Run Like a Girl

To kick off my “40 in 40” series – forty life-changing running excursions during my 40th year – I can think of no better pick for my first run than this:

Running with elementary schoolchildren.

In my new gig as a Coach for the nationally-renowned after-school program “Girls on the Run,” I had the pleasure this week of running with a group of 4th graders. Let me warn you, as a professional woman with no children, I believe the last time I actually ran with a group of 4th graders was, well, when I was in the 4th grade. (insert laughter here). But no matter.

Girls on the Run is a fantastic program that teaches inner-city girls self-esteem. The idea of the program is that as you’re coaching the girls to participate in their first 5K, you’re also teaching them healthy values and what it means to have confidence as young women.

Now, if you haven’t run with schoolchildren lately, let me tell you: They are fast. Especially when you encourage them with a good old-fashioned, “On your mark, Get set,…Go!” (clearly a huge mistake on my part). During my first day of practice, not only was I left breathless trying to keep up with them, but I was apparently breaking all of the rules. You see, I didn’t know that as the Coach you aren’t supposed to actually run with them as part of the pack; you are supposed to sit on the sidelines and count their laps as they ‘round the park.

Wait a minute… Sit on the sidelines? Doesn’t that go against the very principles of the program?

Besides, sit on the sidelines? Moi? I mean, have we met?

After some discussion with my co-Coaches, we decided that from here on out, we shall change the rules. Now whenever possible, one of the Coaches will always run with the girls. For safety. Austerity. Solidarity. I could tell from their looks that most of the time, that person is going to be me. Hey, no sweat…

I’m only two sessions in, but I can’t wait to discover more about these young ladies. Already, I see their personalities emerging, including a shy girl who after finishing first in her age group began to walk taller, with a more positive body language and with a smile on her face. I see the personalities of the other girls, who have already learned our names and have no hesitation whatsoever asking me if I can throw their (used) tissues away. Sure, why not, I’ve already had the flu anyway.

As I think about the season ahead, I think about what it means to be a confident girl, and whether I myself am living up to that (some days, yes; some days, no). I also picture what each of these young ladies will be like when she’s older. It’s a thought that makes me smile. Even after a short time, I already feel vested in their success. I can only imagine it must be how our parents feel, or how God feels when he gives each and every one of us a hand in life.

Above all, the course makes me have an appreciation for the unique sisterhood we all share as women, including my co-Coaches (one busy and very pregnant attorney, one Department of Education policy wonk, and myself) who all leave our day jobs early twice a week just to make it to the schoolyard in time so the schoolgirls aren’t waiting there alone.

With this post, I want to pay tribute to all of the grown-up “girls” out there doing it every day with confidence: the moms, the career chicks, and my favourite category of all, the women leaders in this world. Lest we forget, even the most powerful women in the world were all 4th graders on a playground once. Oh sure, it was all simpler then. Yet it’s still simple now… if we want it to be. In fact, it's so simple that a good old-fashioned run around the playground can bring sanity to a very busy world. And it can put you firmly back in good company – even if the average height of that company is approximately 4 feet tall.

For all of the above reasons, I am proud this week and every week in this 40th year, to Run like a girl!