Girls on the Run accomplish goals by running together

Girls in multi-colored tutus and purple and orange hair ran through the streets of downtown Bentonville on Saturday morning (Nov. 22) as they participated in the tenth annual Girls on the Run 5K and 10K race.

According to their website, Girls on the Run of Northwest Arkansas offers a 20-lesson curriculum that “combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with lessons that inspire girls, in the third to eighth grades, to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills and make healthy decisions.” That goal is accomplished by a partnership between the girls, their parents, schools, volunteers, staff and community.

The goal of the program is “to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.”

In Northwest Arkansas, 835 girls participated in Girls on the Run this fall. The race on Saturday celebrated the completion of the goal set by the girls in the program, Amenda Lacy, event/marketing director, said.

“They go into the race after weeks of training with the mindset that the goal is to finish,” she said. “The girls all have bib numbers of ‘1.’ It is not a timed race for the girls, but instead is all about the individual getting to celebrate with their team after they cross the finish line.”

Lacy said that the best part of the race for her is getting to talk to families who have been positively affected by Girls on the Run. 

“Girls are taught to live to their potential, to not be held back by what society may expect,” she said. “Parents each season share with us that their daughter is a different girl, that she is outgoing and has such confidence.”

Dana Dumas ran with her niece, Destinee Hayward, in the 5K race on Saturday and said the program was a great success for Destinee.

“It has raised her self-esteem because she’s very shy, but now she’s coming out of her shell,” she said.

Destinee began participating in the program in September at her school, Bernice Young Elementary in Springdale. She said her group of 14 girls from her school meets twice a week after school. 

“I like Girls on the Run because you can make lots of friends there and practice running,” Destinee said.

Lacy said hearing such stories makes the work worthwhile for volunteers and coaches in the organization.

“Coaches have the heart to give the time and energy into meeting with these girls each week. They are the unsung heroes of the organization,” she said.

Approximately 2,000 people – girls, coaches, parents and friends – ran the 5K race or the 10K race on Saturday, presented for the eighth year by Kellogg’s. In addition to the races, the event included a hair station, vendor giveaways, free chili and fixings, and music by deejay Brock Short of Brock Entertainment.

All proceeds from the race entry fees will go to provide scholarships for Girls on the Run participants in Benton and Washington counties.