Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia - More Than a Running Program | The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia

January 7, 2026

In this uplifting episode of the We’re Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee spotlights a Community Foundation for Northern Virginia 2025 grantee, Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia — “much more than running” program blends movement with powerful life lessons for 3rd–8th grade girls. Jaimi Taylor and Sammy Carr reveal how the intentionally designed, evidence-based curriculum builds a “Go-To Toolbox” of social-emotional skills—star power, happy pace, breathe-and-reset—that girls carry far beyond the track. With research showing girls’ self-belief dips sharply around age nine, GOTR meets them right then, wrapping goal-setting, empathy, and voice-finding into games, journaling, and team rituals that make character feel fun—and stick.

NOTE: Content taken from the We're Good Podcast website.

The episode’s most emotional moments unfold at the 5K finish line. Jaimi admits she didn’t expect to cry—until she saw girls surge toward the banner, parents and teachers cheering, handmade signs waving, and buddy runners sprinting alongside daughters who once whispered, “I can’t.” Tears turn to triumph as girls who doubted themselves transform into “Lightning,” “Tenacious,” and “Star Power,” nicknames they chose and ultimately embody. Sammy recalls pacing a struggling runner—“let’s just make it to the stop sign”—and watching that same girl find a final burst to sprint home, teammates clapping her across. Lee Ann shares her own personal story as her daughters participated in GOTR and how she was so inspired by the program, she became a coach herself.

Equally moving is the program’s commitment to access. Thanks to a Community Foundation for Northern Virginia grant, GOTR removes financial barriers—covering fees, snacks, shoes, and athletic wear—so no girl sits out for lack of gear. Coaches (no running résumé required) receive focused training and flexible schedules, turning mentorship into a shared joy and a community engine. By episode’s end, the message lands with heart: when girls learn to set their own pace, speak up, and finish what they start, they don’t just run a race—they rewrite what’s possible. Share it, coach it, live it. We’re Good, You’re Good—and together, we can all make a difference.

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