Girls on the Run Bay Area is an after-school program that uses running to teach life skills and promote healthy behaviors to third-grade to eighth-grade girls. The nonprofit’s curriculum is designed to help girls “develop social, emotional, and physical competence, feel confident in who they are, create positive connections with peers and adults, develop strength of character, and respond to others and self with care and compassion,” according to an independent analysis published in Pediatric Exercise Science in 2020.

What makes Girls on the Run special, according to officials, is the focus on building self-confidence and competence in social skills. “We focus on girls' social and emotional development,” says Catherine Muriel, Executive Director. “We focus as well on goal setting. Every girl, no matter her economic situation, can participate in this program and will become healthier, more confident, more empowered. There is no other program like it in the Bay Area.”

The need for such a program is indisputable. A girl’s sense of self-confidence drops by 30% between the age of eight to 14, according to the 2018 book The Confidence Code for Girls. The Girls on the Run curriculum works to change that with a curriculum that blends physical movement and lessons in emotional development such as the value of positive self-talk.

“Girls’ self-confidence peaks at nine years old, which is distressing,” notes Muriel. “If a girl does not participate in physical activity by the time she reaches ten years old, exercise continues to decrease into her adult life. That leads to myriad other issues like body image concerns. We aim to ensure that every girl, no matter her activity level, ethnicity, race, or economic status, benefits from our program. Instilling this element of self-confidence, self-empowerment, and exercise as enjoyment, not competition, is incredibly important in a girl’s life. And that’s what we do.”

Girls on the Run programs operate thanks to donations, sponsorships, and volunteers. An estimated 70% of girls in the program are on scholarships, and every girl who participates receives some type of subsidy. “It costs us over four hundred twenty-five dollars a girl to run this program,” says Muriel. “We charge a maximum of two hundred eighty-five dollars, so there's a huge gap there of fundraising that's needed.” The nonprofit also buys running shoes for girls in need.

Volunteers are vital to the nonprofit’s success. Coaching volunteers are needed who can volunteer twice a week for 10 weeks in the afternoon. Coaches do not need to be runners, and will receive training and support. Running buddies to help girls meet their goals are also important volunteer jobs.

At the end of the 10-week program, which takes place each fall and spring during the school year, girls in the program and their supporters participate in a non-competitive 5K run. During the fall 2021 season, there are Tri-Valley Girls on the Run programs being held at the San Ramon Community Center and in Emerald Glen Park in Dublin. The spring season will start in March. Individuals who would like to start programs in other areas are encouraged to contact the nonprofit.

Girls on the Run of the Bay Area is an independent council of Girls on the Run International, serving girls in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties. Since its founding in 2002, Girls on the Run of the Bay Area has impacted the lives of more than 24,000 participants. Girls on the Run is also available to provide team-building exercises and custom, interactive classes for local organizations and companies.

For more information about Girls on the Run of the Bay Area, please visit www.gotrbayarea.org.