You go, girls!

Warm weather and camaraderie during a 5k in Des Moines Sunday capped 8-weeks of training for local girls who participated in Creston’s third season of Girls on the Run.

Girls on the Run is a social and fitness program that focuses on helping young adolescent girls navigate emotions, resolve conflict and building self-esteem.

The event was the first of its kind for many of the runners, walkers and joggers, ages 8 to 11, that took part. More than 500 people from across central Iowa participated. Creston coaches are Taylor Linch and Abigail Bakerink, with Maddie Skarda and Kelsey Donner assisting this season. Creston High School cross country coach Maggie Arnold supported the program by pairing her team members with the young runners for a practice 5K at the high school.

“Girls on the run developed knowing there is a need for a team supportive atmosphere for girls especially in this age group,” said Christa Vander Leest, Girls on the Run Director. “Studies have found that girls’ self esteem peaks at age nine, so we are trying to capture those girls right before, right during and maybe slightly after and really equipping them with tools that can help navigate their adolescent years so that they’re going to feel supported and empowered.”

Vander Leest said Girls on the Run is so much more than a running program. Aside from training to develop the physical fitness requires to sustain themselves through a 5K event, Linch said the program curriculum involves helping girls navigate social and emotional growth.

Linch, now in her third year with Girls on the Run, said she was interested in coaching the program not only because she is marathoner, but she went to school for child, adult and family services.

“So to pair the two together, what could be any better? Especially with that age group. It’s a crucial time to build their self confidence and everything they are going through,” Linch said.

Of the girls that have participated in the program, Linch said she notices substantial change in a matter of weeks in each participant. A different topic – such as negative self-talk, gossip and how to be a good friend – are infused into the fitness program’s curriculum each week. In each of the 75 minute biweekly practices, coaches and participants discuss and put the the topics in to practice, as well.

“I’m honestly surprised at how much they take away. Part of the curriculum prompts us to ask them, ‘What are you favorite moments? What are your takeaways? What are you going to take with you moving forward?’ and they just retain everything so well. Getting to see them utilize it in real time with their friends there around them, ... we actually get to see it happen in real time in practice.”

Harper Wilson, 8, is a first time Girls on the Run participant.

“I thought it was very, very fun,” she said. “It really helped me with how I interact with people and how I act in general,” she said.

Wilson said she loves to run. She said her favorite part of the program was running the Afton Autumn Days 5K with her father Kyle Wilson and selecting her mother Stormy Wilson as her running buddy at her final event in Des Moines.

I thought it was just so exciting at the end,” said Harper. “The water bottles we got at the end color changed.”

Rogan Merritt, 9, said her favorite part of Girls on the Run was meeting new people and learning about giving others “Star Power.” The purpose of giving star power is to help others feel better about themselves and encourage them to keep trying.

“Whenever you’re walking around and see someone who’s down, you think of it as a cloud covering their star,” Merritt said. “It feels good to help others feel good.”

Merritt said Girls on the Run teaches life lessons to help one “be a better person.”

“It’s really a joy to be in Girls on the Run,” said Wilson. “It helps you in friendship and it also helps you have new friendships.”