Sixteen Hazelwood Central Middle School students shrugged off a recent soggy Sunday to run in a 5K race in Forest Park in Girls on Track.

Girls on Track is part of the Girls on the Run® program. Designed for girls eight to 13 years old, Girls on the Run® combines training for a 5K, or 3.1-mile run, with lessons on how to enhance positive social, emotional, mental and spiritual development. These lessons help empower the students and prevent at-risk activities later in life, such as eating disorders and depression. Girls on the Run® is for girls in third- through fifth-grade while Girls on Track is geared for girls in sixth- through eighth-grade.

To reward them for a job well done, the girls’ two coaches sponsored a breakfast at school for the girls.

“We are very proud of the girls, said Nicole Findley, one of the coaches. “They have worked hard.”

“I like that we talk about stuff you’re not supposed to do and you can’t do,” said sixth-grade student Taylor Bledsoe. “We talk about Girls in the Box, or girls who are popular, and Girls Outside of the Box, girls who are just themselves.”

Courtenay Gillespie, who is in eighth-grade, Girls on Track is more than a running program.

“We talk about stuff that goes on in our lives other than running,” she said. She explained how she would convince a girl who is unsure about joining the program to take the first step. “I would tell her to join. The coaches tell us stuff that we need to know other than running – like self-esteem.”

Other character education lessons the girls learn include – healthy eating, healthy relationships and conflict resolution.

Seventh-grader Tinuola Osun described running as “stress-relief.” She said the program has made her a better time manager and taught her to plan activities to calm her such as reading or walking outside alone in a familiar area when she is upset or anxious.

“We have seen a lot of growth,” noted Tonya Jackson, the other coach. “I run in half-marathons. I try to instill in them some of my goals when I run. I feel that some of them listen to me and it might have motivated them to compete in the run.”

“I like that the girls are always active,” said Stacey Williams, mother of sixth-grade runner Courtni Williams. “Not only are they staying in shape, they are increasing their self-esteem. Courtni is more excited about doing things now instead of staying home, playing video games, watching television or talking on the phone. She wants to go out more now. The coaches have done an awesome job,” she continued. “They could have done something else with their time but they chose to invest it in our girls and we appreciate it.”

Not only were the coaches out in the rain, the girls’ parents and family members also cheered them on from the sidelines. Some teachers and administrators also attended. For more information on the program, visit www.girlsontherun.org