Featured Events
|
Join GOTR at the Cardinals Game
Join Girls on the Run St. Louis for a fun summer fundraiser at the ballpark! Cheer on the Cardinals and help raise money for the Girls on the Run St. Louis scholarship fund.
Cardinals vs. Cubs
Sun., Sept. 29, 2013
1:15 p.m.
Tickets will be in the Left Field Pavilion and include a free hotdog and soda. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the GOTR scholarship fund.
Tickets on sale soon!
Now that you've finished a 5k, you can definitely run a mile! Keep the momentum going after the GOTR season ends, by participating in the Festival of Miles, which kicks off with a one-mile race for kids in 1st - 8th grade. Runners of all abilities are welcome.
2013 Festival of Miles presented by
Under Armour
Thursday, May 30
St. Louis University
High School
6:30 p.m. - Go! St. Louis Healthy Kids Mile
After the kids race, stick around for an exciting night on the track for a good cause. The evening will highlight the best high school athletes in the region!
Ticket proceeds benefit the family of Brad Eastman. Brad is a lifelong runner, endurance athlete and superstar supporter of Girls on the Run St. Louis, he has run every girl in across the finish line for countless GOTR races!
|
By the Numbers
|
Spring 2013 Girls on the Run 5k by the numbers:
3.1 - 5k distance in miles
6- Food vendors
3 - Duck runners
13 - Cheer Stations
57- Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit
159- Schools in School Village
221- Race volunteers
1130- Volunteer Coaches
3545- Girls in the program this spring
7452- 5k finishers 
|
GOTR is Green
|
Girls on the Run St. Louis partnered with St. Louis Earth Day Recycling On the Go to decrease the environmental impact of this spring's 5k.  A huge thank you to St. Louis Earth Day and especially to Paul Groenier and race committee member Molly James who worked to ensure our efforts to go green!
|
|
Save the Date
|
11/16/13
Mark your calendars for the Fall 2013 Girls on the Run 5k. Join us on Saturday, November 16 in Downtown St. Louis!
|
Volunteer Spotlight
|
At the heart of GOTR are amazing volunteers whose commitment and passion change the lives of thousands of girls throughout the St. Louis region each year.
Meet one of our superstar volunteers:
Yokasta Schneider
 How did you first hear about Girls on the Run? Back in 2010, when I started running, I set a goal for myself; I would run one 5k per month. I remember looking in the Fleet Feet calendar and picked the Girls on the Run race simply because I was free that weekend. I had never been a runner, nor did I have daughters. I just picked the race because it was an option. Why did you decide to coach? After running the 5k and watching the sea of motivated girls complete the race, I decided I NEEDED to find out about this organization. I wasn't anywhere near athletic as a child and wished there had been a program like this when I was growing up. I wondered how all these little girls got into running. After the race, I went home and researched to see exactly what Girls on the Run was about. Once I learned what GOTR stood for, I knew I had be a volunteer coach. How has coaching Girls on the Run impacted your work as a fitness instructor? Working with the girls has helped me look at all "obstacles" as opportunities. I leave each practice realizing that I can do whatever I put my mind to. It amazes me that I signed up to coach the girls, but I am the one that leaves practice more motivated to do MORE in my life and business each day. Read more of what Yokasta had to say here.
|
|
Partner Calendar
|
 Happy opening to our national partner, Athleta! Their new store in Plaza Frontenac opens Wednesday, 5/15/13 - welcome to St. Louis!  Be sure to check the back of your bib after the race for a valuable coupon from Big River Running Company! Just bring your bib into any of the Big River locations to receive a free pair of socks with any regular priced shoe purchase. Don't worry - you'll get your bib back!
All Locations: Big River West County 14047 Manchester Road Manchester, MO 63011 Big River South City 5352 Devonshire Avenue St. Louis, MO 63109 Big River O'Fallon 2548 Hwy K O'Fallon, MO 63368
20% OFF AT CHILL
All School-Year Long!
Let any Chill Team Member know you are part of Girls on the Run St. Louis and not only will you receive 20% off your frozen treat all season long - you'll also receive a special "Chill Girl" punch card! Fill up your special "Chill Girl" punch card 5 times and chill for FREE on your next visit! Pick up your punch card at any Chill location.
All Locations:
Chill Wydown
7610 Wydown Blvd.
Clayton, MO 63105
Chill Des Peres
11935 Manchester Rd.
Des Peres, MO 63131
Chill Ladue
9793 Clayton Rd.
Ladue, MO 63124
Save the Date
Our 10th Birthday Partner, Dimvaloo Active Living, is celebrating their grand opening June 1, 2013!
