Yorkshire’s Girls on the Run Gearing Up for Spring Training
January 20, 2010

As dedicated runners know, staying fit matters to your health and well being. For the 40 girls participating in Yorkshire Elementary School’s Girls on the Run club, running is as much a part of their lives as academics. Cold weather does not dampen their enthusiasm for training, and they have only to look to a classmate, Lucy Bazan, for additional inspiration if needed.

Fourth-grader Lucy Bazan, a child who has overcome physical challenges and competes as a disabled athlete, has the strength of mind and will to represent not only her running club but others like herself. She is undaunted as she looks forward to joining her classmates and friends outdoors for training as soon as the weather allows. In the meantime, she is content with exercising indoors in the school’s gym and activity room.

Girls on the Run sponsor, School Counselor Claireen Dennis, says that Girls on the Run is a national program that is “wonderful for teaching teamwork,” in addition to teaching fitness. “We are finding that students want to stay with the program once they are introduced to it.” Membership has grown each of the past four years. Dennis and Kindergarten Teacher Susie Ramirez started the program at Yorkshire in 2006.

Lucy proudly has one 5K or 3.1 mile race behind her—the Girls on the Run event held at the Reston Town Center on December 5, which drew 6,500 walkers and runners. Just as she reached the finish line, Lucy’s buddy runner assisted her out of her seated walker and she walked across the finish line smiling happily. Twenty-five Yorkshire Elementary School staff members were involved in some way with this event, as a buddy or cheerleader, and some brought sisters and husbands to be running buddies.

“This is what school is supposed to be about,” said Principal Damon Cerrone. “World-Class is making sure that everyone is involved, every child has an opportunity to participate. When Lucy entered first grade, she was a child who primarily used a wheelchair; now see where she is. She practiced every week with the other girls for this run,” said Cerrone.

Debbie McLain, one of her teachers and her running buddy, said of Lucy, “She put forth tremendous effort training for the race. She was determined to finish the race with the other girls. It was heartwarming to hear so many participants and spectators cheer her on and shout, ‘You are my hero!’” Many other PWCS elementary schools have Girls on the Run programs.

Links

Girls on the Run