I Was That Girl

Our Fall 2017 Girls on the Run season is coming to a close.

We held our last practice of the season yesterday.

Throughout practice, a few of the girls said they would cry at the end. That they would miss coming to practice every week. That they would miss their teammates and coaches. It was the girls you would expect. The ones that have participated every season for the last few years.

We spent the practice talking about the tools they have learned throughout the season. I'm never quite sure how much of the curriculum they are actually learning until we hit this lesson. And then these sweet, funny, powerful girls spend two hours demonstrating how much this program has impacted them.

They've learned how to work better with others; how to calm themselves down when they're upset; how to appreciate differences in others.

They've developed more confidence and empathy.

And they've bonded. Most of us remember how hard school can be. Bullying and peer pressure are very real things. But these girls found a safe space for two hours twice a week where they are supported and accepted and loved.

So, I really shouldn't have been surprised at the end of practice to see one of the quietest and most introverted girls wiping away tears. As one of the other coaches comforted her, I watched several other girls go over and put an arm around her.

It probably hit me harder than I would expect. Because I so remember being that girl. I remember never quite knowing what to do or say. Never speaking up. Never knowing how to be or even who to be. I was fully loved and supported at home, but school can be a terrifying place for the quiet ones. And I wish I'd had a program like this to help me find myself and own my power.

This is why we do this.

Saturday we will run our Celebration 5k. If you'd like to witness the pure power and joy of the girls in this program, sign up to volunteer: Click Here To Volunteer

And if you can't volunteer, then donate a few dollars to help bring this program to more girls: 2018 GOTR Chicago Marathon Campaign

I'd Like My Runner Pride Back, Please

Our Girls on the Run season is quickly coming to a close and the weather is starting to get suckier. Cold and rainy.

When it's raining, we have to practice inside. Not because we're girls, but because we'll tear up the field if we run in the rain. (And also, it makes my hair really frizzy...)

When we practice inside, we run around the gym, making our laps significantly shorter.

When our laps are significantly shorter, the girls go faster. 

When the girls go faster, they get competitive.

When they get competitive, they choose the likely targets to challenge...their coaches.

Seven.

Seven different girls challenged me to a race around the gym. 

Seven different girls beat me.

Two of those beat me twice. 

I mean, I love coaching. I do. I just...I train for this stuff, you know? Like, year round. I put time and planning and a lot of effort into trying to run faster...*sigh* No no. I'm proud of them. I don't resent them. 

...if you need me, I'll be digging through my old race t-shirts trying to find my pride...

Lessons From An Elementary School Practice

As someone who has worked almost exclusively with teens and adults throughout her career, I sometimes forget that life is entirely different in an elementary school.

For example, do you know how tiny the bathroom stalls are in elementary schools? Or that the latches most of the time fail to latch securely? Or that elementary age children overuse toilet paper to the point that flushing poses a significant overflow risk?

So, when a grown woman has to change into her running clothes in one of the little people stalls, it gets pretty dicey. Because you're inevitably going to find yourself faced with a choice as you're balancing unsteadily on one leg. Do you lean against the precariously latched stall door and chance falling out into the elementary school bathroom pantsless? Or do you just accept your fate and go ahead and fall straight into the unflushed toilet? Neither of these seem like an acceptable option, so next time I'll just wait outside the teacher's bathroom until someone lets me in...or just run in heels.

I also forget sometimes that elementary age kids will latch on to something you've said and not let it go. Like, ever.

Like when another coach responded to a direction I gave by saying, "Boom!" I mistakenly said, "I really think someone should just follow me around all the time saying Boom after everything I say." (It sounded like a really cool idea in my head.)

If you know children, you can guess what happened next. 

"Let's circle up." - BOOM

"It's actually pretty warm out." - BOOM

"Knees up running." - BOOM

"Yes, you may." - BOOM
"Three." - BOOM

*cough* - BOOM

Really, you learn so much with this group.