Girls on the Run culminates in 5K run

Girls on the Run at Washington School in Merrill is comprised of third and fourth grade girls. This year marks the end of the fourth year the group has been active at Washington, and after talking with several girls in the group, it quickly became clear this group is more than just a cross country team—and it’s about a lot more than running. One third grader shared how much she likes the group because it is positive and there is very little negativity within the group.
Programming includes time for a healthy snack after school, playing games, and guided conversations between the adult leaders and the girls. On the day I was observing, the discussion centered around peer pressure, how to stand up for yourself without being a bully, and other social and emotional components of healthy and assertive behaviors, in age-appropriate terms. The focus of the group extends to fostering positive body image and other key components related to research-based healthy adolescent development for girls.
The girls love the running, especially those who are athletic, but they also join because their friends are in the group, which they said makes it a lot more fun.
The Girls on the Run group includes a strategy book the leaders use as a tool, and the girls get journals that correlate with the topics the leaders facilitate.
Girls on the Run expanded to Prairie River Middle School last year, and just completed their second year there.
The end of the school year for Girls on the Run culminated with a 5K run on the River Bend Trail in Merrill, where the girls run with their family and peers there to cheer them on. This year’s Girls on the Run 5K was held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, when the Merrill Girls on the Run groups joined 17 other area groups at the Agra Pavilion in Merrill to celebrate confidence and their own strength and to run. More than 150 Girls on the Run girls, their running buddies, and community runners all hit the River Bend Trail. The excitement, encouragement, and teamwork made for a positive event for everyone involved, from the first girl who crossed the finish line to the very last.