Girls on the Run

For those who live locally, the Girls on the Run program of Northeast Florida is a great activity for girls to get some exercise, help to develop good self esteem, and participate in a fun after school program. It’s offered in the fall and the spring each year, held after school at various locations in northeast Florida, including here in Fernandina Beach. Geared toward girls aged 8 to 12, the mission of Girls on the Run is “to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.”

The 5K run began and concluded at the Fernandina Beach High School, with over 450 runners (and walkers) participating in this wonderful event here in our community, for the Northeast Florida chapter of Girls on the Run. As noted above, part of the 5K route went through Egans Greenway from Jasmine Street, a serene, natural setting with grassy running paths.

GREENWAY WONDERFUL FOR RUNNERS, HIKERS, BIKERS ON AMELIA ISLAND

For those not familiar with Egans Greenway, herons, osprey and egrets frequent the Greenway, and delight birdwatchers and photographers alike. Eagles have also been sighted in the Greenway, and flocks of pink Roseate Spoonbills are often there, too.

I actually had a big deer dart out in front of my car from the Greenway, running across Jasmine Street last month, and have previously seen two bobcats. A “raccoon crossing” sign should be posted on Jasmine near the Ocean Sound and Ocean Oaks neighborhood entry area. I regularly see raccoons crossing the street there, and unfortunately, some are hit by cars and killed almost weekly at that spot. There’s no shortage of wildlife living in Egans Greenway, a wonderful area to bird watch, run, hike, or ride a bicycle through, especially in the cooler months of the year. Gators can also be spotted on occasion in the Greenway creek. You’ll see the “Don’t feed the alligators” signage.

MORE ABOUT GIRLS ON THE RUN

For the Jingle Jog event, there was musical entertainment with a live DJ, with food and drinks for the participants. Each girl is assigned a number for the race – all are “number 1”, as it’s a non-competitive race, where the girls are encouraged to do their best and everyone is a winner by participating in the program. A large, enthusiastic crowd of proud relatives and friends were there to cheer the girls on as they ran the last leg of the 5K to the finish line near the spectator stands at Fernandina Beach High School. Every girl received a Girls on the Run T-shirt and a medal.

Here on Amelia Island, Girls on the Run was offered after school at Emma Love Hardee Elementary, Atlantic Elementary, and Yulee Elementary two days a week for about an hour each session, as well as Saturdays at the Fernandina Beach High School. The cost to participate is $85, but scholarships are available depending on household income, bringing the registration fee down to $15 to $65 for the 10-week session, for families that qualify. Many dedicated volunteers help to manage the program and add to its success.

Girls on the Run is a nice program, so if you have daughters, consider the upcoming spring session. (My family has done the Girls on the Run program twice. The previous 5K we participated in, was held at Talbot Island on the beach, another fantastic venue for the final event.)

If you’d like to encourage healthy habits, positive thinking and combine life lessons with some running exercise for your daughter, check out the Girls on the Run web at www.GOTRneflorida.org. WBL