It starts… a little chaotically.

Nineteen girls spill into a school STEAM room—backpacks dropped, snacks out, water bottles being filled (or forgotten), and at least a few untied shoes. Coaches try to gather the group while also answering questions, redirecting energy, and asking, “Does anyone remember what we talked about last time?”

Eventually, we make our way outside to the blacktop, where things begin to come together. We circle up, take a breath, and start practice.

From the outside, it might look like a running club getting ready for a 5K. And yes, there’s plenty of running. But there’s also a lot more happening in those circles and across those laps.

For years, I’ve shared the statistics from behind my desk—the percentage of teen girls who report feeling persistently sad, the confidence gap that starts early. I’ve talked a lot about the why of our work.

This season, I wanted to come back to the how.

So, for the first time since 2023, I’ve stepped back in as a coach.

The Magic Up Close

As Executive Director, my role is to help Girls on the Run grow and reach more communities.

As a coach, my role is a lot more immediate: show up, stay present, and help a group of very energetic girls feel seen, heard, and supported.

And honestly, it’s a lot of fun.

It’s in the laughter during a warm-up game that goes slightly off the rails.

It’s in the moment a girl decides to try something new—or speaks up when she normally wouldn’t.

It’s in the small shifts you notice over time: a little more confidence, a stronger voice, new friendships forming.

These aren’t always big, dramatic moments. But they add up in meaningful ways.

More Than a Run

Because our curriculum is intentionally delivered in a private team setting, most people only see the big, joyful moment at the end—the 5K.

But what happens at practice is where everything builds.

Each lesson is designed with purpose.

Each activity connects to a skill.

Each conversation gives girls a chance to practice things like empathy, confidence, and working through challenges.

There’s running, of course. But there’s also a lot of learning—sometimes without them even realizing it.

This Season: “Hello, Mountain Mover”

My team is currently working through one of our newer curricula, Hello, Mountain Mover.

As they prepare for their 5K, they’re also exploring what it means to take on challenges, support each other, and keep going when something feels hard.

And what I’m seeing already is this: when one girl starts to believe in herself, it has a ripple effect.

A Look Inside Practice

Over the next few weeks, I’ll share a bit more of what a Girls on the Run practice actually looks like—everything from those slightly chaotic first few minutes to the moments where things really click.

In the next post, we can walk through the anatomy of a practice--how the lesson is structured, how a new skill is taught, and how it all fits together by incorporating movement and games.

And as we get closer to the 5K, I’ll share more about how the season culminates—with a community impact project and, of course, the finish line.

Because the 5K is a celebration.

But the real learning (and a whole lot of fun) happens along the way.

Thanks for being part of it.