Girls on the Run Participants Represent Newtown at 5k Event

Participants from the first session of the Newtown Girls on the Run chapter represented the Newtown community at the NIA Jingle Bell Run in Trumbull on Saturday, December 7.  The 5k event was the culmination of the 10-week Girls on the Run program, whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

As a part of the Girls on the Run Fairfield County association, sponsored by the New Canaan YMCA, the Newtown program was hosted through the Resiliency Center and featured 13 girls in grades three through five.  Girls on the Run is a national 501(c)(3) youth development program which combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls. The core curriculum addresses many aspects of girls’ development – their physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. Lessons provide girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.  The three-part curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run volunteer coaches and includes understanding ourselves, valuing teamwork, and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. Girls choose and conduct a community service project, and at each session’s conclusion, the girls complete a 5k running event as a group.

Following the completion of her first 5k event, Newtown Girls on the Run participant Grace Ruggiero exclaimed it had been the best day of her life.  Her mother, Heidi, shared, “When we got home from the race, Grace ran into the kitchen where North, our Elf on the Shelf, was hanging out.  She excitedly told him ‘North, today was the best day of my life!’”  She continued, “This girl has come a long way from where she was on 12/14/12.  She came home from school that day pretty much shattered.  She was just an empty shell.  I didn't know if we were ever going to get her back.  For weeks she looked pale, had no interest in anything, wouldn't eat, had no ambition, no joy.  Everything frightened her.  It's been a really rough year.  Today was like a reawakening in her!  I want to thank Girls on the Run so much for bringing this program to us!  Grace has loved it so much!  She has pushed herself further than ever before and she is so proud of herself- and so are we!  She's already looking forward to her next race!”

The 12-week program met twice a week during the fall and was led by volunteer coach, Gina Ancona.  Gina commented, "I went into this thinking I was just going to train a group of girls on how to run a 5K, I came out of this learning more from these amazing young ladies about strength, perseverance, and resiliency than they could ever learn from me! I feel like I just gained 13 daughters!"

Girls on the Run will return to Newtown in the spring.  To learn more about the program or how to become a volunteer, visit www.girlsontherunffldcty.com or contact Girls on the Run Fairfield County Council Director, Davie Cedela, at davie.cedela@girlsontherun.org.