Metro Atlanta Races: February 9-10

Check out the races taking place around metro Atlanta this weekend. Lace up and get moving.

• Owls Making Strides for Breast Cancer Awareness 5K: Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA. Saturday, February 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m.  Proceeds benefit the Play 4 Kay Foundation and the Owls Fund. For more information and to register, click here.

• Hearts and Soles 5K:  Decatur, GA. Saturday, February 9, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. This is an out-and-back course on paved roads and is one of the flattest courses in the Grand Prix Series. For more information and to register, click here.

• Marietta Mardi Gras 5K:  Marietta Town Square, Marietta, GA. Saturday, February 9, 2013, at 8:00 a.m.  Proceeds benefit the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta and its community partners. For more information and to register, click here.

Reminder: We’re looking for runners to join our team for the Georgia Publix Marathon and Half Marathon on March 17, 2013. Save $10 with the code GOTRUN13 and select “Girls on the Run of Atlanta” under Teams. If you’ve already registered and would like to be added to the GOTR Team, just email info@girlsontherunatlanta.org with your name and the email you registered with and we’ll add you to the GOTR Team. All runners will have access to our gear check and pre- and post-race hospitality tent.

If you have a race you’d like to submit to this blog, please email the race information to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

Metro Atlanta Races: January 26-27

Brrr. It’s cold out there on those early morning runs so bundle up! Check out the races taking place around metro Atlanta this weekend. Lace up and get moving.

• Frosty 5K Run: Capitol City Club, Brookhaven, GA. Saturday, January 26, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.  A chip-timed race for the serious runner; walkers and baby strollers also welcome. Proceeds benefit Kindred Spirit, a Christian residential home for pregnant teens in Atlanta. For more information and to register, click here.

• Atlanta Mission 5K:  Atlanta Mission Urban Garden, Atlanta, GA. Saturday, January 26, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. The race to end homelessness. Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Mission, which serves 1,000 homeless women, men and children daily. For more information and to register, click here.

• Polar Bear 5K:  Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, GA. Saturday, January 26, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. The 25th Annual Polar Bear Run has something for everyone – a 2K run/walk, a 5K run, a Cub Dash (ages 2-3) and a Cub Run (ages 4-5).  Proceeds benefit the Johnson Ferry Choirs. For more information and to register, click here.

Reminder: We’re looking for runners to join our team for the Georgia Publix Marathon and Half Marathon on April 17, 2013. Save $10 with the code GOTRUN13 and select “Girls on the Run of Atlanta” under Teams. If you’ve already registered and would like to be added to the GOTR Team, just email info@girlsontherunatlanta.org with your name and the email you registered with and we’ll add you to the GOTR Team. All runners will have access to our gear check and pre- and post-race hospitality tent.

If you have a race you’d like to submit to this blog, please email the race information to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

Metro Atlanta Races: January 19-21

Happy New Year! Hope your New Year’s Resolutions are still intact and you’re keeping up your workouts. Check out the races taking place around metro Atlanta this weekend. Lace up and get moving! 

• Livvy’s Love Fun Run/Walk: Stone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain, GA. Saturday, January 19, 2013, at 8:00 a.m.  5K and 8K options, Zumba, and Kidz Ultimate Challenge. Proceeds benefit the  Livvy’s Love, Inc. Foundation activities and projects. For more information and to register, click here.

• MLK Day 5K:  Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA. Monday, January 21, 2013, at 7:45 a.m. $5 of each registration from an approved organization (such as Girls on the Run) will be returned to that organization for use in community efforts of its choice. For more information, click here.

Reminder: We’re looking for runners to join our team for the Georgia Publix Marathon and Half Marathon on April 17, 2013. Save $10 with the code GOTRUN13 and select “Girls on the Run of Atlanta” under Teams. If you’ve already registered and would like to be added to the GOTR Team, just email info@girlsontherunatlanta.org with your name and the email you registered with and we’ll add you to the GOTR Team. All runners will have access to our gear check and pre- and post-race hospitality tent.

