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Girls on the Run looking to expand to new sites

By Grace Pecci - Staff Writer | Jul 13, 2019

NASHUA – New Hampshire’s Girls on the Run program, an after-school program for girls in grades 3-8, is looking to expand to new sites across the state.

During the last 18 years, thousands of girls have participated in programs across the state. Girls on the Run New Hampshire was first established in April 2001. The program has been running nationally since 1996 and was founded by athlete and mother Molly Barker, who created the program after struggling with unhealthy behaviors during her athletic career. This struggle made her want to help young girls.

Girls on the Run teaches life skills to young girls while promoting running. It has a mission of “(inspiring) girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, using a fun experienced-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running.”

Girls and trained female coaches meet for 90 minutes a day twice a week after school for 10 weeks. Within the 10-week period, 20 lessons are taught that relate to topics such as peer pressure, body image, nutrition and community service. While learning these lessons, the girls also spend the 10 weeks training for a 5K race.

“The program is designed to instill at an early age that physical activity and running can transform lives,” the nonprofit states on its website. “The deeper purpose of running focuses on building self-esteem and improving emotional, psychological and physical health.”

Girls on the Run is split into two groups – one for girls in grades 3-5, and one for middle school girls called Heart & Sole.

Those who are interested in running a site will need to receive approval from either the school district or the facility in which they plan on running the program. They will also need to provide a safe area for running, such as a field, track or playground, along with a “rainy day” site, such as a gym or classroom. A minimum of two coaches are needed, but having three or more is preferred.

Each team must also have from eight to 15 girls, due to team building aspects of the program.

The coach is a volunteer position that will be needed for about four hours a week for 10 weeks, along with during coaching training – and the end of the season 5K race celebration.

Girls on the Run of New Hampshire will be accepting new sites for the fall season until July 26. The organization currently serves Coös, Grafton, Carroll, Belknap, Strafford, Merrimack, Sullivan, Cheshire, Hillsborough and Rockingham counties.

The group encourages participation of both students from nearby schools that do not have a program and home-schooled students. Girls of all fitness levels are invited to join. For more information, email Program Director Betsy Cissel at Betsy.Cissel@girlsontherun.org, or visit https://www.girlsontherunnh.org/Start-Site.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 594-1243, or at gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.

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