Girls on the Run West Michigan

Girls on the Run West Michigan We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 8th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. Designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength, the Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole curriculums inspire girls to define their lives on their own terms. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique.

The Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. We start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then, we look at the importance of teamwork and healthy relationships. And, finally, the girls explore how they can positively connect with and shape the world. Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of the program season, the girls participate in a 5K event. This celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of the curriculum. Completing the 5K gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.

The moment you've all been waiting for β€” 5K photos are ready! πŸ“ΈWhether your girl crossed the finish line in Muskegon or ...
06/04/2026

The moment you've all been waiting for β€” 5K photos are ready! πŸ“Έ

Whether your girl crossed the finish line in Muskegon or at GVSU, we hope these photos capture what we saw all season long: joy, determination, and a whole lot of heart πŸ’–

Find your photos at the links below β€” share them, print them, and cherish them!

To download an individual photo, click into the photo you'd like and tap the down arrow button. ⬇️

πŸ“· Muskegon County 5K photos: https://reneejphotography.pixieset.com/girlsontherun5kcelebrationmuskegon/

πŸ“· Kent/Ottawa County 5K photos: https://reneejphotography.pixieset.com/girlsontherun5kcelebrationkentottawa/

IT'S 5K DAY!!! πŸŽ‰πŸ’œWe are SO ready to celebrate every single one of our girls this morning at GVSU! Whether you're running...
05/16/2026

IT'S 5K DAY!!! πŸŽ‰πŸ’œ

We are SO ready to celebrate every single one of our girls this morning at GVSU! Whether you're running, cheering, volunteering, or smiling from afar β€” we want to see it ALL.

πŸ“Έ Post your race-day pics and videos using so we can find them, reshare them, and relive the magic all weekend long! βœ¨πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

We can hardly contain our excitement β€” months of practice, pep talks, and personal bests all lead to THIS. Tomorrow, our...
05/15/2026

We can hardly contain our excitement β€” months of practice, pep talks, and personal bests all lead to THIS. Tomorrow, our Kent & Ottawa County girls take on their Celebration 5K at GVSU Allendale, and we cannot WAIT to cheer them across that finish line! πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ’œ

Last-minute reminders:
β˜€οΈ Check the weather
πŸ’§ Bring a water bottle
πŸͺ§ Make a sign for your runner!
πŸ“Έ Tag us in your race day pics β€” we want to see it ALL

See you bright and early tomorrow! ✨

We're still looking for course marshals and parking attendants to help make our Ottawa & Kent County 5K a huge success t...
05/12/2026

We're still looking for course marshals and parking attendants to help make our Ottawa & Kent County 5K a huge success this Saturday!

These roles are the unsung heroes of race day β€” cheering on our girls, keeping everyone safe, and making sure the morning runs smoothly from start to finish. ✨

Can you spare a few hours to make magic happen? Sign up here:

https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/GM1AVL1VDDKNGXI?sid=8c88ac6298da43bb974a58a8a5f2e180

A huge thank-you to Rachael Ruiz and the eightWest team at WOOD TV8 for spotlighting our Kent & Ottawa County Celebratio...
05/12/2026

A huge thank-you to Rachael Ruiz and the eightWest team at WOOD TV8 for spotlighting our Kent & Ottawa County Celebration 5K β€” and the amazing girls at Excel Charter Academy who shared what GOTR means to them! πŸ’œ

Saturday is almost here! Runners, families, volunteers, and cheerleaders will fill the GVSU Allendale campus to celebrate a season of strength, confidence, and connection.

Whether you're racing, supporting, or watching from the sidelines β€” we can't wait to see you there! πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

πŸ”— Watch the segment here: https://www.woodtv.com/eightwest/girls-on-the-run-hits-the-pavement-this-weekend/
Register at gotrwm.org/5k-kent-and-ottawa

This Saturday, hundreds of girls will line up at Heritage Landing with butterflies in their stomachs and big dreams in t...
05/06/2026

This Saturday, hundreds of girls will line up at Heritage Landing with butterflies in their stomachs and big dreams in their hearts. πŸ’œ

And while the spotlight will be on them β€” as it should be β€” we want to take a moment to shine some light on the people who made it all possible.

To our 2026 Muskegon 5K sponsors: thank you. Your belief in our girls turns nervous starting lines into joyful finish lines. We are endlessly grateful. ✨

🚨 Volunteer spots still open! 🚨Join us at GVSU in Allendale on May 16 for our Kent & Ottawa 5k to cheer on hundreds of g...
05/06/2026

🚨 Volunteer spots still open! 🚨

Join us at GVSU in Allendale on May 16 for our Kent & Ottawa 5k to cheer on hundreds of girls as they cross their Celebration 5K finish line. πŸ’œβœ¨

Whether you can help with packet pickup, parking, or finish line celebrations β€” every role makes the day magical for our girls. ✨

Sign up to volunteer πŸ‘‰ https://www.gotrwm.org/5k-kent-and-ottawa

Look who's making radio waves! πŸ“»πŸŒŸBig thanks to The Shelley Irwin Show and WGVU for having our Executive Director Heidi R...
05/05/2026

Look who's making radio waves! πŸ“»πŸŒŸ

Big thanks to The Shelley Irwin Show and WGVU for having our Executive Director Heidi Roberts and board member + coach Jess Davey on the show to spread the word about our Celebration 5K on May 16 at GVSU Allendale.

Whether you run, walk, skip, or cartwheel across the finish line β€” there's a place for you that day. πŸ’œβœ¨

🎧 Catch the full interview: https://www.wgvunews.org/the-shelley-irwin-show/2026-05-04/girls-on-the-run-west-michigan-invites-the-community-to-a-new-celebration-5k-experience-at-gvsu-may-16th

πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ Register or volunteer: https://www.gotrwm.org/5k-kent-and-ottawa

We still need YOU at the Kent/Ottawa 5K Celebration! 🩷Saturday, May 16th is right around the corner, and we're looking f...
04/28/2026

We still need YOU at the Kent/Ottawa 5K Celebration! 🩷

Saturday, May 16th is right around the corner, and we're looking for warm, welcoming volunteers to help us cheer our girls across the finish line.

We have spots open for:
πŸ›£οΈ Course Marshals
πŸš— Parking Attendants
πŸ‘―β€β™€οΈ Girl & Team Support
πŸ“‹ Registration Help

No experience needed β€” just bring your energy and a willingness to make the morning unforgettable for our girls. Grab your friends, your coworkers, your neighbors, and join us for a few hours of celebration!

Sign up here: https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/GM1AVL1VDDKNGXI?sid=6318672d474b4b1db06c1f616297f62a

Address

976 3 Mile Road NW, Suite D
Grand Rapids, MI
49544

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