If you have a race you’d like to submit to this blog, please email the race information to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

Metro Atlanta Races: January 12-13

Happy New Year! Hope your New Year’s Resolutions are still intact and you’re keeping up your workouts. Check out the races taking place around metro Atlanta this weekend. Lace up and get moving! 

• Run With the Dogs 5K: Decatur High School, Decatur, GA. Saturday, January 12, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.  Runners are invited to run with their dogs. Proceeds benefit the Decatur Bulldog Boosters to help fund the sports programs at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School. For more information and to register, click here.

• Hot Chocolate 15K/5K:  Turner Field, Atlanta, GA. Sunday, January 13, 2012, at 7:45 a.m. America’s Sweetest Race. For more information, click here.

Reminder: We’re looking for runners to join our team for the Georgia Publix Marathon and Half Marathon on April 17, 2013. Save $10 with the code GOTRUN13 and select “Girls on the Run of Atlanta” under Teams. And if you’ve already registered and would like to be added to the GOTR Team, just email info@girlsontherunatlanta.org with your name and the email you registered with and we’ll add you to the GOTR Team. All runners will have access to our gear check and pre- and post-race hospitality tent.

If you have a race you’d like to submit to this blog, please email the race information to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

Price Increase for the Georgia Marathon: Register Now

Are you already training and ready to set a PR in the new year or are you making your resolution list as we speak and “half marathon” is on the top of the list? Whatever your motivation, now is the time to register for the Georgia Publix Marathon and Half Marathon on March 17, 2013. Use the code GOTRUN13 and save $10. Price increase at midnight tonight…

Also, be sure to join the Girls on the Run Atlanta team – no additional cost – for runner perks like gear check and access to our hospitality tent. Simply choose “Girls on the Run of Atlanta” under “Teams” when you register.

2012 Georgia Publix Marathon – GOTR Coaches

Thanks for supporting Girls on the Run of Atlanta. Wishing you the best with your new year running resolutions!

REGISTER

2012 Georgia Publix Marathon – post race celebration

Metro Atlanta Races: December 21-22

Wishing you Happy Holidays! Hope you’ll keep up your running during the Holidays. Check out the races taking place around metro Atlanta this weekend. Lace up and get moving! 

• Atlanta Christmas 5K Run/Walk: Virginia Highland, Atlanta, GA. Saturday, December 22, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.  Santa Hats to all participants. A portion of the proceeds will benefit charitable causes in immediate neighborhood. For more information and to register, click here.

• End of the World 5K: Jim Miller Park, Marietta, GA. Friday, December 21, 2012, at 8:30 p.m. The Mayans have predicted the world to end on December 21, 2012. True? As runners, we could care less because we’ll be doing what we love – running with friends. The organizers of the race said, “With the theme of the race we like to joke about the End of the World, but when it comes to situations that the kids that find themselves prior to assistance at The Center for Children & Young Adults, it must truly feel like the world is ending. We are excited about helping this organization continue the very important work they do.”  For more information and to register, click here.

If you have a race you’d like to submit to this blog, please email the race information to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

Metro Atlanta Races: December 15-16

More fun Jingle Jogs this weekend. You’ve been waiting for the weather to turn cool so you can don your running pants and gloves – just add some jingle bells and you’re all set. Check out the races taking place around metro Atlanta this weekend. Lace up and get moving! 

• The Black and Blue Christmas 5K and Obstacle Course: Hard Knox Gym, Kennesaw, GA. Sunday, December 16, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.  Bring an unwrapped toy as part of your registration fee and help Toys for Tots provide needy children with toys this Christmas! For more information and to register, click here.

• Jingle Jog for Jimmy: North Gwinnett Church, Suwanee, GA. Sunday, December 16, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the family of Jimmy Price who lost his life tragically in September leaving behind two young boys and his wife. For more information and to register, click here.

• Peachtree Corners Christmas Run 10K and 5K Run/Walk: Peachtree Corners, GA. Saturday, December 15, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. Costume Contest. Hot Chocolate. Pictures with Santa. Bring a toy for “Toy for Tots” & get a raffle ticket for each toy donated. Proceeds benefit  Simpsonwood UMC. For more information and to register, click here.

If you have a race you’d like to submit to this blog, please email the race information to info@girlsontherunatlanta.org.

