By MIKE MCKENNA
One of the big goals of the Girls on the Run program is something we can all relate to: It’s to find your happy pace.
As Girls on the Run (GOTR) Southern Idaho’s Executive Director Teressa Johnson explained, “It’s about finding your happy pace with running, with school, with your friends. It’s relatable to everything we do in life.”
The nonprofit GOTR was founded in 1996 with just 13 girls and the mission to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.” Over 2 million girls have now been involved, making GOTR’s annual 5ks one of the largest runs 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 eight weeks each fall and spring, ending in a celebratory, noncompetitive 5K. GOTR offers scholarships and can even provide running shoes. Each participant also gets a running buddy, which is usually a friend or family member, for encouragement and support.
“It’s fun and feels good to set a goal and achieve it,” Teressa said. “The goal of our programs is to boost girls’ self-confidence and empower them to lift themselves up and help lift up others.”
After serving as youth director for the Wood River Community YMCA for a half-dozen years, Teressa took over as executive director of the local GOTR Council a couple of years ago and has done a terrific job of reviving the nonprofit. The program now has girls from five local schools participating as well as another handful of schools in Twin Falls. At a recent gathering, some of the girls were saying how happy they are that GOTR is back.
“Parents are happy. The girls are happy. What else can you ask for?” Teressa said. She then answered her own question by sharing the news of the return of the Color Me Fearless 5K Run.
The 5K Color Run is open to everyone and will take place at 10 a.m. on June 1 at Hailey Elementary School. The event will include the run as well as food trucks, music and family activities. A discounted early-bird registration is now open.
“It’s all about community and celebrating,” Teressa said about the Color Run. “There’s an energy and a buzz and excitement and a really positive vibe that day. It’s a great event.”
Volunteers are still needed to help put on this very rewarding event.
“Girls on the Run is about making friendships, connections, working on conflict resolution, setting goals, learning how to ask for help,” Teressa explained. “All the tools you need to find your happy pace in life.”
To sign up for the Color Me Fearless 5k or for more information, go to GOTRSouthernIdaho.org. To volunteer, email teressa.johnson@girlsontherun.org or call 208-788-7863.