Since the beginning of March I've been lucky enough to coach a Girls on the Run group at Deerfield Hills Community Center.  Ok, full disclosure: "lucky" isn't always the first word that has come to mind, but as the season wraps up it the verbiage I'm choosing. Today my group of 3-5th graders ran their "practice 5K," which gives them a chance to cover the distance before having to do so on race day.  Some practices are a series of distractions and complaints.  Today, however, every single girl finished the 3.1 miles.  Some even chose to add in a few extra laps!

The point of Girls on the Run isn't actually to be the fastest or to run the farthest.  The point is to be a healthy, assertive, self-aware young girl who is confident and respectful of herself and her world.  Running is just part of the program.  There have been plenty of days when I've left the office feeling like I failed to communicate anything to the girls I coach.  Today proved me wrong - even if they chat nonstop or seem to spend more time braiding hair than listening to us coaches this amazing group of girls has internalized so much over the past eight weeks.  The way they supported each other today was admirable, as was the way they persevered when the run seemed too long to finish.

No, they won't all grow up to love, live, eat, dream, and sleep running, but they will all benefit from Girls on the Run in some capacity or another.  They can all run a 5K, they can talk about bullying and peer pressure, they understand the importance of taking quiet time, and the value of choosing supportive friends.  Essentially, through lessons and games these girls are learning at 8, 9, and 10 years old what it takes most women multiple decades to learn.  In fact, much of what we do in Girls on the Run teaches the lessons that we just happen to absorb while running with friends - be happy, be healthy, work hard, play hard, know yourself, push your limits, accept a challenge, trust yourself, etc.

How lucky am I? Twice a week I get to share my love of running with the next generation of runners (some of whom will most certainly leave me in the dust a few years from now!) while they share their creativity, silliness, and positivity with us "grown-ups" (for lack of a better word).  When you have an open-minded, you can learn a lot from a group of fourth grade girls!