Meet the Superstars of St. Denis St. Columba!

This is St. Denis St. Columba's first season with Girls on the Run and the whole school has embraced the program! They are hosting two teams! Mountain Mover (grades 3-5) and Heart and Sole (grades 6-8).

Why bring Girls on the Run to St. Denis St. Columba? Coach Cathy says it best: she believes in women empowering women and showing young girls that they can be strong, capable, and kind. With no school sports teams, she wanted to offer something special right at SDSC where girls can build confidence, make friendships, and discover their own strength.

We are halfway through the season and the energy is off the charts! The girls are loving practice, and the buzz around Girls on the Run at SDSC is contagious.  Now, when a coach passes the girls in the hallways or cafeteria, they strike their "Superstar" poses and shout, "Superstar!" The connection and excitement is following them well beyond practice!

The coaches of both teams are incredibly proud of how these girls show up for themselves and for each other. Trying new things, cheering on teammates, and making room for new friendships. Being strong means being kind, asking for help, and cheering someone else on.

"We are thrilled that Saint Denis Saint Columba is part of the Girls on the Run family! A huge thank you to the incredible teachers who stepped up to coach both teams. Their enthusiasm, heart and dedication are making such an impact. We can't wait to see GOTR grow at SDSC for years to come!"  -Suzanne

 

Meet Coach Chrissy, Goshen Girls on the Run! 

Chrissy’s GOTR story began, just like so many of ours- when her oldest daughter joined as a shy third grader who struggled to connect with her peers. Watching her daughter’s excitement grow was a huge milestone! When a coach asked Chrissy to help form a new team the following season, she hesitated. With three young children at home and her husband working late hours, a two-afternoon-a-week commitment felt impossible.

It took just two lessons of volunteering for Chrissy to realize she was exactly where she was meant to be! Her daughter loved having her there, and Chrissy quickly fell in love with the program’s impact. Her middle daughter joined the following year, and coaching became a journey the whole family shared. Along the way, Chrissy has built deep roots in her community and made invaluable connections with local parents and children.

Her youngest is now in her final year of the program, but Chrissy’s time with GOTR is far from over! She’s staying on as coach because she has seen the transformation this program offers firsthand. 🫶🏻

After 6 seasons, she can’t pick just one rewarding moment, but she’s watched: the girl who wanted to be invisible become the team comedian, the standoffish girl become the group cheerleader, the girl who refused to show vulnerability open up about her struggles during group sharing.

And even seeing past participants, now older and in a new phase of life, light up when they see her is a huge reward in itself!

Chrissy’s three words for her Goshen team: Unstoppable. Energetic. Joyful.

Loretta wants to recognize Chrissy for her commitment, positive energy and consistently going above and beyond!

Coach Chrissy, you exemplify the limitless potential we know our girls possess and we appreciate you so very much!🎉🩷💚👏🏻

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The Heart of GOTR: Meet Goofy Grace

Meet Grace Serra, also known as Goofy Grace to the girls! Grace is the head coach of the Link Elementary School's Girls on the Run team. This year marks Link's first season with Girls on the Run and we are thrilled to welcome them to the GOTR family!

Grace took great initiative in helping to bring Girls on the Run to the school! She truly believes in the program's mission and the positive message. She loves having the opportunity to empower girls, encourage them to believe in themselves, and help them recognize their full potential. 

Grace shared "I have also made meaningful connections and became part of a team that is incredibly supportive and inspiring!"

One of her most rewarding experiences so far has been watching some of the girls come out of their shell and become more confident when talking and interacting with their coaches and teammates.

Grace would describe her team as, motivated, confident and empowered!

With Grace's leadership, passion and enthusiasm, we know that this is the beginning of something truly special for the girls at Link Elementary!

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The Heart of GOTR: Meet “Lucky Lisa” 

Meet Lisa Overmyer, or as her team at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary knows her this season, “Lucky Lisa.” (She’s also been Loving Lisa, Laughing Lisa and, by her own admission, possibly Loud Lisa!)

Lisa grew up playing sports and knew immediately there was something special about a program that combined movement with empowering girls. "A program like this specifically designed for girls’ empowerment along with athleticism just sounded so special, I had to be a part of it!”

And she has been ever since. Lisa has coached 7 seasons at Carrie E. Tompkins. Along the way, she’s stepped up whenever GOTR needed her, from coaching Camp GOTR to serving as a Running Buddy and even stepping in as Head Coach when Croton’s middle school team needed one.

This season, she’s going one step further: organizing parents from her team to train for the 5K together so they can be ready to celebrate alongside their girls.

But ask Lisa about her favorite moments, and it’s not the big things she mentions. It’s the little traditions that tell her a team has become something more. One of her favorites happens at the very first practice, when returning girls teach new teammates their beloved banana cheer.

“Whenever the team creates its own little inside joke or ritual, I feel so proud to have helped create the environment in which that happened.”

And perhaps that’s what makes coaches like Lisa so special. They create spaces where girls feel welcomed, connected and confident enough to be themselves.

Eve described Lisa perfectly: “Lisa is truly a gem of a human.”

We couldn’t agree more. 

Thank you, Lucky Lisa, for being part of The Heart of GOTR