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Light Rain Girls run to build confidence
Girls on the Run held their crowning achievement of their spring season, a 5K sponsored by Lynbrook Runner’s Stop at Hofstra University on Sunday morning.
An approximate total of 160 runners participated in the event, including about 75 girls in the Girls on the Run Program. The adult runners acted as running buddies and chaperones who cheered the girls to the finish line, according to Elizabeth Murphy, Council Director of Girls on the Run in Nassau County.
“It was fantastic. The girls were so excited and the weather was perfect,” Murphy said. “It was our biggest event so far. I’m very happy with it.”
Of the 75 girls who participated seven were Girl Scouts in Troop 2562 from East Rockaway. Troop Leader Carrie Stern said the girls who participated were challenged, but still had fun during the event.
“The girls did a fantastic job,” she said. “They went at different paces and pushed themselves to the finish line. I’m proud of them and they enjoyed it.”
Stern said that the girls learned valuable life lessons during the 5K, such as not giving up, continuing with a challenge and that the girls can do anything if they persevere. The girls who were at Hofstra wore their T-shirts to school at Rhame Avenue Elementary School, and Stern said the other Girl Scouts who did not attend the run were jealous of their friends.
The 5K is the crowing achievement of the Girls on the Run program, which includes training for an hour and a half, twice a week for 10 weeks before the 5K. The program involves cardio training, but the program is paired with lessons about character and confidence.
The program includes lessons on setting goals and achieving them, building confidence through achievement and intentional decision-making and that the girls are in charge of their life. The girls also work on working together as a group through community service projects. Murphy said that the process has worked for the girls who have participated because they are empowered through it.
Girls on the Run had their first season in the fall of 2012 and have one season in the fall and spring. Stern said that her troop has found a love of running and that they are excited to take part in one in the future.
“Running is a great experience for the girls,” she said. “People think it’s a contest, but it’s more about doing a challenging thing and succeeding and not giving up.”
