On Sunday, Nov. 22, more than 100 local students from 8 Alexandria schools will complete the Girls on the Run 5K presented by Innovation Health. The event is the culmination of a 10-week youth development program designed to help pre-adolescent girls gain important life skills.
The Girls on the Run program is delivered to girls in 3rd - 8th grade by trained volunteer coaches who offer lessons on positive self-talk, healthy friendships, nutrition, gratitude, and more. Girls on the Run integrates a proven curriculum with physical exercise, helping girls to develop the confidence and character they need to become strong, healthy women.
Teams from Blessed Sacrament, Burgundy Farm Country Day, Matthew Maury, Samuel Tucker, Douglas MacArthur, Francis C Hammond, James K Polk, and Lyles-Crouch Schools will complete the Girls on the Run 5K.
The 5K weekend will also be the organization’s first ever Homecoming, celebrating Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia’s 15th anniversary and the milestone of more than 50,000 girls served. In keeping with the Homecoming theme, all program alumni are invited to participate at a reduced rate and there will be special recognition for Volunteer Coaches who have led teams for ten seasons or more.
The public is invited to share in this celebration, whether running alongside the girls, volunteering, or simply coming out to cheer. Two 5K runs will be offered over one weekend: Saturday, Nov. 21 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge and Sunday, Nov. 22 in Rosslyn. Registration is available online atwww.gotrnova.org/.
Innovation Health provides health benefit plans to more than 170,000 members. The product of an Aetna and Inova Health System partnership, Innovation Health began offering health benefit plans in October of 2013 as a new way to deliver and finance more affordable, quality healthcare for employers and individuals in Northern Virginia.