Girls on the Run

Yes! We are much more than a running program, and every participant can benefit from the experience of building confidence through accomplishment while participating in our rich, curriculum-based, age-appropriate, interactive lessons. Expect lots of games, talking, laughing and processing in addition to running at each practice. And know that when we say run, we mean run, walk, skip, roll or push, just as long as you are moving foward!

GOTR is fully committed to access and inclusion and all girls are welcome to participate, so please make sure cost is never an issue. The actual cost per girl is $300+, but we work to subsidize each girl’s participation so that no one is asked to pay the full amount. We know that many families are struggling more than ever. We are also offering payment plans which you can select during checkout, the payment plan allows you to break your girl's program fee down into 2 or 3 installments, paid in 30 day increments. We also offer pay-what-you-can during registration, any family regardless of school or income can pay any amount that fits their needs.

Girls meet twice a week after school. The curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches and each session focuses on a specific issue-related topic.

Typically the girls gather immediately after school and have a healthy snack while being introduced to the topic of the day - such as inner beauty, choosing friends, or communicating emotions. They will warm-up with a brief interactive game and discuss how the game relates to the day’s topic. Girls then run laps, often incorporating brief activities or tasks that relate back to the day’s issue. At the end of the practice, the girls come together to stretch, cool-down and celebrate their accomplishments through energy awards. Focus is not on running the fastest or with perfect form, but moving forward at your own "happy pace".

Over the course of the program, girls will develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care and compassion, create positive connections with peers and adults, and make a meaningful contribution to community and society. 

We’re using the lottery system as part of our efforts to allow all girls an equal opportunity to participate in Girls on the Run. In recent years, teams have been filling up quickly, and the lottery system gives every girl an equal chance to participate. 

Lottery registration will open February 1 - February 7 (in the spring) and August 1 - August 7 (in the fall). The lottery will "run" on February 8 or August 8 (dependent upon season). At that time, if more girls are registered than the number of available spots on the team, the registration system will randomly select girls for that team. All additional girls will remain in “lottery status” and be placed on the waitlist. Teams that are not at capacity at the time of lottery closing will include all girls registered at that time. Registration will then re-open and additional girls will be added on a first-come, first-serve basis until team capacity is reached, and a waiting list will begin. 

If your girl is awarded a spot on the team, you will be notified by email, and any payment on file will be processed at that time. If your girl is waitlisted, you will be notified by email and your card will NOT be charged. Waitlisted participants will have the opportunity to move to a nearby site, or remain on the waitlist in the chance a spot becomes available. 

Don't let cost stop you from participating! We'd love to have your girl involved and we are committed to making Girls on the Run accessible to all girls. Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, program scholarships are available to any girl who needs it, and we can also provide running shoes and clothing to girls in need. The online registration form (button above) will ask if financial assistance is needed. Indicate yes on the form and a pay-what-you-can option will be presented on the final checkout page of the registration form. 

It is very important for your child to attend both sessions each week because the lessons build up from one to the next and because group relationships build over time. Girls are not allowed to sign up for one session a week. If you know your child can't make it to both sessions each week, please do not sign up - leave room for a child who can.  

Participants are expected to behave in a way that permits the coaches to carry out the day’s scheduled activities. Children who are continually disruptive in a way that prevents the rest of the group from experiencing the benefits of the program may be asked to leave for the rest of the season. A child who engages in behavior that threatens the health or welfare of other participants, administrators or coaches will be released from the program for the remainder of the season. Threatening behavior may include but is not limited to: physical injury, emotional mistreatment, abuse of prescription or illegal drugs, use of alcohol, carrying firearms or other dangerous items, using any item in a dangerous way, or any other activity determined by a coach or administrator to be threatening of another person’s health or well-being. Girls on the Run, its coaches, and administrators reserve the right to remove from participation any child who for any reason does not fit the mission and goals of the organization.

Girls on the Run is an inclusive program where the dignity of every participant is respected, and all youth are safe. We warmly welcome the participation of anyone who identifies as a girl, including cis girls & transgirls, as well as non-binary and/or gender-expansive youth. If a student is interested in Girls on the Run, we'd love to have them! 

Yes! As a mission-driven 501(c)3, Girls on the Run relies on generous donors in order to provide more than $400,000 in program scholarships for families in need. Click here to sponsor a participant this season.

If a girl withdraws earlier than two weeks before the start of the program, we can provide a full refund minus a $10 processing fee. No refunds will be issued within 2 weeks before the start of the season.

For questions about programming, contact program@gotrmn.org.