Jul 27, 2022 — It’s a Sunday morning at Lawrence Avenue Elementary School. As upbeat pop-music plays, the sun shines brightly across the field, with young children and their parents scattered all around. Huddled on the top of the hill near the start line, about a dozen girls talk and laugh as they wait for the race to begin.

One participant Marigold Riedl and her family take a picture together. Photo by Jessica Tom.

The 5k run took place on June 12, marking the girls’ final event for Potsdam’s pilot program of Girls on the Run. 

One coach, Julianne Adegoriolu, poses after she runs with the girls. Photo by Jessica Tom.

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Alongside the girls, the coaches, and the parents, 50 other registered runners ran the race with them. One coach Julianne Adegoriolu was impressed with the outcomes of the race. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support the way they did. The girls did amazing. They kept with it, they showed them their dazzle and their razzle, so I am super proud of them,” she said.

The non-profit organization aims to foster important life skills through running, according to Dana McQuire, one of the founders of the Potsdam chapter and the organizer of the 5k.

“They use running to foster why it’s important to have healthy behaviors, but along with that, they also work on the emotional side of things in girls in grades 3,4, and 5—things like self-care, leadership, confidence, respect for yourself and for others,” said McQuire. 

For eight weeks, the girls met twice a week, training for the run and learning these life skills.

9-year-old Peyton Kennedy was one participant. She said the program taught her that “you can always believe in yourself.”

The girls from the Girls on the Run, as well as the other runners, line up at the start line. Photo by Jessica Tom.

Megan Riedl, a parent of another participant, even noticed changes in her daughter Marigold.

“She came home with positive self-talk, just being motivated, and having fun with her friends, so it was really good to instill those values that she can do whatever she wants,” she said.

McQuire and the coaches plan to use the money raised from the 5k to continue Potsdam’s Girls on the Run chapter in the future.