{"id":22265,"date":"2025-04-16T00:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T06:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/?p=22265"},"modified":"2025-04-16T17:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T23:34:37","slug":"girls-on-the-run-colors-them-in-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/girls-on-the-run-colors-them-in-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls On The Run Colors Them in Confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mike McKenna<\/em>
\n\"\"They end every season at Girls On The Run (GOTR) with a \u201cColor Me Fearless 5k\u201d fun run and celebration. But these annual spring and fall events are about a lot more than just running a few miles.
\nThey are the culmination of a season of effort, of growth and of friendships.
\n\u201cThe goal of our programs is to boost girls\u2019 self-confidence and empower them to lift themselves up and help lift up others,\u201d said Teressa Johnson, the executive director of GOTR Southern Idaho.
\n\u201cOne of the best ways to boost self-confidence is through accomplishments,\u201d Teressa said. \u201cTraining for and completing a 5k is an accomplishment to be proud of.\u201d
\nTeressa has done a terrific job of reviving a nonprofit that had grown dormant during the COVID years. This spring alone there will be 139 girls in our region taking part in their programs. GOTR offers a program for girls in third through fifth grades, while the Heart & Soul program is for sixth- through eighth-graders. In addition to Blaine and Twin Falls counties, the program is now offered in Lincoln and Minidoka counties as well.
\nAnd it\u2019s easy to understand why GOTR is so popular. It\u2019s based on a growth mindset curriculum, or, as some participants and their parents call it, a \u201cgirl empowerment program.\u201d
\nThe curriculum focuses on cultivating healthy relationships and growing self-confidence. It uses movement and the accessibility of running and walking as the main conduit. Unlike most sporting endeavors, GOTR makes it okay to fail and focuses on the importance and reward of lifting others up.
\nStudies have shown that a staggering one out of every three girls playing youth sports reports being picked on by boy teammates. That\u2019s why girl-only teams in sports like softball, volleyball and hockey are growing. It\u2019s also one of the strengths of GOTR.
\n\u201cJust girls-only creates a safe space,\u201d Teressa said. \u201cOur program allows for the joys and camaraderie of sports without the stress of competition.\u201d
\nIn addition to training for the 5k, the girls also pick an impact project to work on together. They have created projects like positive messaging posters for local schools and St. Luke\u2019s hospital. They\u2019ve sent thank you cards to local nonprofit staffers and to veterans.
\nThe slogan for GOTR is \u201cFind your happy pace,\u201d something that\u2019s different for everyone. \u201cIt all starts with each individual girl. What makes her special, unique, beautiful,\u201d Teressa explained.
\nOne of the first things they work on in practice is cheering each other on. The girls quickly realize that it feels good to support other people. It also becomes clear that it\u2019s a lot easier to do great things when you get some help.
\nPutting on a big celebration with food vendors, field games, live music and colorful runners completing a 5k takes a lot of support. GOTR could use more help.
\nThis spring\u2019s GOTR Color Run 5k Celebration will be held on the morning of Saturday, May 31, at Hailey Elementary School\u2019s fields. If you\u2019re interested in volunteering or supporting the event, contact Teressa.Johnson@GirlsOnTheRun.org or call (208) 788-7863.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mike McKenna They end every season at Girls On The Run (GOTR) with a \u201cColor Me Fearless 5k\u201d fun run and celebration. But these annual spring and fall events are about a lot more than just running a few miles. They are the culmination of a season of effort, of growth and of friendships. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":479,"featured_media":10323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","_pvb_checkbox_block_on_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,38],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-22265","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chamber-corner","8":"category-sponsored"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/479"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22265"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22267,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22265\/revisions\/22267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}