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Community Corner

Girls on the Run Celebrates 10th Annual 5K in Los Gatos

Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley is gearing up to host its 10th annual Girls on the Run 5K at 8 .m. Saturday, May 18 at Vasona Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd. in Los Gatos.

More than 1,350 Girls on the Run participants and 300 coaches as well as another 1,000 community members will gather to run, walk, and skip a 3.1-mile loop to complete the 5K event.

The nonprofit Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley is part of Girls on the Run International, founded in 2002.

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Since then it has served more than 5,000 girls between third and eighth grade.

Girls on the Run is a life-changing, character-development program that uses the power of running to teach every girl about her personal power and the importance of being healthy and active. 

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Over a period of 10 weeks, teams meet twice a week after school for practices that combine fun, running-based workouts with life lessons such as goal setting and healthy decision-making. “Girls on the Run has taught me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it,” one participant says.

The culmination of the Girls on the Program is the Girls on the 5K. The girls and their coaches will be joined by community members for this family-oriented fun run, which will include face painting, hair decorating, and warm-up activities before the event and a free raffle afterward.

The Girls on the Run 5K is a non-competitive event and is not timed. Everyone wears number 1 on their bib! The event is open to men and women of all ages. Proceeds benefit Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley to support its scholarship program and keeps program costs as low as possible so more girls can participate every year.

Online registration for the 5K is now open. The entry fee is $35 through May 15. If the event is not sold out, in-person registration will be available on May 17 and May 18 for $40. Family discounts are available.

Register online: http://www.gotrsv.org/5K_run

Details: Kathleen Nestler, executive director, kathleen@gotrsv.org, 408-406-8406.

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