Volunteer - Weeks 4 & 5

Volunteer Weeks 4 & 5

I missed my blog last week.  I’ve been thinking a lot about writing a book about a life-changing experience I had at age 16.  In my head, the words move smoothly.  The emotion, the pain, the reality, the after-math are all in place.  Yet when I sit down to write, the words don’t find their way to the paper.  They are just phrases, incomplete thoughts.

I reflect back to weeks four and five with Girls on the Run.  Some girls are going strong.  They will be ready for the 5k at the end of April.  Others are still moving around the track to move.  But that is the beauty of GOTR – they don’t have to run to be successful.  They just have to cross the finish line.

In week four, we played a game where the girls had to work as a team.  In an instant, they were cheering each other on and finding ways for the team to complete the game.  This is one of the reasons I love this program.  This is the type of lesson you can’t teach in a classroom.  This game also inspired the girls to work as a team while running.  The girls were encouraging each other on each lap and helping each other when some didn’t think they could make it.  It was a good week.

In week five, we had rain.  While the rain stopped after the lesson on peer pressure, the track had new dirt, which equaled new mud.  So, we moved to the playground area and ran around 4 posts.  It was a good back-up plan but not very challenging for the girls.  Most had a hard time moving with a purpose.  It brought me back to my book.  How do I get the words out of my head?  How do I help the girls out of their comfort zone?  The girls are just moving … no purpose, incomplete laps, not finding their way to the finish line. 

We get out of our comfort zones and it’s hard to find our way.  Hopefully on Thursday the weather will be good and the girls can return to the track.  The run will be smooth and will flow around and around.  The finish line will get crossed.  Maybe on Thursday, I’ll find words on my paper also.

Volunteer - Week 3

Volunteer – Week 3

I am more impressed with Girls on the Run (GOTR) each week.  I only wish I could participate twice a week instead of once a week.  This past week, I saw two of my girls outside of GOTR.  They are both so sweet and came up and said Hi to me.  I think this is when you really realize the impact of your volunteer work.  That it is more than just a running club.  You are really reaching these young girls and giving them the tools to deal with the many curve balls life will throw at them.  

Last week’s lesson was on stress and ways to relieve stress.  I liked the introduction of the topic.  I think it fit well for the age group.  We all discussed how we would feel if we didn’t have a chance to take a break.  Would our heads explode?  I know some days I do feel as though my head will explode!!  Running is my therapy.  It’s my escape.  It’s a healthy escape.  So, after warm-ups, we focused on running individually.  Taking the time with each lap to think and let our minds wander.  

In today’s technologically savvy world, we often do not take the time to let our mind wander.  The iPhone is dinging with every text, email, or Facebook message.  When do we have a moment to just smile or laugh?  These are luxuries or burdens I didn’t have as a child.  I didn’t have these interruptions.  It’s easy for me to sit back and think ... to turn the phone off because after all, I didn’t grow up with it attached to my hip.  But our GOTR girls don’t really know life moves on without the dings for this and that.  Life seems too quiet without the iPod playing your favorite song.  

So, here we go around the track.  Lap by lap.  Quietly looking at each other wondering how long each can last without stopping to talk to a friend.  I’m fairly impressed.  For the most part, the majority of the girls are going around the track on their own.  They get a word or two in when they stop for water.  

As I am running my laps, I notice how improved the girls are from the previous week.  You still have some that have not found their inner runner.  But as a long time runner, I know it takes time to find the inner runner in yourself.  And for those that have found their inner runner ... well, let’s just say, taking laps around the track on their own only propelled them to run smoother, cleaner, and faster.  After all, when the noise isn’t crowding your head and you can let your mind wander, there is nothing to slow you down.

At the end of the 12 weeks, I hope each girl finds the inner runner in them.  And I hope each learns how to let their mind wander.