This season, Girls on the Run will hold its 5K fun run in conjunction with another race, the Germantown 5 Miler. Combining efforts with the Germantown 5 miler helps us easily plan and obtain all the necessary items required for a road race (e.g., permits, port-a-potties, PA systems, security, clean up, etc.) Even though this is a joint race, our girls will begin the 5k run separately from the 5-miler race. As such, we'll enjoy plenty of autonomy as we welcome our girls to the starting line and celebrate their accomplishments at the finish line!
Simultaneous to our decision to couple with the Germantown 5 miler, GOTR International instituted a policy that requires that each girl have an adult running partner who is either related to the girl or who has had a background check. This new policy is unrelated to our decision to couple another race, and in fact, would still be in place even if we had a separate event (like last fall's 5k.) Now, we realize the girls like to run in packs (and talk!). However for safety and accountability, GOTR International requires that each girl has an individual adult running buddy who is related, or if not related, who has undergone a quick background check.
Because we need to ensure we have a separate running buddy for each girl, please take a moment to let us know who will be your daughter "running buddy" for the race. GOTR of Montgomery County can quickly do background checks at no cost to the participant or running buddy. Just let us know if this is needed, and we'll put you in touch with the proper person. Also, if you don't have a relative or another person who can be a running buddy, let us know. Either Coach Tanya or Coach Connie can be the fill in, or we can pull from a pool of people who have already been background-checked!
The cost of race registration is covered for the girls. Running buddies will need to register on their own for the GOTR 5k run by going to http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1676091&assetId=ee8285e2-d7ca-4213-ac7c-4aece77b317f.
Make sure running buddy choose "GOTR MC 5k untimed" instead of the other two options!
......Now, what have we at RMES been up to?
Bagpipes and Kisses? You may wonder what bagpipes have to do with GOTR. Well, the weather was quite warm last Friday and the girls were a bit sluggish, they needed something different to motivate them as we talked about, "Standing Up for Yourself". Our creative team of coaches came up with the perfect motivator. Coach Bill fired up the bagpipes, while the girls started their combination warm-up and workout routine. That sure got their attention and the after-school program kids enjoyed it as well!
Coach Bill led the girls through a series of running drills which the girls had to complete before Coach Bill stopped playing the bagpipes. Of course, this caused the girls to plead with Coach Bill to tell them how long the next song would be, so they knew how much longer they had to run. Not so fast girls, there were drills that also focused on key assertive phrases to use when standing up for yourself. The girls ran up hills and down hills (small hills) and then on the field and off to Coach Tanya and Coach Connie, where they were rewarded with: Hersheys Kisses and dark chocolate mini-bars. Who knew that chocolate could motivate the girls to tackle those hills again and again ?
The girls learned the assertive phrases, ate chocolate and had fun.
Water, Water, Water -The warm weather is finally here and warm weather and running, means more water. As race day gets closer and closer, the girls will spend more time running laps and preparing for their Practice 5K. Please make sure the girls come to GOTR with full water bottles. It is important that the girls stay hydrated and healthy.
And the Winner Is....... Don't forget to encourage your daughters to submit an entry in the Secret Essay Contest. Even if the girls are not selected, it is a good exercise for the girls to write about how GOTR has made them fearless. The deadline is for the contest is Friday, May 1.
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