Last spring I met someone who was bringing a program called Girls on the Run to Salt Lake, and I thought it sounded really worthwhile so I decided to volunteer as an assistant coach at Backman Elementary in Rose Park. We met with 11 girls, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, twice a week after school to have a little lesson on self esteem, honesty, staying drug free, eating healthy, or something along those lines, and tie it into running. For 10 weeks these girls are training to run a 5k. They get a running budding who also volunteers to run just the 5k with them and encourage them along the way. This last Saturday was the girls' 5k and it was so neat to see them run and accomplish their goal that they've been working so hard for! I loved getting to know these girls and it was a really cool experience to try and help them learn the importance of staying healthy inside and out. We're starting another session of Girls on the Run in March, so if any of you runners out there want to volunteer to be a running buddy and run the 5k with a girl, let me know! I'll need people around May :)
