By MIKE MCKENNA
We could all use a good coach and some solid teammates in our corner—people to help us chase our dreams, work through the tough times and share those magical moments.
That’s what makes Girls On The Run (GOTR) Southern Idaho so special. The mission of the nonprofit is to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.” They do so by creating small teams that train for, and then compete in, a 5K together.
“The goal of our programs is to boost girls’ self-confidence and empower them to lift themselves up and help lift up others,” Teressa Johnson said.
Teressa is the executive director for GOTR Southern Idaho. She took over the role last year, after serving as the youth director for the Wood River Community YMCA for half a dozen years. GOTR first got on Teressa’s radar when she lived in Colorado, but didn’t have the time to get involved back then. The Oregon native has always been an avid runner—her mom has long been a high school track coach—and truly appreciates the full range of benefits the sport offers.
“I love running and all it involves and sharing that passion with others through Girls On The Run,” Teressa said. “It isn’t just about training girls to run; it’s about learning life skills and learning about themselves and learning how to be a good friend.”
GOTR was founded in 1996 with just 13 girls. Over 2 million girls have now been involved, making GOTR’s annual 5Ks one of the largest running events in the world. It has also been recognized as being one of the most influential after-school programs in the country for health and wellness.
GOTR offers programs for girls in grades 3–5 and 6–8 and junior coaching for high school girls aged 16–18. They run programs for six weeks each fall and spring, ending in a celebratory, noncompetitive 5K. GOTR offers scholarships and can even provide running shoes.
Volunteers and coaches (who don’t have to be runners, or female) are always welcome and are the heart of the organization. Teressa knows first-hand how rewarding the experience of being involved in GOTR is and explained that coaches are “thoroughly trained so they can feel confident and comfortable.”
In addition to training for the 5K, the teams also do a service project. Last fall, they put up posters with positive messages at Ernest Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. The students and staff there loved them.
“It showed the girls how something that seems so small can have a positive impact and help change the world,” Teressa said.
LUNAFEST
A film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, LUNAFEST is a fundraiser to help support the important and impactful work that GOTR does. It will be showing at The Mint in Hailey and at the Orpheum Theatre in Twin Falls on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. Purchase tickets, make a donation or find out how to volunteer or register a girl to be a participant at GOTRSouthernIdaho.org or call (208) 788-7863.