Be sure to stop into the store at Colonial Marketplace at 8823 Ladue Road and check out some Lorna Jane activewear.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
We are looking for companies to help us deliver our life changing program to thousands of girls in the St. Louis region. This means exposure to 5,000+ girls and their families, and 1,000+ adult volunteers for both fall and spring seasons, as well as visibility at our 5k race at the end of each season. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Katy Sommer.
|
Support our Race Sponsors
|
National Sponsors
  Local Sponsors             Media Partners
Food Truck Partners     
|
Join Us, Follow Us, Share with Us
| 
  
If you have any questions or comments about this e-newsletter, please e-mail Tanya. |
|
|
Race results, photos and more!
|
| |
Girls on the Run St. Louis launched to the streets of downtown
More than 7,400 runners crossed the finish line of the
Girls on the Run 5k on Saturday, May 11, many with tutus and colored hair.
The spring Girls on the Run 5k in St. Louis was an "Out of the World" success with approximately 12,000 people gathering downtown to run, cheer and support the more than 3,500 girls in the Girls on the Run program this spring from 159 schools across the metropolitan area.
The weather was beautiful, but the smiles and sense of pride exuding from the finishers was even more beautiful. We hope that our runners come away from the race with the feeling that if they can run a 5k, they can do anything!
Feedback
We want to hear from you! We are always looking to improve our race. We appreciate your input and highly encourage you to fill out our post-race survey by clicking here. In addition, if you complete the survey you have the option to be entered into a drawing to win a piece of Girls on the Run apparel!
Pictures
Relive the race via photographs! Check out the photos taken by an amazing volunteer, Ty Kanoya.
Results
While we don't stress finish time at Girls on the Run, we know you're probably curious about how fast you ran on Saturday. Click here for searchable race results!
|
Thank you for an "Out of this World" race.
|
| |
We can't "run" without you!
Thank you to all of the runners for blasting off with us and tackling the fun run and 5k with out of this world energy! Not only did our girls celebrate a fantastic accomplishment, but proceeds from the event help support the Girls on the Run St. Louis scholarship fund.
Thank you to all of the spectators and incredible Cheer Stations who cheered, supported and motivated all of our runners, especially to FOX Sports Midwest for the amazingly fun bubbles!
Thank you to our generous sponsors who helped underwrite the cost of this inspiring event. If you are interested in sponsoring our next race, contact Katy Sommer. If you were moved by the amazing experience of this race and what it does for young girls in St. Louis, we'd welcome individual contributions by clicking here.
Thank you to our honorary race chair, Shannon Leinert!
Thank you to our race director, Pat Hamel, the staff at Big River Running Co. and to our dedicated race committee for spending countless hours planning and implementing an event that changes the lives of thousands in a positive way.
Thank you to all of the volunteers, board members, and GOTR staff who pulled together to make the race unforgettable.
Thank you to the GOTR Young Professionals Board, our astronaut duck (David Pokorny of Fox Sports Midwest), our alien duck (Audra Grote, YPB member and GOTR coach), and our star duck (Shannon Leinert) for a fun and successful Duck Race.
Thank you to Utopia Entertainment for the pre- and post-race entertainment and sharing the microphone with our girls!
Thank you to Grace Jegle, a Girls on Track alum at Gateway Science Academy who wowed us with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
Thank you to the 5k Superstars who added a little shine to their 5k by raising funds for GOTR scholarships. Thanks to the 7 runners who raised $520!
This list could go on and on! Please know that Girls on the Run St. Louis appreciates your support and involvement!
|
Community Change with Community Support
|
| |
Sarah's Cake Stop and Sarah's Meltdown are locally owned, sister food trucks that serve the St. Louis community. The trucks grew out of Sarah's Cake Shop, a Chesterfield bakery. Owner Jill Umbarger and her brother, Jeff Pupillo, created St. Louis' first Moblie Cupcake Van and have used their trucks to support the St. Louis community through a variety of fundraising efforts. The Sarah's team are dedicated runners and we're proud to have them supporting us at our races each season. Read more in the words of Rachel Kitchen, crew member on the Cakestop:
What is your relationship to Girls on the Run St. Louis?
Sarah's Cake Stop has been a sponsor and spectator at many of the Girls on the Run St. Louis events but our favorite role to play is that of a participant in the race itself. We first got involved with GOTR-STL almost immediately following the opening of the truck just over three years ago.
What is the history of Sarah's Cake Stop and Sarah's Meltdown? How did you grow this business in the community?
Sarah's Cake Stop was one of the first food trucks, and premier dessert truck in St Louis opening nearly three years ago. Our fellow truck, Sarah's Meltdown, followed a little more than a year later. We grew our business by forging strong and meaningful relationships with our customers and the communities we serve. We reached out to an area (downtown) that had never really heard of Sarah's because of our Chesterfield location. Because of this, and the diligent use of social media sites, we have added a whole new fan base.
