Jill Wigand and Jasper High School Dance team members led the participants and their running buddies through warmups before the celebratory 5K. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Girls on the Run of Southwest Indiana celebrated 10 years on Saturday with runs in Jasper and in Evansville.
More than 242 participants from Dubois County and Spencer County took to the track for the celebratory 5k at Jasper Middle School, with 122 participants heading out for their 5k in Evansville at about the same time.
In 2015, Girls on the Run hosted 65 participants—though mainly girls, some boys have participated. And the program has grown each year since 2015. With this year’s season over, more than 2,000 participants have participated in the activities offered through the nonprofit and its volunteer coaches.
While running and fitness are a part of Girls on the Run, more than that, the program is designed to teach essential life skills through research-based activities beyond running. Trained volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy.
Breanne Williams, 19, held up the medal she earned from Girls on the Run when she participated in the program’s first season ten years ago. This year, she returned to coach. Though she is heading to Ball State to study broadcasting, she said she plans to see if there is a chapter she can be involved with there. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Brianna Williams took part in the program in its first year and returned to coach this year. She had a group of about 16 girls she worked with over about two and a half months.
“I think it is so important to lift these girls up,” she said. “It is important to let them know they are special and unique and are able to take on difficult things.”
She explained that the program helps build confidence by inspiring the participants to take on difficult things while remaining positive.
It also helps build stronger relationships and lasting friendships.
“I love the joy and all the friendships that are made,” she said. “It’s so rewarding to get a hug after practice or after they accomplish something.”
Here are a few photos of Saturday’s celebration.
Runners, buddies and fans headed over to the Jasper Middle School track for the beginning of the celebratory 5K.Photo by Matthew Crane.
Leo Barkley, 5, frog hopped through the Jasper Middle School football field as he and his dad walked over to watch his mom, Megan, and sister, Cecilia, run the celebratory 5K together. Photo by Amy Crane.
Runners pray before the celebratory 5K race. Photo by Amy Crane.
Girls participating in Heart & Sole prepared to begin their race portion on Saturday. Girls on the Run has served girls from 3rd through 5th grade, but this year, it expanded to include 6th through 8th graders in Heart & Sole. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Girls on the Run co-founder and board member Audrey Werner (bike) waited for the race to start so she could lead the girls from Heart & Sole through the route. Photo by Matthew Crane.
The Girls on the Run participants and their running buddies take off on the circuitous route through the Jasper Middle and Elementary School campus. Photo by Amy Crane.
Dominic (blue) and his brother, Max Dunn, used a bubble blower to provide some fun bubbles for the runners to pass along St. Charles Street on their way back to Jasper Middle School from the elementary school. The two took turns holding the supply of liquid soap and operating the bubble blower. Photo by Amy Crane.
Sophia Guth, 12, a sixth grader at Jasper Middle School, was the first Heart & Sole participant to cross the finish line. This was her fourth year taking part in Girls on the Run. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Elicia Labhart, despite being sick the day before, took part in the celebratory 5k Saturday morning, working up the energy to run across the finish line. Photo by Amy Crane.
From left: Nolan Chase and twin brothers Cale and Weston Rohleder ran the 5k together. In the home stretch to the finish line, Weston lost his shoe, which Cale went to retrieve. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Miguel Lopez began running with his daughter, 15-month-old Ellie, in the stroller, but she decided she wanted a better view of her sisters, Emerald, 8, and Braylynne, 11, as they ran in the Girls on the Run 5k on Saturday. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Anna Schnell, 9, a Pine Ridge Elementary School third grader, hugged her friend, Paisley Foerster, 9, who attends Ferdinand Elementary, after the two completed the 5k and headed to the snack table. Photo by Matthew Crane.
During the finale of the celebration, the founders of Girls on the Run Southwest Indiana passed this baton between themselves. The baton was signed by each founding member when they started the program 10 years ago. Co-founder Audrey Werner burst out laughing as Jill Kidwell handed the baton back to her after it had already gone down the line of ladies. Photo by Matthew Crane.
Breanne shared the front page of The Herald, where she was featured with two other girls who participated in the first Girls on the Run. Photo by Matthew Crane.Hayden Gehlhausen, 10, (left) and her sister, Lenore Gehlhausen, 4, drew encouraging chalk messages on the sidewalk outside the Jasper Middle School gym entrance. Photo by Amy Crane.
