I asked one of our girls recently what her favorite part of Girls on the Run was.
She didn’t say the running.
She didn’t say the 5K.

She said, “It’s the only place I feel like I can just be me.”

Cue the lump in my throat.

Because that’s what this is all about.

Right now, too many girls feel like they don’t fit in, like they’re too much or not enough — and that they’re going through it all alone. And that feeling? It’s heavy.

Girls Are Struggling With Loneliness — Big Time

Here’s what we know from the latest reports and what we’re seeing on the ground:

– 79% of girls say they feel like they’re going to “explode” from pressure
– 67% say most girls are in constant competition with each other
– Over half of 5th and 6th grade girls say drama and fighting make them hate school

Honestly, it breaks my heart. But also — it fires me up. Because I know we can do something about it.

How GOTR Creates Belonging on Purpose

At Girls on the Run, belonging isn’t accidental. We build it in.

It’s in the compliment circles.
It’s in the goofy warm-up games.
It’s in the way coaches lean in and really listen.
It’s in the team cheers where every girl is celebrated — not compared.

And the impact? It’s real.

✅ 98% of our girls say they felt like they belonged
✅ 98% say their teammates supported them
✅ 98% say their coaches cared

We’re not just helping girls run — we’re helping them feel seen.

Because When a Girl Belongs… Everything Changes

She speaks up.
She tries something new.
She believes she matters — not because she’s the fastest, or the smartest, or the prettiest — but because she’s her.

And in a world where so many girls are feeling lost in the noise, a space like GOTR? It’s powerful.

💛 Want to Help Us Make Sure More Girls Feel That Way?

This Mental Health Month, you can:
✅ Share this blog with a friend or teacher who needs to hear it 
✅ Donate (even $5 helps!) → www.gotrpiedmont.org/donate
✅ Coach this fall — you don’t have to be a runner, just someone who believes in girls
✅ Help us bring GOTR to your school or neighborhood

🌟 One caring adult really can make all the difference.

Next week, I’ll be wrapping up this State of the Girl series with a look at what happens after the 5K — because the lessons girls take with them? They ripple out into their homes, their classrooms, their whole lives.

Thanks for showing up with us,
💛 Kathy