Girls on the Run representatives visit Palmer to answer Valley parent’s questions during ‘Empower Hour’

PALMER — Kennis Brady and Shaina Seidner sat down at 203 Kombucha in downtown Palmer Jan. 21 for an “Empower Hour,” answering questions from Valley parents regarding the Girls on the Run program.

Girls on the Run is a national program that fosters personal growth, self respect, social skills, and healthy lifestyle choices through an engaging curriculum and running activities, according to Brady. She said that each season, participating girls work on a community impact project as a team.

“It teaches them we need to be daring and they can do anything and everything they put their mind to,” Brady said.

Brady is the Council Director for Girls on the Run Southcentral AK. She said there are two running seasons a year and each season culminates with a celebratory 5-kilometer run.

“My favorite day is 5K day because they’re all together and they get to accomplish this goal that was originally overwhelming for them,” Brady said.

Families are encouraged to run with their kids during the 5K and it’s also open to the public, according to Brady. She said that she loves seeing families participate.

“It’s a really powerful way to see the program taken home. They’re life lessons, not just lessons for third graders,” Brady said.

Brady said this was their first time hosting an “Empower Hour” in the Valley. Up until the Spring of 2019, Alaskan Girls on the Run activities were limited to Anchorage and Eagle River.

She said Anchorage was the first Alaskan community to adopt the national program in 2011. Now that the Valley is involved, local parents can enlist their daughters at two designated locations.

“It’s been our goal to expand Mat-Su for a long time,” Brady said.

Big Lake Elementary School was the first Valley site to participate in the spring of 2019 and Finger Lake followed suit in the fall of 2019. They’re two of 14 total sites from the Valley to Anchorage.

The 2020 spring season begins Feb. 24 and wraps up in May with the celebratory 5K. Brady noted the 5K will be at the Anchorage Football Stadium and they’re offering transportation to families who need it.

Registration opens Feb. 1 and it’s open to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

Girls on the Run is currently seeking Valley residents interested in volunteering their time as coaches during their upcoming 2020 season.

“We always need coaches. They’re an integral part of our program,” Brady said.

Anyone interested in designating their up their facility as a Girls on the Run site is encouraged to send an application. Brady noted participating sites don’t have to be schools, those are just more common. Facilitating sites can be any kind of group including churches and clubs.

For more information about Girls on the Run Southcentral Alaska, look them up on Facebook, call 907-351-2250, or visit their website at gotrsouthcentralak.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com