“I don’t know of any other organization that teaches girls the critical social, emotional, and physical lifelong skills that GOTR provides. GOTR is a vital resource for our girls!”
For 33 seasons, Coach Dale has helped bring those skills to life for participants at Girls on the Run Greater Cincinnati. She continues to show up for girls in her community, reminding them exactly what they’re capable of.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month and 30 Years of Building Confidence, Connection, and Community at Girls on the Run International, Coach Dale’s story is a powerful reminder of what showing up for girls in your community can look like.
From Volunteer to 33 Seasons (and Counting!)
Coach Dale began her Girls on the Run coaching journey in 2009, shortly after moving back to the Cincinnati area. She joined a running group that supports her local GOTR council and volunteered at their fall 5K.
“I volunteered at a water stop and got to see all the amazing girls running the 5K and their running buddies,” she recalls. “The next season I signed up to be a coach, and I’ve been coaching ever since!”
That 5K Celebration sparked what would become a 33-season-long commitment. When she reflects on those early seasons, one thing stands out most.
“Participation has grown SO much!”
Over the years, Coach Dale has supported Girls on the Run in many ways beyond coaching. She has served as a SoleMate, volunteered for the council in other capacities, and will serve as a mentor coach this season, helping guide and support new coaches as they begin their own GOTR journeys.
Building Community Through Connection
Coach Dale’s site is unique. Unlike teams at schools where many participants may already know one another, her community center site brings together girls from multiple nearby communities. Many girls arrive on the first day not knowing anyone.
She remembers wondering how the girls would adjust.
What happens next reflects one of the most powerful parts of the GOTR experience.
“During the season, they become a team of girls who encourage each other, empathize with each other, become more confident, and have fun!”
By the end of the season, the girls who once arrived as strangers are cheering one another on, celebrating accomplishments, and crossing the finish line together.
(Left) Coach Dale and her fellow coaches smile ahead of their 5K Celebration. (Top right) Coach Dale (back row, left) and her team pose for a photo at the 5K. (Bottom right) Coach Dale (far left) snaps a selfie with her team at the GOTR 5K.
Lessons that Last a Lifetime
Heading into her 33rd season, certain lessons have stuck with Coach Dale over the years. One in particular continues to guide her in everyday life.
“The ‘Stop and Take a Breather’ skill has stayed with me,” she says. “I share with the girls that I learned this at GOTR and even use this skill with my husband! This skill is valuable in so many different situations, with family members and people you work with, or friends…anyone!”
Coach Dale is living proof that the curriculum doesn’t just impact participants. It also shapes coaches, families, and communities around them.
Her passion for the program is also personal. Coach Dale grew up with three sisters and later raised three daughters of her own. Opportunities like Girls on the Run didn’t exist when she was young. When asked if she wishes a program like this had existed to support her during her childhood, her answer is enthusiastic.
“Yes!! Definitely! I believe that by attending GOTR, I would have been a more confident girl and young woman. It would have also instilled in me the belief that I could impact my community and make a difference, no matter what my age.”
That belief fuels her commitment to returning as a coach each season.
“I keep returning season after season because the skills that GOTR teaches are critical for a girl to navigate and live a healthy life,” she says. “What they learn can be used every day of their lives, in multiple situations and environments.”
Coach Dale smiles with GOTR participants!
Building the Next 30 Years
As we celebrate 30 years of Girls on the Run, Coach Dale is already thinking about the next 30.
“I hope they will say that GOTR gave them valuable skills that helped them as they were growing up,” she says of the girls she coaches. “I hope they say that they became more confident and lived healthier lives because of GOTR. I hope they remember that they had fun!”
She also believes the dedication of women who step forward to coach speaks volumes about the need for programs like Girls on the Run.
“Women realize that girls need what GOTR teaches! These skills are often not provided in family or school settings where girls live most of their waking hours.”
Coaches like Dale help girls build the confidence and connection they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day and 30 years of impact, we’re honoring women like Coach Dale and the communities that shaped them.
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