In 1996, 13 girls gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the very first season of Girls on the Run. What started as a program focused on building confidence and connection has grown into a movement that has served nearly 2.9 million girls across North America. For participants, one event has become the joyful culmination of every season: the Girls on the Run 5K Celebration.
As Girls on the Run marks 30 years, we’re also recognizing the incredible growth of the GOTR 5K series — now one of the largest 5K series in the United States. Today, more than 400,000 GOTR girls, 5K Buddies, and community participants attend a GOTR 5K each year. From girls crossing the finish line with their teammates for the first time to families and friends cheering from the sidelines, a Girls on the Run 5K is an experience like no other.
The Early Years
From the very beginning of Girls on the Run, physical activity and goal-setting were core parts of the program. The end-of-season 5K allowed participants to work toward a shared goal while discovering what they were capable of accomplishing.
As Girls on the Run expanded beyond Charlotte into communities like Northern Virginia, Vermont, and Pittsburgh, the new GOTR councils began hosting their own celebratory 5Ks to mark the end of each season.
By the mid-2000s, the momentum was undeniable. In 2006, Girls on the Run hosted 50 5Ks across the spring and fall seasons. Just one year later, that number grew to 76 events with 33,000 5K participants.
Photos from early Girls on the Run 5K celebrations.
Recognizing the growing impact of these events, the official Girls on the Run 5K series was established in 2008. That year, GOTR councils nationwide hosted 98 5K Celebrations, welcoming more than 52,000 participants. And those numbers only continued to grow:
- 125 5Ks in 2009 with more than 107,000 participants
- 140 5Ks in 2010 with more than 120,000 participants
- 194 5Ks in 2011 with nearly 185,000 participants
- 253 5Ks in 2012 with more than 214,000 participants
More Than a Finish Line
Anyone who has attended a Girls on the Run 5K will tell you that it’s something you have to experience for yourself to fully appreciate.
“The energy, the camaraderie, and the sheer joy on the girls’ faces really impacted me,” shared Jennifer Eyler about experiencing her first GOTR 5K. “At the end of that season, I got to experience for the first time the magic that is the GOTR 5K.”
For Christine Chessler-Stull, one of the most meaningful moments was “seeing the girls together at the 5K and with their family and friends cheering them on and running with them.” She added that the event “really tied the whole season and reason together.”
For many participants, the 5K becomes a defining moment in their confidence journey. Avery Curry-Williams recalled, “One of my most cherished memories is crossing the finish line of my first 5K, proudly wearing a decorated foam crown and sharing the moment with several of my closest friends.”
But the 5K isn’t about speed or competition. It’s about confidence, discovering inner strength, setting a goal, and realizing, step by step, “I can do hard things.”
Avery Curry-Williams (far left) has fond memories of finishing her Girls on the Run 5K.
Looking Ahead
As Girls on the Run looks ahead to the next 30 years and beyond, the 5K remains one of the most visible and beloved aspects of every season. Girls from coast to coast lace up their sneakers to reach their goals and celebrate what they can achieve.
From 13 girls in Charlotte to millions of participants and supporters nationwide, the impact of Girls on the Run can be felt far beyond the 5K finish line.
Learn more about our 30th anniversary and join us in honoring three decades of empowering girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident.