What is the community engagement philosophy of Sarah's Cake Stop and Sarah's Meltdown? How do you enact that with different partners?
We feel that community involvement is crucial in maintaining the relationships that we have worked so hard to build. One way we do this is by often donating back to the events in which we attend. Also, we donate ALL tips from Sarah's Cake Stop to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We find that spreading goodwill is beneficial to all individuals and builds our community spirit!
Why did you decide to partner with Girls on the Run St. Louis through the trucks? What impact have you seen on the community through your partnership?
As fellow runners it was only natural that we would pair up with such an important institution that assures we have future competitors and encourages healthy lifestyles. We like that our fans can see us in action, running alongside them and also waiting at the finish line with a reward for their hard work and dedication.
What is the most rewarding thing about your partnership with Girls on the Run St. Louis? Why would you recommend others partner with Girls on the Run St. Louis?
The most rewarding thing is being able to see, firsthand, the confidence that these girls have gained by going thru this program. Being able to see our future female leaders all bright eyed and smiles at the end of their race is priceless. We would recommend others to get involved because it is investing in our future. We have to encourage them every step of the way.
How do you hope to grow Sarah's community engagement in the future?
We are always looking for new ways to get involved and when requested we try our hardest to make it fit into our schedule. You can find us at fundraisers and various events around the St Louis and surrounding areas. Our fans play an important role in making sure we know what is coming up in the area that we can be a part of.
Contact Katy Sommer to find out how your company can help us change the community together!
|
Girls on the Run St. Louis Gives Back
| |
Winners of the Koman Award for Excellence in Community Service Announced
Part of the Girls on the Run and Girls on Track curricula entails each team conducting a community service project. Girls on the Run St. Louis honors our teams' hard work and creativity through the Koman Award for Excellence in Community Service. It's so inspiring to see all of the amazing projects that have happened throughout the St. Louis Metro area. We are pleased to announce the winners!
The first place winner is from Westhoff Elementary in O'Fallon, Missouri. The Girls on the Run from Westhoff visited a local retirement home, The Meadowlands. The girls played Pictionary and Wheel of Fortune with the residents. The girls cheered on the residents, creating an atmosphere of fun competition and encouraged everyone to participate in the games. The head coach from Westhoff received a phone call from the activity director at The Meadowlands thanking them for their visit and inviting them to return any time.
The second place award goes to Marie Schaeffer Elementary in O'Fallon, Illinois. A fifth-grade boy from Marie Schaeffer lost his little brother to Leukemia, so the girls wanted to do something to give back to the hospital that had helped the family through the difficult time. The girls decided to make fleece blankets for the hospital. They involved the entire school in the project by sending letters home with every student asking for fleece and monetary donations. The team dedicated one practice time to creating blankets with the donated fleece. With the support of the entire school community, the Girls on the Run from Marie Schaeffer donated 125 fleece blankets and nearly $180 to the hospital.
Third place is awarded to Meramec Elementary in Clayton, Missouri.The Girls on the Run from Meramec wanted to do something to support the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. They decided to make cards with messages of encouragement, hope and empathy and send them to the Neighborhood House Charter School in Boston, MA. This is the school of the little boy, Martin Richard, that died during the Boston Marathon Bombing. The girls opened up the project to all of the Meramec students in third, fourth and fifth-grade.
|
Fall 2013 Sites
|
|
Already Preparing for the Fall 2013 Season!
Believe it or not...we are already at capacity for sites going in the fall 2013 season. We anticipate serving about 3,000 girls!
If you are interested in starting a GOTR or GOT team at your school, please know that we are now accepting new site applications for the spring 2014 season. Details can be found here.
If your school/site IS having a Girls on the Run or Girls on Track team this coming spring, mark your calendars for our fall program registration dates. Sign up your daughter for the fall season on the Girls on the Run St. Louis website between Monday, August 19 - Wednesday, September 4 at 5:00 p.m.
|
Spring 2013 Duck Race
|
|
Thank you to everyone who participated in this season's Duck Race Raffle!
With your team's participation we raised $40,000 for the GOTR-STL scholarship fund. The three winning tickets came from Avery, Illini, and Kennard Elementary schools.
Thanks again for your support!
The fifth annual duck race, presented by the Girls on the Run St. Louis Young Professionals Board, was a great success! With the help of the GOTR Young Professionals Board, our astronaut duck (David Pokorny of Fox Sports Midwest), our alien duck (Audra Grote, YPB member and GOTR coach), and our star duck (Shannon Leinert, Honorary Race Chair) we had a fun and successful Duck Race.
Approximately $40,000 was raised for the GOTR-STL scholarship fund, allowing us to ensure any girl can participate in the program, regardless of ability to pay. Thank you for your support!
 | | David Pokorny of Fox Sports Midwest about to select the winning ducks. |
|
|
|
