Girls on the Run: Making Lifelong Memories

When the Ottauquechee School Girls on the Run (GOTR) program was founded 15 years ago by 5th grade teacher Sandra Rhoades, the 24 member team became part of what is now a 25 year statewide legacy of supporting girls in 3rd through 5th grade in developing confidence, life skills, and a love of physical activity. Girls on the Run Vermont is one of the oldest ‘councils’ in the country; collectively, its 120 programs have reached more than 39,000 girls and thousands of coaches over the course of 25 years, averaging 550 volunteer coaches each season.

Hannah Whitney and her mom, Becky, share a special
moment before the 5K celebratory race in Essex.

So what exactly is Girls on the Run? The national non-profit was founded in North Carolina in 1996 and is now active in all 50 states. GOTR offers a research-based curriculum that focuses on positive youth development paired with physical activity, primarily running. Research has shown that even today, girls can have limited access to physical activity and less social support for participation. Despite the advances in girls and women’s sports since the passing of Title IX – a law requiring equal funding and access to sports – inequalities still persist. The Girls on the Run mission and vision explains it well: “We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.” Coaches receive extensive training in the program lessons, hands-on skills, and role playing, and the curriculum is refreshed every three years to incorporate new language and expand accessibility.

For Sandra Rhoades and her teaching colleagues – Nancy Burke and Gigi Stone – who subsequently joined the coaching team, GOTR has been a fun way to engage with students outside of the classroom and support girls in reaching their full potential. Sandra notes, “Girls on the Run is more than just running. The main focus is the lessons and on becoming a strong, empowered young woman. The running activities are designed around the curriculum.” Sandra began running and competing at age 35 and fell in love with the sport, running in the Western NH Trail Running series and the Covered Bridges Half Marathon. She went on to co-coach the Hartford High School Cross Country team for 12 years. “Running is easy. You just need a pair of sneakers; it doesn’t cost a lot of money, there’s no gym membership, and you can run when you want to.”

Dads on the Run Chris Baker and Even Eccher joined in
the fun with their daughters Emma and Berkely.

Sandra notes that girls who participate experience the same lessons each season, with different activities introduced along the way. “At the end of each 10 week season, we do a reflection, and some of the lessons come out as favorites – the lessons about gossip (you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube), body imaging (it’s what’s on the inside that counts, not on the outside), and loving yourself no matter what you look like in particular.” Among Sandra’s favorite aspects of the program are the conversations with the girls, and seeing the impact the program has back in the classroom. “Often, the girls will tap into the GOTR skills like stopping to take a breath before reacting to a situation and expressing themselves more confidently over the course of the program in school and at practice.”

For their part, assistant coaches Nancy and Gigi, 14 and six year veterans of GOTR respectively, echo the benefits of the program in helping girls find their “star power”, (one of the curriculum lessons), as well as other life skills. The program specifically addresses topics and challenges that girls encounter during late childhood and adolescence. Nancy recalls one girl early in the program who didn’t say much in school and wasn’t really connected with her classmates. “Through the program she found her voice, participated, laughed, and made friends, which probably wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t been in the program. She built her confidence both in GOTR and in the classroom,” she says. Gigi shares a similar story of transformation: “It’s great to hang out with the girls in a casual setting as opposed to the classroom and keep the relationships going. Girls who may have been overwhelmed at first seem to experience the greatest transformation over the course of the program, because they often don’t think they can do it when they start, and are so proud of themselves when they participate in the end of the season 5K fun run.”

Retiring Girls on the Run and Ottauquechee School
teachers, Sandra Rhoades and Nancy Burke

Over the 25 years that Girls on the Run Vermont has been operating (the state organization is led by professional staff), the main mission and message has remained the same with curriculum adaptations every three years to address emerging social conditions. GOTR Vermont founder Nancy Heydinger recalls being inspired by the idea that a nurturing environment could help girls reach their full potential. “I decided to do something that would positively impact and benefit young girls’ lives. I felt that I had found the formula in GOTR – that combining physical activity, team building, encouragement, and fun would bring about increased self-esteem and health. It was so important to me to give my daughters opportunities and experiences that would inspire them to believe in themselves and give them tools and strategies to navigate life.”

