Girls on the Run 5k Run/Walk Returns for 7th Year

Girls on the Run of Stark County invites all area women to run, walk, skip, or dance the 7th annual Girls on the Run 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Walsh University. To accommodate all runners, the Girls on the Run 5k Run/Walk will once again offer two waves. Wave 1, which will include over 150 sixth through eighth grade Heart & Sole participants, their coaches and Running Buddies, the SoleMale, and competitive runners, will start at exactly 7:55am. Over 600 third through fifth grade Girls on the Run participants and their coaches & Running Buddies will follow at 8:00 am.

Registration is open to all women and girls and is available online at www.gotrstarkcty.org. Preregistration fees are $20 for girls 13 and under and $30 for women & girls 14 and over until May 20 and includes 5k t-shirt (only if registered by Friday, May 13th) and goody bag.

In addition to the usual GOTR 5k perks (Happy Hair Booth, the GOTR InstaGlam stage, free post-5k photo downloads, and more), the GOTR 5k will also offer

• Mat-to-mat (net) time
• Dynamic bib assignment
• Tracking options (text or Facebook)

GOTR 5k is the ONLY women-only* Run/Walk in the Ohio Challenge Series! The event is a wonderful opportunity to rally around the 750 girls who have been training for the past ten weeks in Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole programs throughout Stark County to complete their first 5k. Join us as we celebrate these girls’ accomplishment and promote a healthy lifestyle for all!

*One male runner will be joining our GOTR girls, their coaches, and other women as a 5k participant—the SoleMale. GOTR guys (dads, uncles, male teachers, brothers, and grandfathers) can register to be a part of this unique competitive fundraiser until March 15th at midnight. The SoleMale Contenders will fundraise until have until April 16th for their chance to be the only male to run the GOTR 5k—a role earned by the highest fundraiser. In 2015, SoleMale Contenders raised over $8,000 for GOTR programs.

About Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit 501(c)3 offering youth empowerment programs for 3rd through 5th grade girls (Girls on the Run) and 6th through 8th grade girls (Heart & Sole) that encourage preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. The Girls on the Run & Heart & Sole curricula address all aspects of girls’ development – their physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being with topics such as self-esteem, healthy lifestyle habits, setting goals, teamwork, self-awareness, dealing with bullies & peer pressure, and good communication skills. The programs also prepare the girls to participate in a 5k (3.1 mile) run at the end of the 10-week (20 lesson) program.

Girls on the Run of Stark County is a council of GOTR International. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. GOTR is offered every spring in schools and community centers throughout Stark County.