SELINSGROVE — For the first time ever, this season’s Girls on the Run 5K race will be held on Sunday afternoon. Girls on the Run of the Greater Susquehanna Valley is hosting the race at Susquehanna University.
Shannon Butters is race director and talks about the unique race for Girls on the Run participants and the general public, “It’s not a competitive race. It’s really a celebration of all of the hard work that they’ve put in for the last nine or ten weeks in the program. Just getting them there and experiencing that with them and seeing the anticipation on their face at the start line and celebrating with them at the finish really makes it different.”
She says there will be plenty of fun activities for the girls at the pre-race expo beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the indoor track at Susquehanna University, “They are going to get the opportunity to play around in a happy hair station and to bling out their bibs with some really fun stickers and gem stones. They will get to make fun posters inspiring other girls to run and thanking their families for supporting them along the way. There will be lots of fun things to keep them entertained before the race.”
The race will then begin at 2 p.m. and the public is encouraged to attend or participate in the 5K. Sydney Schmouder is a 6th grade student at Selinsgrove Middle School, who has participated in Girls on the Run since 3rd grade, “The Girls on the Run 5K race is just so much fun. When you are done with it, everybody is just so supportive, while you are running, when you are done and before you are running. It’s just so great to see everyone supporting you.”
Cassidy Kibler of Selinsgrove talks about the Girls on the Run program, “It’s really fun because we get to interact with the girls. Also, I really enjoy the running part of it. Running is really fun. All of the girls there are super nice and super supportive. As you pass them they will be cheering you on, like saying go girls! It’s really awesome.”
To participate in the Girls on the Run 5K race, you can register at the race expo beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the indoor track at Susquehanna University. Almost 400 girls participated in Girls on the Run this season from more than 25 schools in six area counties. (Ali Stevens)
