Every Girls on the Run (GOTR) and Heart & Sole (H&S) team is unique. From the program participants and coaches who make up the team to the practice space, teams create their own distinctions. Our Kenmore Middle School H&S team is just one example of this!

While it is common for participants on the same team to have existing friendships, it is even more common for new friendships to blossom over the course of the season. By allowing students from different grades to come together to form a team, they are provided a space to expand their social circle and make connections with students they don’t have the opportunity to regularly connect with. 

Coaches Kaitlin Bresnahan and Charisse Berree, Director of Counseling and Social Worker at Kenmore, respectively, organized and coached the team. To their GOTR participants, they were known as Coach Kaitlin and Coach Berree, the best coaches ever! Having coaches who are already connected to the school and students was a huge plus for this team and helped encourage the welcoming spirit.

When Coach Kaitlin and Coach Berree asked the team who was ready to run during their first week of practice, only about 60% of hands shot up. Some students expressed nervousness and doubted their running abilities. Other students who noticed this encouraged them to try their best and continued to cheer them on while they completed their laps. One participant in particular quickly made the connection that she had to challenge herself to get better. She went on to use this understanding to help motivate her teammates.

As the season progressed, a few of the participants made the connection that they all spoke Arabic. There is a magical bond that forms when individuals connect through the shared beauty of a common language. Beyond the words themselves, there's a profound understanding that transcends cultural differences and backgrounds, weaving a tapestry of empathy and camaraderie.

As Ramadan was approaching, a group of observing participants asked if they should still attend practice while they were fasting. Coach Kaitlin and Coach Berree encouraged them to continue to attend and let them know they could adjust their level of participation if needed. Throughout the duration of Ramadan, the observing participants were thrilled to continue with practice and used this time to inform their teammates about Ramadan.

Another heartwarming experience the Kenmore team shared was when a new student arrived at the school just in time to join the team. This student spoke very limited English and was hesitant to verbally contribute during practice. Their teammates took notice of her hesitations and encouraged her to share her thoughts, even if her English wasn’t perfect. As the season progressed, this individual was empowered by her teammates to contribute her thoughts and participate more. By the end of the season, this student was more confident in herself and felt that she belonged on the team.

This greatly diverse team of 10 took pride in teaching each other about their different cultures. For their final team celebration, they suggested that each teammate bring a traditional dish from their culture. These teammates found strength in their differences and we can learn a lot from them, including:

• Our differences should bring us together, not separate us.

• Encouragement is a powerful tool that we should all use to the best of our ability.

• To get better at something we have to challenge ourselves.

If these stories hit any heartstrings for you, come be a part of our spring 2024 season and experience it for yourself! Coach applications for new coaches and returning coaches are open. Program participant registration will open in February.