SOUTHWICK – The Girls on the Run program is well under way at Powder Mill School in Southwick.
A non-profit nationwide organization, Girls on the Run focuses on providing social and emotional skills to young girls while they’re able to gain exercise through running. Established in 1996 in Charlotte, N.C., Girls on the Run started with 26 girls participating. Now, there are over 200 different councils throughout all 50 states, serving over 185,000 girls with the assistance of over 100,000 volunteers.
Coach Sarah Mancini is seen instructing the girls during their warmup in the gymnasium at Powder Mill School on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
The Western Massachusetts Council is in it’s fourth year and has grown to be at 80 different sites this year serving approximately 1,600 girls. Starting in March and running until June, the Girls on the Run of Western Massachusetts offers 20 lessons for girls in third to fifth grades. With a maximum of 15 girls allowed per site, the girls will be split up into two teams with coaches to instruct and motivate the girls.
Groups meet twice per week for lessons lasting an hour and a half. The instruction is more like a practice with the final lesson in June consisting of a 5k race. The mission of Girls on the Run is to teach the girls how to stand up for themselves, how to handle gossip in school, and other social issues they may come across as well as the physical fitness of running.
Girls on the Run of Western Massachusetts is hosting a site at Powder Mill for the third time. The program in Southwick features 12 girls that are third grade to fifth grade and has been taking place since March 11.
Sarah Mancini, whose daughter participates in Girls on the Run, is one of the coaches and enjoys being part of the program.
Girls are seen doing more warmup exercises on Monday. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“I fell in love with the organization and what they do to empower these girls,” said Mancini.
Mancini loved seeing her daughter compete in the 5k run last year.
“To see her confidence crossing the finish line was amazing,” said Mancini.
On Monday, the coaches were having the girls do warm up exercises while also having them identify unhealthy traits. The coaches then discussed the importance of physical health like eating the right foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.
Julianne Donahue, a coach and health teacher at Powder Mill School, sees a benefit of the program for the girls.
“It’s more of a relaxed atmosphere with them,” said Donahue. “You’re sharing a lot of your feelings.”
Being taught valuable lessons isn’t the only aspect to the Girls on the Run program, as the girls have already shown their competitive spirit when they run laps.
“Some of them say, ‘can I do another one?'” said Donahue. “They want to reach their goals.””
