President Anne Race Ambassador for Girls on the Run 5K
A 5K run especially for girls – plus their moms, dads, brothers and others passionate for running – will weave through Fargo’s Lindenwood Park on May 14. Avid runner President Anne Blackhurst is the event’s ambassador and will kick off the morning.
This public event is sponsored by the local nonprofit organization Girls on The Run Cass County, and will provide medals and technical t-shirts to all runners. The 5K starts at 9 a.m. at the main shelter within Lindenwood Park. It follows a paved path and weaves 3.1 miles through trees, alongside the river and across green spaces.
The noncompetitive event is open to the public and people of all ages. “It’s a great introduction to running a 5K for people of all ages, particularly young people and new runners because of the family-friendly atmosphere and beautiful off-street setting,” says race coordinator JoEllen Kohlman-Petrick, Girls On the Run Cass County Council Director.
Happy Hair styling booth and face painting will begin at 8 a.m. Young women from the Gamma Phi sororities from MSUM and the University of North Dakota volunteer as run staff and cheer along the route.
Girls on the Run is a physical activity based positive youth development program that prepares third to eighth grade girls for a 5K event, along with helping them develop key life skills. Its nationally-tested curriculum and volunteer-led teams meet twice a week to run, foster the girls’ confidence, help them build connections with their peers and encourage meaningful contribution to their community through a service project.
Learn more or register for the run at gotrfargo.org. Packet pickup will be from 5 to 7 p.m. the evening before the race at Dakota Medical Foundation, 4141 28th Ave. S., Fargo, or from 8 to 9 a.m. at the race headquarters at Lindenwood.
For more information about the event, how to register and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gotrfargo.org, or contact JoEllen Kohlman-Petrick at 701-388-7866 or joellen.kohlmanpetrick@girlsontherun.org.
About Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for 3rd-8th grade girls that has served over one million girls across the country. Participants develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care, create positive connections with peers and adults and make a meaningful contribution to community and society. Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches that guide and mentor the girls. The 10-week program concludes with all participants completing a celebratory 5k event which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.