The Girls on the Run Bay Area 5K: Where Confidence is Always in Style

Over 2,000 people gathered in Marina Park in San Leandro on May 10 to run a 5K – and half of them were under 12 years old. Girls on the Run Bay Area is a non-profit organization that builds young girls’ confidence through a movement-based program that culminates in this end-of-season 5K.

For many of the girls in the program, Saturday was their first 5K. One girl ran alongside her mom pushing a younger sibling in a stroller. Another held hands with her dad dressed in a tutu.

Others ran alongside their coaches with matching t-shirts. No one ran alone – and every girl finished the run.

Girls on the Run was created in 1996. The Bay Area chapter was founded in 2002. Since its establishment, the program has served over 30,000 girls in San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. It has been a source of confidence and inspiration for the parents, coaches, and participants in the Bay Area for over 20 years.

Authors

Cate Peters

Cate Peters ('27) is studying communication, film, and media studies at Stanford University. She started her journalism career in high school contributing to DyeStat and RunnerSpace, a national running news website. During the school year, she is a sports desk editor at The Stanford Daily. Last summer, Cate was a reporting intern at SFGATE. She is also a D1 athlete on Stanford’s track and field team and a San Francisco Bay Area native.

View all posts
Rachel Nelson

Rachel Nelson is a Stanford student-athlete majoring in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) with a concentration in Communication and Media. Originally from Dallas, Texas, and the oldest of four siblings, Nelson is passionate about running and is currently living her dream of running with Stanford's Women's Track Team.

View all posts