A program for girls ages 8 to 12 linked to running offers more than physical fitness.
It promotes social and emotional stability, self-esteem and prepares pre-adolescent girls to meet the demands in life, said Autumn Frickel, a teacher at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School and a coach for Girls on the Run.
The program recently ended its second season in La Plata County. But the nonprofit Girls on the Run was founded in 1996 in Charlotte, N.C., and now works with more than 130,000 girls in 200 sites across the country.
The organization’s mantra is: “We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.”
In 2012, Girls on the Run had programs at Park and Fort Lewis Mesa elementary schools and in Pagosa Springs and Dolores. This year, programs were added at Florida Mesa in Durango and in Bayfield.
In all, there were 45 girls from Durango schools, 30 from Bayfield, 14 from Dolores and 30 in Pagosa Springs.
More than 2,400 girls and 400 volunteer coaches took part this year in Western Colorado.
Volunteers coaches meet with girls twice a week for an hour to 90 minutes, Frickel said. The sessions last 10 to 12 weeks.
In a typical session, Frickel said, the coach leads girls through discussion of issues such as standing up against bullying or the results of engaging in rumor or gossip.
“We may discuss the definition of a courageous woman,” Frickel said.
The importance of maintaining a healthy diet also is discussed, she said.
Sessions end with outdoor preparation for the 5K run that is the culmination of the 10- to 12-week programs, which occur in September and October.
This year, the 5K was held in Telluride, with the participation of the La Plata County girls and about 150 from other areas. Family members and about 50 coaches also attended the event.
“Our next session in Durango won’t happen until next fall,” Jill Henwood, executive director of Girls on the Run on the Western Slope, said in a statement. “We offer the program only once a year because it keeps it fresh and doesn’t burn out participants or volunteers.”
Donations from individuals, Alpine Bank and the Ballantine Family Fund support the program. Participants pay $50 registration, but this year 40 percent of the girls were on scholarships, paying nothing or $10.
daler@durangoherald.com