The statewide 5K fun run is the culminating event of the program, and most girls have a running buddy but it is not required as long as they run with a group. One of the themes of the non-competitive event is something that is emphasized during the season: “You don’t have to keep running, but you do have to keep moving.” The event is a chance for the girls to come together in a fun atmosphere and meet other program participants. According to current GOTR executive director Rachel Desautels, “…the Manchester 5K, one of two statewide events, hosted approximately 550 girls, 200 coaches, 250 running buddies, 150 volunteers, and numerous spectators cheering the girls on with cowbells and smiles!” Supporting fellow runners is a hallmark of the 5K event, so much so that this year the girls asked their coaches if they could join the final finishers as they neared the finish line. Coach Gigi notes, “When they support teammates, they are demonstrating kindness, compassion, and caring. Sometimes it takes going beyond your comfort level to have the courage to show you care.”

Many parents are involved throughout the season and are provided with an overview of the curriculum and activities they can do at home with their daughters to reinforce lessons like perseverance, making friends, and finding courage in tough situations. The hope is that the lessons will carry over beyond the GOTR program and into other life experiences. This has been true for several of the Ottauquechee GOTR alumna according to Sandra: “Quechee resident Maddie Carbino ran with us as a 5th grader; she ran track and cross country at Hartford Middle School, and will be running as a freshman at Hartford High School in the fall.” Maddie remembers the GOTR program fondly and credits the program activities and coaches for inspiring her to continue running. “We learned a lot about how your mental health helps with your running. We talked about emotions and we did a bunch of fun running activities that really stuck with me. The coaches made everyone feel like they could belong and I really liked that,” she says. GOTR alumna have gone on to race in college and there are even some Olympians with GOTR experience. Another way participants stay involved when they age out of the program is to become junior coaches.

Teammates cheer on 5th grader Emma Baker crossing the practice 5K finish line at Ottauquechee School

What about boys who like to run? This is a question that emerges from time to time, which the Ottauquechee School administration has proactively addressed by also offering a co-ed program called “Finding Our Stride”. An Upper Valley based initiative open to both boys and girls, the program is focused on fitness, social/emotional learning, and community engagement. All three GOTR coaches support broad participation, and also appreciate the focus on girls development that comes with a curriculum-based gender-focused program. “We feel strongly that having a program for just girls lets them say what they want without judgment and provides a safe space for them to become strong and confident as young women,” Nancy says. “They have a chance to grow and shine independently.”

Community service is a cornerstone of the GOTR program as well. Some of the local projects include working on the Ottauquechee Trail to build a bridge, sprucing up flower gardens at the school, creating musical instruments for the school playground, and helping Veterans put flags on graves in the cemetery near the school. The projects are girl-led and supported by parents, coaches, and community organizations.

At the end of this past spring season, Sandra, Nancy, and Gigi were honored at the Ottauquechee School by GOTRVT executive director Rachel Desautels and program coordinator Stephanie Dorgan, along with the school principal as they retired from their jobs in teaching as well as the GOTR program. “They have been mentors and positive role models for the girls in their elementary school by facilitating this program for so many years and have coached approximately 250 girls. I cannot express how much their dedication and love for their community has impacted our organization and helped foster the social, emotional, and physical well-being in 3rd-5th grade girls in Quechee,” Rachel says. Nancy Heydinger echoes the accolades: “Their commitment to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to benefit from learning and practicing critical life skills, cultivating friendships, and experiencing the joy of physical movement is extraordinary.” Many former program participants and students wrote notes of congratulations for the time the coaches gave to the GOTR program as well as for their years of teaching at the Ottauquechee School.

The Ottauquechee School Girls on the Run team.

Sandra reflects on her tenure helping girls develop confidence and important life skills: “It’s nice to retire on the 25th anniversary of GOTR Vermont. There were special medals for the 5K race this year, and it’s an honor to have worked with the girls over the 15 years.” A 25th Anniversary Scholarship fundraiser has also been launched to support girls looking to further their education.

In coaching, there’s a saying: “You never know when you’re making a memory.” For these three coaches and the girls they’ve w orked with over the years, it’s certain that lifelong memories, as well as a solid set of life skills to lean on beyond the program for both the coaches and the girls, is part of the GOTR legacy.

For more information on how to become involved as a coach or team helper with the Ottauquechee GOTR program, contact Rachel Desautels, executive director at 802-871-5664, mrachel@girlsontherunvermont.org, or visit the GOTR Vermont website at gotrvt.org.