October 2011 - Women's Cross Country and Girls On The Run
By Matt Oatway, Jaeger Civic Intern
The Women's Cross Country team keeps up a lot of valuable traditions, but none of them are as important to the Upper Valley as their commitment to Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is a national organization that seeks to encourage positive self image and healthy habits for girls grades 3-8. The Dartmouth Women Cross Country team runs in the Vermont chapter of the organization and are responsible for local elementary and middle schools
During the spring term, the team meets with the girls twice a week for practices, where they do track workouts, play . To encourage hard work at practice, the girls receive bracelets for each lap they run during practice. In addition to running during each practice, the team plays athletic games with the girls that encourage developing positive self-image, making good decisions, and the importance of making goals. The season ends in a culminating 5k run, where girls from all of the programs in Vermont come together to test their newfound fitness and celebrate their accomplishments. In order to keep the mood lighthearted and fun, the culminating 5k race includes some quirky additions such as colored hair dye, bracelets, and music.
According to Chrissy Supino '12, the program is incredibly helpful to the girls and rewarding for the team; “The kids are really amazing and great, and the 5k is the most incredible thing that I've done at Dartmouth”. Sharing their athletic abilities is a great way for the team to positively impact the lives of girls in the local elementary and middle schools. Many of the girls set their own goals, and some of the Dartmouth runners work with the girls individually to help them reach their goals. Chrissy Supino '12 recalls meeting every day for the week leading up to the race with her mentee to help her reach her goals and then eventually pacing her during the 5k race.
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