After school dismissed on a recent fall afternoon, the outside door to the gym at Garrett Elementary School opened and a small group of girls darted out, followed by three female staff members. Paired with their running buddies, the girls ran a loop of the school parking lot for 12 minutes as part of their preparation for the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K (3.1 miles) race. The race took place in Forest Park on November 13.
“Not so fast! Don’t sprint!” called physical education teacher Kelly Frederking, a Girls on the Run co-sponsor, along with counselor Camelia Callahan. Librarian Danna DeMars and SSD speech-language teacher Jenna Waldhoff serve as volunteers.
Girls on the Run is a program designed for third- through eighth-grade girls that combines health and wellness education, positive physical workouts and a running program. It encourages girls to believe in themselves, enhances their self-esteem and provides them with healthy living tips. Garrett is the only HSD elementary school with Girls on the Run as an after-school club. A companion program, Girls on Track, is used by Hazelwood East and Southeast middle schools.
“I thought Girls on the Run would be fun,” said fourth-grader Bailey Lumley. “I’m kinda of excited about running in the 5K.”
Fifth-grader Taylor Latta echoed Lumley’s comments.
“I thought it would be a good thing for me to do, to feel good about myself,” Latta said. “Aaliyah Henry is my running buddy. She is really nice and kind and she motivates me; she gives me compliments.”
As part of their training, the girls recently visited Hazelwood West Middle School, where they used the running track.
“It was a lot bigger than I expected,” Lumley admitted. Her goal is to run most of the 3.1-mile race and to have a running buddy who will stay with her during the run.
“The track at West Middle was different. It was a big, big area. I’m used to running in our parking lot,” said Latta.
The girls have also partnered with the St. Louis Humane Society for a community service project. They are collecting blankets, towels and toys to comfort dogs that arrive at area animal shelters. The rest of Garrett’s students are also helping with this effort.
“I like it because I like puppies,” Lumley said.
“It’s really, really good,” Latta said. “A lot of puppies get abused. I think we should help them because I feel bad about the ones that are abused.”
Staff members described the changes they’ve seen in the students since the club started in August.
“If anything, they have become more respectful of each other and of their teachers,” said Frederking. “It’s neat to see the girls encourage each other.”
“I think they realized how long 3.1 miles really is,” said Waldhoff.
Girls on the Run estimated up to 4,000 people raced in its eighth 5K run.