For the past 10 weeks, a dozen grade school girls at the Searingtown School have been finding the endurance for a 5K race – and some things about themselves as well.
The team has been part of “Girls on the Run,” a national program aimed at improving young girls’ physical fitness and mental well-being.
The program uses the power of running to prepare girls ages 8 to 13 for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living, according to Elizabeth Murphy, council director of Girls on the Run of Nassau County..
“The heart of the program is to make them feel good about themselves,” Murphy said.
Based in North Carolina, Girls on the Run is a national nonprofit organization that started in 1996. The organization currently has over 200 councils nationwide.
Herricks Superintendent of Schools John Bierwirth, who is on the board of Girls on the Run, helped bring the program to Herricks elementary schools.
The girls who opted to participate on a first-come basis at Searingtown comprised 12 third, fourth and fifth graders.
They met twice weekly after school running and spending time talking with each other about who they are and what their values are, Murphy said.
“It’s a time for them when they’re still open to adult influence,” she said.
Under the tutelage of two volunteers – head coach Lisa Hiller, a full-time strength and conditioning coach and assistant coach Jodi Schoppmann Robertson, national record holder in the 50K – the girls learned the discipline required to achieve a goal, in this case, running the Seaford Hot Chocolate 5K on Saturday Dec. 1. They also learned how to be true to themselves in the face of peer pressure and the way to handle themselves in difficult social situations as they advance into middle school and beyond.
“It’s really great,” Robertson said of the program. “It gives the girls everyday tool to deal with as they go through life.”
Girls on the Run seeks to provide grade-school girls a strong self-identity so they can make choices outside what the program calls the “Girl Box” to become who they really are instead of becoming what they think they should be.
“It’s really fun. We get to do a lot with our friends and we talk about things,” said Sarah, a member of the team. Included in their discussions was how to defend against bullies and why gossip is bad, she said.
They also got plenty of exercise.
“I like that we got to run around every day and we got to have fun. It was awesome,” said fifth grader Melissa.
The girls also learned a lesson in community service, collecting canned food for south shore victims of Hurricane Sandy.
“Now we’re looking to expand to other schools,” Murphy said. Friends Academy participated in the program this fall.
Murply said expansion of the program depends on volunteers willing to spend the time to coach the girls.
