lesson 5 was Self-Talk. This lesson educated the team about self-talk, which is what we say to ourselves or say aloud to others about ourselves. The team began the lesson by thinking about how positive self-talk or negative self-talk affects our Star Power. In the warm-up, the team practiced creating positive self-talk statements and sharing them with a partner. For the workout, the team came up with a sound and movement to use whenever they hear a teammate engaging in negative self-talk. As we completed laps, we practiced using the team sound/move and changing our self-talk from negative to positive!

In Lesson 1, the big idea was becoming a TEAM. Together, we established group expectations to ensure everyone has an enjoyable, safe, and supportive season. We learned about the season ahead, and created and shared our GOTR names!

At the end of practice, the team received their Journals and learned about Energy Awards. The team will use these journals throughout the season to reflect on, celebrate, and record their learning, growth, and progress. Every practice ends with an Energy Award, where we celebrate one or more participants for exhibiting a positive Girls on the Run attitude—persevering, encouraging their teammates, showing gratitude, etc.

The big idea in Lesson 2 was What Makes Me, ME! We learned what makes each of us unique by considering the ingredients that make us who we are – like our family, personality, interests, culture, etc. During the warm-up, the team moved and shared their unique stars with each other – learning about the similarities they shared and the differences they could celebrate. During the workout, the team partnered up for each lap and took turns filling in and sharing out this statement: “My GOTR Name is … and If you really knew me, you’d know ______.”

At the end of this lesson, we gave everyone on the team their first GOTR GOAL to help them use the skills learned in Girls on the Run at home, school, and in their communities. To help them remember to complete the GOTR goal, everyone received a GOTR Goal Tracker to take-home and hang up somewhere special! Please help get these trackers posted someplace visible to remind your GOTR participant about each lesson.

1. What is your GOTR Name? Why did you choose it?

2. What did you learn about your GOTR team at practice?

3. What is one thing you wrote down that makes you, YOU?

4. Where can we hang up your My GOTR Goals sheet?

• We are so excited to have your girl on our team! Our first practice will be on September 17, 2024, and we can’t wait to meet our MKES GOTR girls!

  
  

  A few reminders:

  • Practice runs from 3:10 pm - 4:40 pm every Tuesday and Wednesday for ten weeks.

  • Come dressed to run and ready for the weather. Wear comfortable shoes for running and socks. Layers are perfect for cooler temps, and t-shirts and shorts work for warmer days. And don’t forget a hat and gloves if it’s really cold.

  • Bring a full water bottle and a healthy snack to every practice.

  • Girls on the Run is a non-competitive program where everyone is valued regardless of their running ability.

  Please pick up your girl from practice on time. The Girls on the Run policy is that if a parent/guardian picks up his/her child late three times, she will be dismissed from the program.

We can't wait for your girl to join our team!