Seeing is Believing

As many of my friends know, Girls on the Run is in it's inaugural year here in Austin. We have 8 girls currently in the program, and yesterday I had the opportunity to go out to the school and participate in the lesson. And it was a privilege to meet these amazing girls and see them in action.

The theme for the lesson was Collaboration: what it means, why it is important, where you can use it, etc. The lesson started with a brief discussion where each girl could express their ideas of what collaboration means, give examples, and then there was a group exercise where they could put collaboration into action. The girls then did their warmup exercise, which was a version of pictionary. One girl would run 50 yards to hear a clue given by a coach, then run back to their team and draw a picture. Seeing them work together and value each other's input was really inspiring.

The last part of the lesson was the actual workout: collaborate to run 6 laps as a team. Clearly, there are some girls who like to run, and others who find excuses to walk or stop & tie their shoes. But apparently, there was a breakthrough moment for one of the girls, and it was so special that I got to see it. The slowest girl happened to finish her 6th lap in FRONT of one of the fastest girls. But because the lesson was about collaboration & finishing together, she then ran alongside the last girl, making it her 7th lap, encouraging the other girl along the way. This amazing girl won the spirit award for the day and everyone sang her a song. And she LOVED it!

Each girl is so unique with their own adorable personality, and their own sweet nickname. They even gave ME a nickname, which they had decided on before I even got there, as their way of welcoming me into the group.

The evening was topped off with a Fundraiser/Happy Hour organized by my friend, fellow GOTR board member (and outstanding triathlete) Maggie Caldwell. Turnout was lower than anticipated, but we still raised over $300. And our door prizes were won mostly by my friends (yay). TimS's was valued at around $75, Panther's was valued at around $150, and Glenda's was valued at near $225!

I have never believed in this program more, and I am so lucky to be a part of it!