Day One!

Today was our first day of Girls on Track, the name for Girls on the Run at the middle school level, at Hastings Middle School! I was definitely nervous before we started because I had no idea what to expect from the girls or how good Bethany and I would be at coaching. We started with an introduction to Girls on the Run and then started with our "Getting on Board" activity, which is how all of the lessons start. We went around in a circle and said our first names and then what animal we were that started with the same letter as our first name. Each girl had to say the names and animals of the girls before her. I was Johanna Jaguar, and so on. It was a great way to memorize names and break the ice a little.

We then went outside (we started in a classroom) to begin the "Warm-Up". Most of the girls were talking and laughing but I noticed one or two that were a little more quiet, so I hoped by the end of the day I could get them talking a little more. For the warm-up, Bethany and I set up two cones 30 yards away from the girls. Bethany would say things like, "Are you more like a dog or a cat?" and the girls would have to run to the cones that represented those animals. This was a good way for the girls to loosen up and express themselves at the same time.

By the time we started the "Workout", I already felt a million times more comfortable with the girls. I handed out an interview paper to each of them that had questions on it to ask the other girls around them as they ran. We ran two laps around the paved path where we practice, and even in that short time I learned a lot about each of the girls. It was a lot of fun and I feel like the girls got to know each other better.

We went back inside with about 10 minutes left and asked the girls what their thoughts were on Day 1. We gave them a few reminders and a snack for the road. I would say Day 1 was a success and I hope I can continue to get to know the girls and they can continue to grow!