Just Add Photos: Central Elementary's 'Girls on the Run' Made Running Fun

A dozen girls from finished their first 5K this month as part of Girls on the Run, a program that strives to build character and self-esteem.

Central Elementary physical education teacher Kori Talbot with the help of Lacy Swauger led the group of girls through the 10 week program, which ended with the 5K (3.1 mile) race held earlier in December at Anne Arundel Community College.  

From their website, the Girls on the Run program's objectives are to:

...educate and empower girls at an early age in order to prevent the display of at-risk activities in the future. At risk activities include substance/alcohol use, eating disorders, early onset of sexual activity, sedentary lifestyle, depression, suicide attempts and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.

It might seem a little young to think about saving 9-, 10- and 11 year-old girls from at-risk activities, but that is the age that Girls on the Run targets. The program sets out to help third- through fifth-graders, and in the middle school age group, sixth- through eighth-graders, before they come into contact with negative outside influences.

Talbot worked with runners throughout the 10-week program. All of the activities had one central focus: Girl Power. Each week they ran laps and held exercise and team-building activities. Last Thursday, they finished up their program with a group party and award ceremony.

Talbot said that the 5K race, held at Anne Arundel Community College with other Girls on the Run groups from around the county, attracted 400 runners with their running buddies (a parent or friend who could run with the girls and mentor them).

"I wanted to make it a positive experience," Talbot said. "I wanted them to know that through running, they can do anything they set their mind to."

Congratulations to all of the girls who completed the 5K race and program.

Enjoy the photos that accompany this story from one of the Girls on the Run parents—Jennifer Marceron of Harwood. Thanks Jennifer!

Also, if your daughter participated in the race, please feel free to upload your photos too.