Participants in Girls on the Run (GOTR) San Diego are putting their best foot forward to prove that exercise builds more than just muscles.
Through its focus on positive emotional, social, mental and physical development, GOTR has helped more than 30,000 girls gain a strong sense of self before they encounter what Molly Barker, four-time Ironman Triathlete and national founder of GOTR, calls the “girl box” ” that place where society, peers and even parents inadvertently direct young women, a place where girls think they are judged on a superficial level only. GOTR allows preadolescent girls to embrace their girlhood gifts as they enter middle and high school. Programs are 12 weeks long and combine training for a 3.1-mile running event with self-esteem-enhancing workouts.
The objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among participants. The goal is fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, less depression and fewer suicide attempts, substance abuse problems and confrontations with the law.
Barker explained that for her, like many preteens, the girl box made her believe the way she looked was more important than who she was inside, that being a woman meant keeping emotions such as anger to herself and that having a boyfriend meant giving up part of her own identity. She shares her passion with women all over the nation and inspired one in particular to establish the San Diego chapter in 1996.
“I’m glad to be a part of GOTR and am happy we’ll be running in North County again this spring,” said Kim Primerano, ex-Marine and founder of the GOTR San Diego chapter. “Last year, the girls met great new friends all while learning about such valuable topics like health, nutrition and self-image. I am proudly serving my country again by providing a positive environment for them.”
GOTR is accepting registration beginning the week of Feb. 18 for The Children’s School in La Jolla that meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Other GOTR spring season locations include the Carmel Valley Recreation Center, Twin Oaks Elementary School in San Marcos and Point Loma NTC.
“My daughter joined GOTR in part so she would not be the last one to finish when they ran at school,” said a mother of an avid GOTR participant. “We, of course, tried to reinforce that it does not matter how fast you run, just that you are trying, but she ran a mile today after which she literally burst into tears and exclaimed, ‘This is the best day of my life!’ She was not kidding; this is truly how she felt.”
The concept for GOTR was born Barker’s eighth-grade year when a boy in her class told her with disgust that she looked like a boy. It was born when a young woman, weighing 85 pounds and starving herself, told her she needed to lose weight to be beautiful. Barker and supporters stress the importance of loving yourself for who you are.
“There’s a part of you that really wants to embrace your curves, then there’s society saying no one likes curves,” said former model and TV personality Daisy Fuentes in September of 2007 during an interview with Fitness Magazine. “It takes someone as confident as Jennifer Lopez to turn a body part that’s often considered a flaw into something hot. The lesson? Stop listening to society and focus on yourself. I’m happy that we’re starting to see how beauty shines through no matter what you look like “¦ I’m also a big supporter of charities that boost girls’ self-esteem. Girls on the Run is one of my favorites.”
GOTR is actively seeking dedicated volunteer coaches, mentors and corporate sponsors. For more information contact Primerano, (760) 586-7952, or visit www.gotrsd.org.