A few weeks ago, Betsy at Girls on the Run D.C. visited my run club at Georgetown lululemon to tell us about the program and the opportunity to raise money for Girls on the Run D.C. as a SoleMate for the National Marathon and Half Marathon (or any other race). Our fearless run club leaders, T & K, had previously told me about the program that built pre-teen and teen girls’ self-esteem and taught healthy living habits through training for a 5k race. T, K, and many of the staff and ambassadors at lululemon support Girls on the Run D.C. as coaches for the local teams, which represent all eight wards of the District.
At the time that Betsy came to our run club, I had been struggling with running and getting ready for my spring races due to unexpected health issues that forced me to take a nearly 12-week hiatus this winter from all cardiovascular workouts. I had just restarted my workouts, but of course, I was out of shape, weak, and achey (and SLOW!). I had signed up for the New York 1/2 Marathon, the National 1/2 Marathon, and the Cherry Blossom 10-miler last fall, and although I had every intention of still running them, I was feeling discouraged and lacking purpose (because, obviously, my focus is usually on racing FAST! 
).
So when I heard Betsy speak and I remembered how highly T & K had spoken about Girls on the Run D.C., I had an a-ha! moment and signed up to be a SoleMate for the National 1/2 Marathon on March 26, 2011, in Washington, D.C.
What I realized and remembered then is that running has been so much more to me than finish times and PRs. Long before I ran my first marathon, I loved field day in elementary school and joined the track team in middle school. Much of my high school experience revolved around being on the track and cross country teams. Of course, then, a lot of running was about competition, winning, and PRs.
then…and…now
Due to an early growth spurt, I may have peaked in middle school running the 400 meter dash, 4 x 400 relay, and even the 110 meter hurdles! In high school, my teammates and, even more so, competitors on other teams caught up and far surpassed my “height” at 5-2.5. Although I still occasionally ran the 400, my coach quickly refocused me on the 800 meter race, and I was a middle distance runner, training with middle and distance runners. And while I ran at the state track meet my senior year as a member of the 4 x 800 relay, I did so as an alternate so that a teammate could focus on (and win) her individual races. In other words, on a team where my amazing teammates were setting state records and earning running scholarships to DI schools, I was…good? but certainly not the best.
But I was a team captain and learned about leadership. And I made incredible friends who inspired me with their speed and equally with their dedication. I learned about discipline, hard work, and goal-setting. Equally important, I learned to handle failure and disappointment. In an predominately individual sport, I learned about teamwork and team spirit. I gained a lifelong pastime and an activity that has provided me lasting pride and self-esteem.
These unquantifiable lessons cannot be timed or measured. And because I have seen too often the ill effects of girls, teens, and women who lack self-esteem, I believe imparting these lessons can have an unending positive impact on young girls’ lives.
lulu raffle prize!
With over 750 girls participating this Spring season, the Girls on the Run D.C. program is growing rapidly. Most of the girls rely upon scholarships to participate, so for my first SoleMates race, I am hoping to raise $650, which equals 1 pair of shoes per mile of the race. For every $25 donated, each donor will receive one entry into a raffle, which will be drawn on March 21 at 7 PM at Ping Pong Dim Sum in D.C. Winners need not be present. Raffle prizes include an awesome lululemon SIGG Om Bottle and Running Key Cuff (thank you, lululemon Georgetown!).
If you’d like to support Girls on the Run D.C. with a tax-deductible donation, please click here. For more information about being a SoleMate for Girls on the Run D.C., please click here.
Before Girls on the Run’s founder Molly Baker piloted the 12-week program in 1996, I was a girl on the run. I did not have the benefit of learning about healthy body image and eating disorders, and it broke my heart to see some of my teammates struggle with these issues. But with Girls on the Run, young girls can reap all the benefits of running while also participating in a 12-week curriculum designed (and proven) to improve body image and healthy eating attitudes.
At the same time, Girls on the Run is giving this grown-up girl on the run a new purpose for running and racing that rises above the time on the stop clock.
*CCDC*
Update: When all was said and done, I rasied $1001 for Girls on the Run D.C.!
