Running the Jingle Bell 5k in Harrisburg on Dec. 14th, was a celebration of hard work and teamwork for Linglestown Middle School Girls on the Run Coach Jill Tenny, and her team. They’ve been training for 14 weeks to build up to the race and challenge themselves to do their best.

The Girls on the Run (GOTR) program is a running-based youth development program, designed to instill an appreciation of health and fitness, and build confidence.

Take a look:

One of Tenny’s runners, Sarah Doerty, says, “Everybody is encouraging you… even if you want to stop. They say ‘Keep going, you’re almost there!’” Doerty’s goal was to improve her time from last year. But, she says:

“Running isn’t just about running. It’s about having fun.”

Coach Tenny says about the race, “It’s about pushing your limits- ‘What am I capable of.’”

But Girls on the Run is far more than a running program. It is designed to be a safe place for girls to share issues that are important to them at that age. It’s also about relationships.

Sarah’s teammate, Kara Collins, says, “These are girls that I had no clue who they were when started the season, and now they are my best friends.”

Tenny says that she loves seeing how the girls support one another. “They’re wonderful girls. I enjoy this tremendously.”

Learn more and get involved at capareagirlsontherun.org.