Building young girls self-esteem in Palm Beach County

Have you heard about Girls on the Run Palm Beach County? The innovative program provides girls, from third through eighth grade, with character development lessons while training them to run a 5K.

The secret, Director Lynn Martin, says is to keep the running fun so that the girls don't even know they are in training.

The county council, part of a national program with over 200 local affiliates, operates out of at least 12 public schools and four community centers in Palm Beach County.


The 24-week program is divided into three monthly segments of eight lessons each, Martin says.

Get to know self, first

During the first month, the girls get to know themselves. Too often, Martin says, girls don't know who they are before they are pressured to have sex.

The second month focuses on the girls getting to know each other, where lessons on peer pressure and bullying come in at the end of the month. The program teaches the girls, when faced with decisions about stealing a small birthday present or being pressured to start smoking, to use the SBLR method.

SBLR stands for Stop, Breathe, Listen and Respond. Using that method, gives them time to develop answers, such as "That wouldn't be fair," when asked to steal a birthday present.

During the third month, the girls work on their role in the community through collaborative leadership. They also develop a community project, such as picking up trash for a few hours or volunteering to wash dogs at a local shelter. "Anything they want to do and that can be done in a few hours," Martin says.

Each lesson incorporates a running game so that the girls are in training the whole time, she says, and don't realize it. She hopes they learn, "They can achieve a goal if they put their minds to it and have fun."

Obstacle course

Last year's water obstacle at the first Rugged Runner
Challenge in Dreher Park (photo provided)

They wanted to host a 5K run as a money-raiser, but also wanted to differentiate themselves from the pack of runs that are held every weekend in Palm Beach County. The group will host its second Rugged Runner Challenge on Saturday, April 7, in Dreher Park, West Palm Beach.

"If you want to run  in an obstacle race, you have to go down to Fort Lauderdale or Miami or drive over to Tampa," Martin says. Plus, those type of races are the latest rage in the running world.

The group also will host its first Fashion ForeRunners Luncheon on Saturday, March 23 at Nick and Johnnie's restaurant in Palm Beach. The $50 "Bites and Sights" event benefits the local Girls on the Run chapter.

The chapter is interested in adding more public schools as an after-care activity. If you want to start one at your school, details are here.

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Saturday, March 9, 2013, when I walked:

Steps: 11,601
Miles: 5.8