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Locations of Girls on the Run of Montgomery County Coaches of Girls on the Run of Montgomery County

GOTR was founded by a

The Basics:

  • Weekly meetings occur: 2X per week
  • Entire season lasts: 9 -10 Weeks
  • Each meeting lasts: Approximately 1 hour or 1 hour + 15 minutes
  • Meetings consist of: An introduction, warm-up, a workout for girls of all ability levels, and a wrap up

Costs to enroll:

Girls on the Run of Montgomery County has a sliding fee scale based on family income level. Fees range from $10-$150. Visit Registration information.

A Peek at a weekly GOTR meeting:A Peek at a weekly GOTR meeting in Montgomery County, MD

Each lesson focuses on a specific issue related topic and follows a five-part format that provides consistency and structure for the girls’ experience:

Introduction: Getting on Board

As the girls arrive and settle into a circle, the coach "checks in" with them, seeing how each is feeling, getting a feel for the group's dynamic for the day and introducing the topic of the lesson.

The Warm Up:

The warm-up is a brief activity or game that energizes the girls and warms up their muscles. The warm up activity is usually a short interactive running game that incorporates the lesson topic for that day. For instance, in one of the first lessons, the coach marks off a short running course. The girls stand at one spot and the coach calls out a "like statement" - "I like chocolate chip cookies," or "I like 50 Cent." All those girls who agree with the statement run (walk, jog -- they set their own paces) the course marked out by the coach. These statements continue, with contributions by the girls, until everyone has run a few times at least.

Processing:

With their muscles warmed up a bit, the coach leads the girls through a brief stretching session. During that time, the girls and the coach "process" the topic. In this example, they might discuss how people can have different likes and dislikes and still be friends or how our likes and dislikes develop, etc.

The Workout:

The workout follows the warm up/stretch. This involves more actual running. The amount of running varies based on each girls' ability, pace, and their stage of process. The program starts with shorter periods of running and builds up as the coaches assess each girl's ability and pace. Eventually, the workout will build up to a "practice" 5K on site, to give the girls the confidence helpful in participating in an actual 5K running event. The running also involves the "topic of the day." For instance, in the session on positive attitude, each girl may be asked to make a positive statement about herself to the coach, each time she completes a lap.

The Wrap-Up:

Following the workout is a cool-down and stretching period where the girls do a group processing and discussion. Each session ends with positive reinforcement from the coach, a group cheer and a snack.

 

Each session concludes with the opportunity to participate in a community 5K run chosen by Girls on the Run of Montgomery County. Sound like fun? Visit Our Registration Page to join up!

 

Quick information about GOTR Montgomery County MD

GOTR of Montgomery County After School Program for  Pre-Teens

Girls on the Run of Montgomery County Goals and Curriculum

Girls in the program are given an optional pre- and post-test to evaluate attitudinal changes.

This data helps us to evaluate our programs currently. In the future, we hope to enhance this process so that we may use the data gathered to offer even more support to the girls and their families.

This evaluation was created by Dr. Rita DeBate, Ph.D., MPH, CHES. Based on this evaluation tool, Dr. Debate has concluded that the Girls on the Run curricula improve girls' self-esteem, body image and eating attitudes to a "statistically significant" extent.