Girls on the Run of Berks County Program Participants Will Run, Skip, Twirl, Glide Their Way Across the Finish Line at the GOTR Fall 5K on November 19th!
On Sunday, November 19th at 9:30 AM, Girls on the Run of Berks County will host its annual Fall 5K event at Penn State Berks University, open to all runners and walkers!
Community runners and walkers are invited to join the Girls on the Run Fall 2017 5K on Sunday, November 19th, at the Penn State Berks campus located at 1800 Broadcasting Road. This non-competitive 5K fun run/walk is open to community members of all ages and fitness levels. At the event, 285 Girls on the Run program participants in grades 3–8 from across Berks County will finish their first 5K, after completing the 10-week Girls on the Run personal development program at their local school.
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program for girls. Participants meet after school twice per week in small teams of 10 to 20 girls with their volunteer coaches, completing twenty 90-minute sessions over a period of 10 weeks.
The Girls on the Run program creatively integrates running as a method of reinforcing the principles of goal setting, teamwork and personal accomplishment; and participants complete a 5K event at the end. The curriculum covers topics such as accountability and intentional decision-making, identifying and curtailing negative self-talk, resisting peer pressure and more. Girls learn to assert themselves in a healthy manner, effectively manage their emotional responses, and identify areas of challenge and confidence in their own personalities. As a non-profit, Girls on the Run offers this unique experience to all girls, regardless of family income.
This Fall local school teams include: 13th & Union, Amanda E. Stout Elementary, Brecknock Elementary (2 teams), Fleetwood Area Middle School, Governor Mifflin Intermediate, Lauer’s Park Elementary, Mifflin Park/Cumru Elementary, Mount Penn Elementary, Northeast Middle, Northwest Elementary, Riverside Elementary, Shiloh Hills Elementary, Southwest Middle School, Tilden Elementary, Whitfield Elementary, Willow Creek/Richmond Elementary, Wilson Southern Middle School and Wyomissing Hills Elementary. The Girls on the Run 5K will be held at Penn State Berks, with a host of activities for participants.
The 5K course route is fully-enclosed on the campus, to provide a safe and fun experience for all participants. Pre-event activities beginning at 8:00 AM will include live music from DJ Ben Smith of 5 Star Productions, a free photo booth provided by ROG Orthodontics, a free “happy hair” colored hairspray station provided by Salon Avanti, a free “spirit” station hosted by Penske Women’s Network, plus a host of activities provided by other local Girls on the Run sponsors.
Girls on the Run of Berks County corporate sponsors include The Junior League of Reading, PA, Inc., Reading Hospital – Tower Health, East Penn Manufacturing, Penske Truck Leasing, Bellco Federal Credit Union, Berks Elite Training, Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex, Performance Toyota, Reading Pediatrics, RKL LLP, ROG Orthodontics, Specialty Rigging Company and Tompkins VIST Bank.
Online registration is open at www.gotrberks.org through November 15th, and in-person registration will be conducted at the event beginning at 8:00 AM. The registration fee is $28, and all proceeds from registration fees directly benefit Girls on the Run of Berks County.
