“Girls on the Run” is a national nonprofit with the goal of inspiring young girls to be healthy, joyful and confident. Dunmorean Online Editor Emily Gerchman recently spoke with Emily Coleman, a coach for the Dunmore Elementary Center’s “Girls on the Run” team to learn how the program is impacting girls in our community.
Emily Gerchman: Tell me about the DEC chapter of “Girls on the Run.” How long has it been going on and who’s involved?
Emily Coleman: “Girls on the Run” has been offered at the Dunmore Elementary Center several times over the past couple of years. Jaime Coleman, Linda Valvano, Bridget Robinson and I wanted to keep it going this year, so we reached out to district officials and became certified Girls on the Run coaches. Along with the four of us, we have several other moms and teachers who help us run the program: Sara Amendolaro, Jen Dempsey, Caroline Gentile, Bobbi Hughes, Melissa Loughney, Katie McKenna, Kristina Petrauskas, Kathy Scanlon, and Laura Shultz.
EG: What made you want to get involved in this program and become a coach?
EC: I had heard so many wonderful stories about “Girls on the Run” and the curriculum that goes along with it. I knew that I wanted to share my love of running while incorporating mind and body positivity activities with my daughter Maddy and the other girls at the DEC. GotR is so much more than just running.
EG: The girls have been working towards running a 5K, right?. How has that been going?
EC: The girls have come so far in their running since we first started meeting on March 7. They stay after school two times a week for an hour and a half. Our end goal is to complete a non-competitive 5k by running, jogging, walking, and even skipping across the finish line. [That] is going to give the girls a sense of accomplishment and confidence because they have set this goal and will achieve it on May 18.
EG: What does “Girls on the Run” offer young girls in the borough? What do you hope the kids involved get out of it?
EC: Dunmore’s Girls on the Run offers girls in grades 3-5 the opportunity to participate in a 10 week program that culminates with a celebratory 5K. Each girl gets to choose a running buddy who is over the age of 16 to run with them during the 5K.
The girls also create a community impact project in which they come together as a group and think about how best they can help in the community. My biggest hope for all of the girls who participate in Girls on the Run is that they realize being active whether it is running or just playing outside makes you feel so much better.
EG: What’s your favorite part about being involved in Girls on the Run?
EC: My favorite part of Girls on the Run is seeing 43 girls laughing and having fun while being active. I hope that they take as much as they can from the lessons and realize how strong they are and how confident they can be.
EG: What would you say to a student who might want to join the program and become “a girl on the run?”
EC: I would tell them that this program is so much more than just running! As “Girls on the Run” says: The 5K is “Your K, do it your way!” There is no pressure to run the 3.1 miles – the goal is to finish it however feels best for you. We help them find their “happy pace” and encourage them to stick with it and to just be proud of what they can do.
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You can learn more about the program and what it means to be a “girl on the run” by visiting https://www.gotrlehighpocono.org/.
