The start of something new can feel nerve-racking at any age. Walking into a room of unfamiliar faces, trying something you’ve never done before, or wondering if you’ll fit in all take courage. At the beginning of a new Girls on the Run season, many girls arrive feeling unsure of themselves, uncertain where they belong, and curious how they’ll build the stamina to complete a 5K.
However, something amazing happens when girls are given a safe and positive space to grow. Week by week, they find their voices, make new friends, learn new skills, and discover they are far stronger, both physically and emotionally, than they realized.
By the end of this team from GOTR Union County’s 10-week season, girls showed greater confidence, smiled bigger, and crossed the 5K finish line with pride.
As the season began, the team shared what they were most excited about, what they hoped to accomplish, and how they imagined the celebratory 5K would feel. At the end of the season, they reflected on what they experienced, the goals they reached, and how crossing the finish line actually felt.
Haasini
- Most excited about: Having fun this season
- Goal: Make at least one new friend and run the 5K.
- Pre-5K feelings: I think I’ll feel really excited and probably sweaty.
Happy Haasini
- Most exciting part: Meeting new people and making new friends.
- Biggest takeaway: Learning how to include others and comforting others and yourself.
- Post-5K feelings: I was sleepy and hungry after finishing, but I felt happy, excited, and relieved.
Myra
- Most excited about: Meeting new people and making friends.
- Goal: Work hard to finish the 5K.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll feel proud.
Mighty Myra
- Most exciting part: Meeting new people, making new friends, running the 5K, and meeting the coaches.
- Biggest takeaway: The I feel tool, being a tree, and the ABCs of bold listening. I grew and got better at listening.
- Post-5K feelings: Happy and secure like a tree. The storm was all the hard parts, but it helped me do the 5K.
Throughout the season, the girls learned more than how to complete a 5K successfully. By following Hello, Bold Heart!, the newest GOTR curriculum, they gained tools that helped them build the confidence to boldly share what’s in their hearts, use their voices even when they feel uncertain, and support others in doing the same.
Three lessons stood out as favorites for the girls on this GOTR team: bold sharing, navigating friendship conflict using the I Feel tool, and bold listening (which we will dive into shortly). These weren’t just activities during practice; they became skills the girls carried into their friendships, teamwork, and moments of uncertainty.
Avi
- Most excited about: Practicing running and doing the 5K.
- Goal: Learn to confidently finish a 5K.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll feel excited and relieved.
Awesome Avi
- Most exciting part: Running the 5K.
- Biggest takeaway: Bold listening and the I Feel tool.
- Post-5K feelings: Confident.
Penelope
- Most excited about: The end-of-season 5K.
- Goal: Completing the 5K and making new friends.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll feel very excited and proud of myself.
Positive Penelope
- Most exciting part: Completing the 5K.
- Biggest takeaway: The 5K, bold listening, and learning how to be a tree.
- Post-5K feelings: Happy.
The team explored bold sharing by learning what assertive communication looks and sounds like. Speaking assertively means sharing in a way that’s clear, kind, and confident. Through games and physical activities, the girls compared different ways of communicating: like a feather (passive and unclear), a storm (aggressive and mean), or a tree (clear, kind, and firm), and practiced “being a tree” when sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Siyana
- Most excited about: Having fun after school with my friends.
- Goal: Run an entire 5K.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll feel excited and proud that I finished.
Sweet Siyana
- Most exciting part: Making friends, the 5K, and our celebration.
- Biggest takeaway: Growing, finding new ways to share my feelings, and the 5K.
- Post-5K feelings: Really good. I felt free when I crossed the finish line.
Krithi
- Most excited about: Making new friends and having fun with them after school.
- Goal: Train hard to finish the 5K and become more confident.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll be excited and proud, even though right now I’m nervous.
Karate Krithi
- Most exciting part: The 5K and making new friends.
- Biggest takeaway: I learned how to be kind and completed the 5K. My favorite tool we learned was the I Feel tool, learning how to be kind, and completing the 5K.
- Post-5K feelings: Really happy, proud, and active.
Through intentional lessons, the girls practiced tools for clear and respectful communication. Learning to say “I feel… because… I need…” gave them a simple yet powerful way to navigate friendship conflicts and express themselves clearly. Rather than bottling up their feelings, they practiced sharing them with kindness and confidence. Many used the “I Feel” tool throughout the season at practice, at school, and with friends. For several girls, this was the first time they had the tools to clearly express how they felt and what they needed during friendship conflicts.
As the season progressed, the team shifted to learning tools to help others share what they think and feel. Bold Listening quickly became another favorite lesson, thanks to a simple tool using the ABCs. The girls learned to put their Attention on the speaker, Be patient, and ask Curious questions when someone else is sharing. This helped them understand how listening with their whole bodies can help others feel seen, heard, and valued. Many girls said this strengthened their friendships and helped them form new ones.
Eloise
- Most excited about: Being part of GOTR.
- Goal: Get to know new friends.
- Pre-5K feelings: Excited!
Energetic Eloise
- Most exciting part: Painting rocks during the Community Impact Project and running.
- Biggest takeaway: Learning about having a Bold Heart.
- Post-5K feelings: REALLY happy!
Taylor
- Most excited about: The end-of-season party and the 5K.
- Goal: Complete the 5K after practicing after school and at home.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll feel calm and good. I’ve run two miles before, so I’m ready.
Tough Taylor
- Most exciting part: Cupcakes! And the 5K.
- Biggest takeaway: Being a tree and asking curious questions.
- Post-5K feelings: My legs hurt, but I felt good. I was happy I finished!
Lucy
- Most excited about: Running the 5K, having fun, and making new friends.
- Goal: Get stronger and improve my running.
- Pre-5K feelings: I’ll feel accomplished. I’m not confident that I’ll be first, but I know I can get through it.
Loving Lucy
- Most exciting part: Meeting new friends and coaches.
- Biggest takeaway: Practicing running, the 5K, and learning how to have a Bold Heart. I’m proud of the Practice 5K and the real 5K.
- Post-5K feelings: Strong. I feel like I got my workout in.
Towards the end of the season, teams select, plan, and implement a Community Impact Project that supports and works beside a community in their area. Coaches take a step back so girls can lead and employ the skills and confidence they developed to make a difference. This team from GOTR Union County chose to paint positive messages on rocks and scatter them along the trail they run on during practice, spreading encouragement and kindness near their school and reminding others that small acts of positivity can have a big impact.
These lessons, along with the rest of the Hello, Bold Heart! curriculum, not only prepared girls for the end-of-season 5K, but helped them find their voices, trust their feelings, and bravely open their hearts.
After 10 weeks of training, the moment these GOTR girls had been waiting for finally arrived: the 5K Celebration. Some were beaming with excitement, others felt nervous, but all knew how hard they had worked. Each crossed the finish line with a well-earned sense of pride. While the 5K marked the end of the season, the lessons and tools they learned will stay with them far beyond Girls on the Run.
By the end of the season, each girl had unlocked the strength and confidence to boldly share what was in her heart and to support others in doing the same.
Ready for your girl to experience this type of growth and confidence? Connect locally to see if Girls on the Run is offered in your community and register for the spring 2026 season.
