Girls on the Run Kalamazoo celebrates 20th anniversary after COVID-19 hiatus – MLive.com

May 21, 2022

KALAMAZOO, MI Elementary schoolers in Kalamazoo took to the trails surrounding Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Saturday for the annual 20th annual Girls on the Run 5K.

Girls on the Run of Greater Kalamazoo is a youth development program focused on instilling womens empowerment in young girls. The annual 5K is the culmination of a coaching program for girls in elementary schools across the Kalamazoo area.

As girls go through adolescence, it gets really tricky and sometimes you start to go under peer pressure, and listen to voices that maybe arent the best for you, said Melisa Beeson, executive director of Girls on the Run Kalamazoo. We give them the life skills so they can be confident and strong in their decisions and stick to themselves so they can be their best selves.

The regular program was postponed for two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the 5K was canceled entirely while in 2021, participants had the option to conduct it virtually or at their respective school.

In the past, the runs started and ended at Waldo Stadium, with the route winding through the Vine neighborhood.

Were really excited that they get to see a different kind of a course than an urban street environment, Beeson said of the KVCC campus in Texas Township. They get to be out in nature and see the birds and flowers and all the trees. Its been a big process but were really excited about it.

State Reps. Christine Morse and Julie Rogers attended the event to commemorate the 20th anniversary celebration. Rogers has coached, ran and volunteered for Girls on the Run in the past.

As soon as I saw that it was the 20th anniversary, I wanted to do a special recognition tribute as a state representative so I was really thrilled to present it and see all the girls out here, Rogers said.

Morses two daughters participated in Girls on the Run in the past.

Kids that have never run before, theyre out here doing it and feeling so good about themselves, Morse said. I just think its a great positive message about you really can do anything if you set your mind to it.

A rain delay pushed back the start time of the race while participants sheltered in the KVCC building or in their cars from lightening. Despite the delay, organizers, participants and families were still eager to participate, Beeson said.

It didnt go quite as planned weather wise but everyone was super flexible and we were able to adapt and adjust and just push the start time back so that we can give the girls the experience theyve been training for for the last eight weeks, Beeson said.

Leading up to the 5K, the girls participate in a program where they learn about managing emotions, building healthy relationships and standing up for yourself and others as well as conduct a community impact project.

We teach them the power of collective action and how they can work together to meet a need and help people in their community, Beeson said.

Beeson was motivated to work with Girls on the Run because of a middle school gym coach who discouraged her from participating in sports because she wasnt athletic.

If I had had Girls on the Run, I would have not listened to her as much, Beeson said. I would have said, You know what, I can still be athletic, I may not be the fastest, I may not make it to the olympic trials but I can still be physically active and do what makes me feel good.

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