Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County

Based on tremendous support and excitement from our local community, Girls on the Run of Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley is now Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County. We are providing the same powerful programming for girls in third through eighth grade, now expanding to sites throughout the county.

Spring 2010 Season
Our spring season begins February 22nd. We have returning sites in Glendale, Highland Park, Baldwin Park, Palos Verdes, Pasadena and South Pasadena. We are excited to welcome four new sites in Eagle Rock, Glendale, East Los Angeles, and Manhattan Beach! Click here for site information and registration.

Recruiting Coaches
We depend on superstar volunteers to make a difference for girls across Los Angeles County. Learn about coaching opportunities for women and men here and sign up for mandatory training (February 13, 20, OR 27). No running experience necessary! Click here for the volunteer application.

Love Yourself, Love Girls on the Run
This Valentine's weekend, show yourself some love and support Girls on the Run at the same time.

Saturday, February 13th, 2010
10am - noon
New Balance Pasadena
270 South Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 793-7900

Girls on the Run of Los Angeles is celebrating its first birthday as a county-wide council by reminding you to include a little "me" time in your life. Whether it's by treating yourself to new fitness gear, volunteering, or challenging yourself to be a SoleMates team member, friends of all ages are welcome to join us for this fun event!

Click here to RSVP!

Watch this short video to meet our national Founder and Vision Keeper, Molly Barker, and hear the stories of GIRLS, parents and coaches and what they love about Girls on the Run.

Listen to this interview of Girl on the Run Allie Izzard and her mom Elizabeth Sadlon (chair of the board of GOTR - LA) on KPFK/ Pacifica Radio's Feminist Magazine. (July 15, 2009).

Who are we?

Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County is a lot more than a running program. We are fitness and health for mind, body and life. Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County is a life-changing, learning program for girls age eight to fourteen years old. The program combines training for a 3.1 mile run/walk event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.

Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County is an Affiliate/Independent Council of Girls on the Run International which has a network of 160 locations across the United States and Canada.

What is our mission?

Our mission is to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

What are our goals?

The Girls on the Run objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among its participants. The goal is fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, less depression and suicide attempts, as well as fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.

Why we exist

Girls on the Run is a prevention program. We seek to educate young girls to take control of their behavior before health needs arise. Studies show that girls between the ages of eight and twelve, while beginning to feel pressure, are still receptive to adult influence. It's an age psychologists call the latency period of development when girls begin to confront important life and relationship issues. As a prevention program, Girls on the Run initiates healthy decision making about difficult issues and encourages open and honest dialogue with parents/caretakers before its too late.

In addition, learning healthy exercise habits early in life increases the chances that participants will value their own physical fitness as adults. Recent studies show that only those who develop exercise habits in their teen years or earlier are likely to maintain those habits for life. It's well documented that regular, moderate exercise improves cardiovascular functioning, and reduces the risk of developing breast cancer, osteoporosis (brittle bones), and obesity.