Girls on the Run event celebrates healthy choices during 5K fun run in Ypsilanti
The fifth semi-annual New Balance Girls on the Run 5K sent a stream of young women racing through Ypsilanti and the Eastern Michigan University campus today.
The Girls on the Run national nonprofit organization pairs volunteer coaches with girls ages 8 to 13 for a 10-week program as they navigate their tricky preteen years, organizers say.
The coaches teach life skills such as how to handle bullies, deal with body image pressure, and make good decisions. The program was started by Molly Barker, a four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete.
During those 10 weeks, the girls and their coaches also train for the 5K, the capstone for the program.
Today, coaches, parents, teachers and other supporters ran with the girls, who live in Washtenaw, Livingston, Jackson, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
Find a participating Girls on the Run site in your area here.
AnnArbor.com photographer Melanie Maxwell captured these images today from the event.
Comments
aamom
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 12:46 p.m.
What a great event! I hope someone comes up with a Boys on the Run as well. The preteen issues are different for sure, but also tricky to navigate.
Barb
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
Great idea - I was thinking the same thing. Although my sons would probably be OK with chasing the Girls on the Run. ;)
dotdash
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 12:10 p.m.
It was a pretty amazing sight to see thousands of girls coming down the race course. Green t-shirts and determination everywhere.