Sign up for Girls On The Run

Friday, February 15, 2013

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Molly Barker, a four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete and founder of Girls On The Run International, was a guest at Bedford's GOTR fundraiser in October. Shown, from left, are Gabby DeAngelis, Lily Kollmorgen, Molly Barker, Emma Beck, coach Judy Kollmorgen and Marissa Johnson.

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Coach Judy Kollmorgen is all smiles after Girls On The Run participants stuck stickers on her each time they completed a lap on the track at McKelvie Schoo last yearl. The coach seems to have as much fun as the girls.

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Bedford Girls On The Run at the finish line during the team's November 5K. Every girl wears a special number, Number One. The team includes, from left, Coach Caitlin, Emma Beck, Hannah Cronin, Coach Tammy, Emily Zirkelbach, Lily Kollmorgen, Coach Judy, Gabby DeAngelis, Lindsay Butts, Annie Carr, Molly Stevenson, Marissa Johnson, Hannah White, Katherine Violette and Quinn Paltrow-McCole.

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Girls On The Run after a practice at last year's event that included, from left, Quinn McCole-Paltrow, fifth grade; Hannah White, fifth grade; Katherine Violette, fifth grade; Gabby DeAngelis, fifth grade; Marlee Gallin, third grade; Molly Stevenson, fouth grade; Hannah Cronin, fifth grade; Lindsay Butts, third grade; Emily Zirkelbach, fifth grade; Marissa Johnson, third grade; Coach Judy Kollmorgen; Lily Kollmorgen, fifth grade; Emma Beck, third grade; Annie Carr, fifth grade; Elle Armstead, fourth grade; and Camryn Justic, fifth grade.

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Girls On The Run teammates do some stretching exercises at practice. From left, are Molly Stevenson, fourth grade; Lindsay Butts, third grade; Lily Kollmorgen, fifth grade; Katherine Violette, fifth grade; Annie Carr, fifth grade; Emma Beck, third grade; Marissa Johnson, third grade; Marlee Gallin, third grade; Camryn Justic, fifth grade; Elle Armstead, fourth grade; Gabby DeAngelis, fifth grade; Emily Zirkelbach, fifth grade; Coach Caitlin; Hannah Cronin, fifth grade; Hannah White, fifth grade; and Quinn McCole-Paltrow, fifth grade.

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Molly Barker, a four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete and founder of Girls On The Run International, was a guest at Bedford's GOTR fundraiser in October. Shown, from left, are Gabby DeAngelis, Lily Kollmorgen, Molly Barker, Emma Beck, coach Judy Kollmorgen and Marissa Johnson.

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Two sessions of fun and physicality for Bedford girls in grades 3-5 are fast approaching. Online registration for this year’s Girls on the Run program began Feb. 12.

The Girls on the Run program combines fitness training and education focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There is a goal of running a distance of 3.1 miles, a 5K run. Other activities promote the building of self-confidence. Registration can be made online at girlsontherunnh.org.

The GOTR of New Hampshire, headquartered in Exeter, is a part of GOTR International. The nonprofit organization has 208 councils, similar to New Hampshire’s, in 47 states. The GOTR International organization, based in Charlotte, N.C., was founded in 1996 by Molly Barker, a four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete, who aimed to empower young girls through exercise, running and promoting confidence, healthy living and self-awareness.

Organization statistics from GOTR record service in 2012 to 120,574 girls, with the help of 52,254 volunteers.

Sign-ups for GOTR’s two upcoming sessions in Bedford are expected to draw 30 girls. There is a fee of $129 per girl. The sessions will be held at McKelvie Intermediate School, 108 Liberty Hill Road, and Higgins Track. Bedford Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor the program by providing access to the track. Fees go directly to GOTR.

The GOTR’s Spring Session in Bedford is comprised of two programs. The Spring Session Team B takes place 3:30-4:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, March 20-June 5. The Spring Session Team A meets 3:30-4:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 26-June 6.

The instructor for Team A is Bedford’s Judy Kollmorgen. Fellow Bedford resident Lisa Nash will instruct Team B. Both are fitness-minded women who enjoy helping young people achieve fitness goals and personal growth, they said.

Kollmorgen is an avid runner who has participated in many regional road races. Her daughter, Lily, was a participant in last year’s program. Lily plans to join this year. Kollmorgen said she and a frequent running partner, Tammy Harrison, came up with the idea to bring an enrichment program based on running to girls in Bedford.

The pair researched various options, searched the Internet and discovered the GOTR program. Kollmorgen said she and Harrison “got the ball rolling” with last year’s debut.

She said, “it’s about building a community of strong girls.”

“It’s a program that inspires health and confidence in girls, through running,” Kollmorgen said. “It’s designed to inspire girls to be healthy and joyful. We do that through running.”

According to its website, GOTR provides participants a valuable avenue to recognize the strength and beauty of their bodies. The program is said to help girls to “honor their voices, recognize their gifts and activate their personal power.”

The initial GOTR program in Bedford was enjoyed by students from McKelvie Intermediate School, Memorial Elementary School and Riddle Brook Elementary School.

The previous program’s participants included third-graders Marissa Johnson, Marlee Gallin and Lindsay Butts. A number of fourth-graders, including Molly Stevenson and Elle Armstead took to the track. Fifth graders Katherine Violette, Gabby DeAngelis, Hanna Cronin and Annie Carr picked up the pace. The 5K race was a fine grand finale to the program.

Each of the girls in the 5K race wore a race bib with a number. For all of them, the number was “Number One.”

To register for GOTR New Hampshire’s two-session event at McKelvie Intermediate School and Higgins Track, visit www.girlsontherunnh.org.