‘Tis the Season for Giving: Georgia Gives Day

With Thanksgiving behind us and the winter holidays quickly approaching, it can be easy to lose sight of what is truly important. Thankfully, however, even with all the hustle and hype of the holidays, many utilize the season as a means to give and help others. Keeping the spirit of giving alive, Georgia Gives Day encourages all Georgians to give back to their nonprofit communities this Thursday, December 6, and welcomes any and all donations. “Whether you have $10 or $10,000 to give, it all adds up to greater impact on the issues that support and enrich our lives and make our local communities thrive,” says the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

Girls on the Run of Atlanta is among the non-profit organizations participating in Georgia Gives Day. Wondering how your donation would help  Girls on the Run participants? $25 provides race registration for one girl; $55 provides a girl with running shoes; $100 trains one new volunteer coach; and $3,000 sponsors an entire team of 15 girls! Visit here to donate and  learn more about how your donation will help GOTR. We at Girls on the Run of Atlanta thank you for your support and for helping us to fulfill our mission to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Happy Holidays!

“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” — Dr. Ben Carson

Article and images by Darlene Vincent, Girls on the Run Atlanta’s fall intern from Georgia Gwinnett College

Hitting the Trails: Bunten Road Park

Guest Blogger Darlene Vincent, Girls on the Run of Atlanta intern and runner

Located in Gwinnett, the beautiful Bunten Road Park offers a 1.08 mile asphalt trail that is shared by joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists. The spacious path encircles the park’s amenities and alternates between a shaded and open atmosphere. As the majority of the trail is not confined to the woods, your run can be started from many points along the path.

While some parts of the path wind through the woods, much of the trail runs along the park’s well-kept baseball, softball, soccer, and tennis venues. Depending on the day, you will likely jog alongside lively games, matches, and practices. Throughout the paved path you’ll also pass the park’s playgrounds and recreation center.

In addition to the main path, the park contains wooded nature trails which double as soft surface paths. The entrances to the nature trails are conveniently marked by signs, and numerous benches line the shaded paths if you want to rest or wish to enjoy the serene scenery. The family-friendly Duluth park provides free parking, offers a variety of activities, and is located off Bunten Road.

Happy running!

Photography by Darlene Vincent

Stellar Coaches Spotlight

The Girls on the Run program would not be possible without our amazing volunteer coaches. They are the heart and soul of our program, the ones in the field implementing the program and the curriculum.  Thank you coaches!

Meet two of them now!

Coach Kat

Seasons with GOTR: 3

Why did you become a GOTR coach? “I first learned about Girls on the Run online and wanted to know more about it. Then, at a St. Patrick’s Day 5k/10K in Atlanta I visited GOTR’s expo booth before the race and got information there. I volunteered with GOTR first, then started coaching.”

What are some of your favorite moments from your GOTR coaching career? “Reading the emails the girls’ parents send after the program. Also, I coached a girl named Kathryn, and during the celebration she shared that she used to hate running but now she and her mom run together and love it.”

What have you learned from the girls/GOTR? “SBLR. Also, through the lessons I was reminded about the issues girls deal with, such as gossip, and how important it is to address these issues.”

Coach Janelle

Seasons with GOTR: 3

Why did you become a GOTR coach? “I learned about it from Taylor on 104.7 The Fish. I wanted to be a coach for my older daughter, Trinity, but she was too old. Another mom started coaching in spring 2011, and I started in the fall with my younger daughter, Rilyn. Trinity has done two of the GOTR 5K races, though.”

What are some of your favorite moments from your GOTR coaching career? “When the girls discuss what they believe is bullying and hurtful, and when I can witness the positive messages register during lessons.”

What have you learned from the girls/GOTR? “I need to think before I speak; I need to apply the lessons I teach my daughter and other GOTR girls to my life.”

THANK YOU to our coaches for being positive role models to the Girls on the Run girls. If you would like to become a coach, click here to learn more or attend one of our upcoming info meetings. We are looking for coaches for our upcoming spring programs. Coach trainings are in January and the spring program kicks off in February with the end-of-season 5K in late April.