GIRLS ON THE RUN OF ST LOUIS

OUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY-BASED POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (PA-PYD) PROGRAM COMBINES TRAINING FOR A 5K RUN WITH LIFE SKILL LESSONS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY HABITS AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. WE STRIVE TO INCREASE EACH GIRL'S FITNESS LEVEL AND SELF-ESTEEM AS WELL AS TEACH SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE PRESSURES OF ADOLESCENCE AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ENGAGING IN RISKY BEHAVIORS. THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND, WE FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN MIND AND BODY. OUR COMBINATION OF TARGETED LESSONS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INSTILL CONFIDENCE AND NURTURE CARE AND COMPASSION IN EVERY GIRL. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES AN ACADEMICALLY EVALUATED CURRICULUM DELIVERED IN SMALL GROUPS BY 2 TRAINED VOLUNTEER COACHES PER TEAM RESULTING IN A COACH TO GIRL RATIO OF 1:8. SMALL GROUP DYNAMICS ARE CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM. THE CURRICULUM CONTAINS 20 LESSONS FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC LIFE SKILLS INCLUDING HEALTHY DECISION MAKING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, HEALTHY EATING, BODY IMAGE, LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND GOAL SETTING. THE PROGRAM IS NONCOMPETITIVE. EACH SEMESTER THE TEAMS MEET TWICE WEEKLY FOR A MINIMUM OF 1.25 HOURS PER SESSION. THE CURRICULUM IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS. THE FIRST SECTION CENTERS ON THE GIRLS GETTING TO KNOW THEMSELVES. THE SECOND CONCENTRATES ON TEAM BUILDING, BEING SUPPORTIVE OF OTHERS, AND LEARNING TO LISTEN AND COOPERATE. THE THIRD SECTION RELATES TO THE GIRL'S INTERACTION WITH THE WORLD AT LARGE INCLUDING MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM THE GIRLS PARTICIPATE IN A 5K RUNNING EVENT AS THE CULMINATING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PROGRAM. WE INVITE AND ENCOURAGE ALL GIRLS TO PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF ATHLETIC ABILITY. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 GOTRSTL SERVED 249 LOCATIONS AND 4,797 GIRLS. THE PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED BY 443 COACHES IN THE FALL AND 855 COACHES IN THE SPRING. GOTR-STL USES AN EVALUATION TO ASSESS THE PROGRAM AND HOW WELL IT MEETS STATED OBJECTIVES BY USING A PRE-TEST/POST-TEST THAT MEASURES ATTITUDES TOWARD PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SELF-ESTEEM, BODY IMAGE, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND COMMUNICATION. THE BIANNUAL 5K EVENT IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY. OUR 5K IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER AS IT CENTERS AROUND THE GIRLS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE CELEBRATION OF HEALTHY LIVING AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. 1,452 AND 3,052 RUNNERS REGISTERED FOR OUR FALL AND SPRING RUNS, RESPECTIVELY. THESE RUNS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND SERVE OUR GIRLS AND THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY. 243 AND 246 VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTED THE FALL AND SPRING RUNS, RESPECTIVELY.