Celebratory event provides fun and 5K run
Published 12:05 am Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Volunteers worked the selfie station where girls could come dress up and pose for a photo behind the special frame. — Karen Kistler
Cohen Holshouser gets a tiger painted on his face by Ninah Gilley. Cohen was preparing to cheer his sister on in the run. – Karen Kistler
The crowd is taken through a large group warm up prior to the run. — Karen Kistler
Whitney Jolie, left, and Suzanne Martin with American Moving + Hauling prepare to hand out goodies to some Girls on the Run participants. — Karen Kistler
Novant Health served as a sponsor for the 5K and provided items for the attendees. — Karen Kistler
Sir Purr had some fun with the participants as he had his photo taken with them. — Karen Kistler
Happy Hair was a popular area as girls waited to have their hair sprayed, pink, purple or green. — Karen Kistler
Runners get ready to take off at the sound of the horrn. — Karen Kistler
One of the tables had supplies to make friendship pins. — Karen Kistler
Runners and their buddies make their way along the course, — Karen Kistler
Catawba’s cheer team was at the event to perform for the crowd. — Karen Kistler
Sir Purr poses for a photo as he waits for the runners to get to the starting line. — Karen Kistler
Pink, purple and green was the color of the day for hair at the run. — Karen Kistler
Teams gathered in huddles to be counted and given instructions from their coaches. — Karen Kistler
There was lots of energy in the air and on the field at the Girls on the Run Greater Piedmont Fall 5K as approximately 675 runners, which included community runners, the girls and their buddies, were there and ready to run.
This annual event was held Nov. 16 at the Salisbury Community Park, 935 Hurley School Road, as an occasion to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the participants of the program, “and it serves as a wonderful opportunity to support and uplift the young girls in our community,” said Mikayla Smith, a member of the organization’s board of directors, in an email.
Girls on the Run, as shared on their website, is a nonprofit organization that is “designed to enhance participants’ social, emotional and physical skills to successfully navigate life experiences” with a mission to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident,” using a curriculum that combines running along with it.
Lots of young girls in purple T-shirts were running around, greeting friends, ready for the race to start. These third through fifth graders were those who were part of the Girls on the Run program, Smith said.
Those sporting the green T-shirts were their running buddies. Each girl was to have a running buddy, someone 16 or older that stayed with them on the course. Coaches also had on green shirts and could serve as a running buddy as well.
Volunteers were in pink vests or had blue Girls on the Run shirts with the words, Volunteer or “Ask Me” on the back, thus making it simple for those who might have a question or need to find someone who could assist them.
Prior to the 5K, there were additional activities provided on the field to enjoy including face painting, music provided by a DJ, watching the performance of the Catawba cheer team, food trucks, cornhole, a selfie station for photos and photos with Sir Purr, the Carolina Panthers mascot, who also helped assist and encourage the runners as they lined up to start the 5K.
Sponsors for the run were Novant Health, who Smith said is one of their big sponsors, and “they are with us at every single race. We love having them out here.”
Kristen Reavis, Novant Health community engagement, said that Novant Health is an event sponsor in various chapters around the state and help each year at a certain level to provide scholarships for some who may not have the funds to attend.
“So, it’s awesome when we come up here and we get to see everyone who loves running with their running buddy,” she said, “and it’s so good for their social and mental health too.”
American Moving + Hauling of Winston-Salem, a woman-owned moving company, served as another sponsor and gave away items plus helped move things on and off the field before and after the event.
Employees Whitney Jolie and Suzanne Martin were handing out pink water bottles to those who visited the table.
Jolie said they wanted to come and be a part of the day and serve as a sponsor “to show support to the children in the area…and we wanted to show our faces and show support to everyone here today.”
Food truck vendors were on site and also shared some of their proceeds to the organization depending on the amount they took in during the day, Smith said.
Others volunteering their time to help or that wanted to be a part of the day included Happy Hair, where the girls could get their hair sprayed with pink, purple and green, or they could visit the face painting table or the booth of another business, Sugar Waxing, who Smith said wanted to come and have a table and be part of the event.
“Our lines usually get backed up for the Happy Hair and the face painting,” said Smith.
The Catawba College cheer team was out on the field performing and volunteering their time as well and this was the first year to have an actual DJ, who was doing a good job, she said.
The event began at 12:30 and Smith said that people were arriving early but so far, things were going good. They did have to work hard to finish setting up and get prepared for the event, but said, the energy was high and “it all comes together once people get out here on the field. Girls are so excited to be out here. I’m loving it.”
Claire Habicht, a third grader from Troutman, said she had done lots of other 5Ks, but that this was her first one with Girls on the Run.
“I’ve had fun,” she said about the program and added that she did think the run is “a little hard though, but I think the more times you do it, the easier it gets.”
Habicht said she thought when people get to the fifth grade it would be easy for them. The grass portion of the race is what she liked. “When we went through it, it got easier.”
Her mom, Sally Habicht, was her running buddy and said that she loved running, “so it’s exciting to see her part of this community group and being with a group of girls and all the excitement. It shows in her getting better at running.”
Ashleigh Holshouser, also of Troutman, was waiting with her son Cohen who was getting his face painted to cheer on his sister, who would be participating in her fourth run.
She shared that one of the best things about the program to her was probably the “teamwork and developing that security, building strength running and growing together.”
Sophia Fonseca, a fourth grader, who was with her mom Amy Buxton, said she had also had fun in the program. This was her first year participating and would be running with her coach.
Another first-time participant, Sydney Weston and her mom Niki Weston of Greensboro were there, along with their cheering section, and were looking forward to getting out on the course and running.
One of the good things Niki said that had come from the program has been Sydney’s positive outlook, “knowing that she can do something.”
Approximately 15 minutes before the 2 p.m. run was to begin, teams were huddled together, some getting group photos, some getting instructions from their coaches and some running through warm-ups.
Then the call for runners to come to the starting line came over the sound system, and Smith led in some additional warm-ups with everyone.
Girls on the Run Greater Piedmont Program Manager Emily Bird took this opportunity to thank the coaches, asking everyone to “give it up for your coaches.”
She then gave a shout out to a special coach, Jackie Karbo, who was celebrating her 25th season this year coaching Girls on the Run.
Jenn Bass, executive director of Girls on the Run Greater Piedmont, told the girls that she was inspired by everyone in the program.
“You are strong, you are smart, you are confident, you can absolutely crush this day,” she said.
Bass then shouted out, “Are you guys ready?” She repeated her question wanting a louder response to which they complied and the “yeah” was much louder, matching their energy and enthusiasm, and once the horn sounded, they were off and running.
