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Writer's pictureThe Reston Letter Staff

Girls on the Run Kicks Off Fall Season with Empowerment and Exercise

By Caroline Ayres, Staff Writer



Photo by Jenevieve Lenz Miller

As fall settles in, the Girls on the Run program is in full swing at Armstrong Elementary. The team is hitting the track, focused on exercise and empowerment. Armstrong’s team, part of a larger network of more than 100 teams and 2,000 runners across Northern Virginia, includes girls from various grades. The program not only trains them for running, but also builds their confidence and resilience. Each season culminates in a 5K race in November, with teams from Northern Fairfax typically participating at Dulles or Reston Town Centers.


Girls on the Run promotes both physical and mental wellness, emphasizing the importance of self-worth. “It’s not just a running program,” said Jenevieve Lenz Miller, who has coached Armstrong’s team for seven years. This year’s theme, “You Have Starpower,” encourages girls to recognize their inner strength through activities that promote positive self-talk and self-appreciation.


The focus on mental resilience is at the heart of the program. According to Lenz Miller, the girls leave with more confidence, ready to take on life’s challenges. Reflecting on her experience, she shared the joy of seeing these lessons carry forward in the girls’ lives, including her own daughters. Her eldest, once a participant, is now returning as a volunteer coach. “You can’t put a label on that,” she added.


Although Armstrong’s program has fewer than 20 participants this year, the girls are ready to run toward fitness as well as the best versions of themselves.

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