“Passionate”-Intense or strong feelings towards something or someone
Today’s Wednesday Word topic couldn’t have come at a better time! Yesterday I began coaching the fall season for Heart & Sole. ( The new middle school program for Girls on the Run) This will be my third year coaching for GOTR and my first season with this curriculum.
You all already know that I have a passion for running and living a healthy lifestyle. I also have an intense passion for mentoring the pre-teen girls enrolled in Girls on The Run. I love the name of the new program! I love what it represents (spirit, heart, brain, social & body) and the passion & excitement that comes along with something new.
The start of the season brings so many exciting possibilities:
-Will the shy girl in the corner blossom into more secure young lady?
-Will the girl who “doesn’t really like running” find something about it to motivate her?
-Will the girl who “wants to become a better runner” and beat last year’s 5k time achieve her personal goal?
-Will the self conscious girl grow to feel more comfortable in her own body and realize her strengths?
-Will the girl who is here “just because her friends are doing it” find she benefited in so many other ways?
-Will I, as a their coach, be able to motivate them to encourage and support their team mates?
As we all know, being a pre teen girl is not easy these days and if I can help provide some skills that they can use to navigate their way a little easier, then I will have done my job. I hope my passion will help them realize and encourage some of theirs.
What are you passionate about these days?
Wow, this is awesome, Deborah! I like the branding they have chosen for GOTR. I would love to coach, although my current work and commute schedule makes it very difficult to pick up any extracurriculars like this. I am volunteering as a safety cyclist for a half marathon this weekend (I may well be in rain gear with Joaquin possibly visiting us).
It’s such a great experience I hope you have the chance to work with them at some point. Have fun this weekend cycling-yes weather is not looking good at all
That’s so great. These girls having this opportunity (and you as a coach!) can make all the difference in their lives!
I hope so! I really enjoy working with them so much.
Immediately makes me think of the piano song. Which is kind of great, too, because that is all about teamwork and two parts coming together into harmony!
absolutely! Teamwork is key.
I do think Girls on the Run is a great program! Kudos to you for coaching.
How fun! I wish they would bring that type of activity in our area. I’d love to be a mentor. Such a great self confidence boost for the young girls.
You would be a great mentor I hope they do bring it to your area and that you have a chance to volunteer.
Deborah, what you’re doing for these girls is so amazing! I work with high school girls on a daily basis and I truly believe that if they just get involved and feel like they are a part of something important, they feel so good about themselves. You, my friend, help make that happen!
oh thanks you are so sweet! And you are great for working with them everyday. I wish I had done a program like this when I was in middle school
I think it is so amazing that you’re involved with such an awesome program! Such a fantastic way to give young girls something they can feel confident about!
I love that you do this. I’m hoping to get involved in something like this over the next couple of years. I’m so passionate about running and what it has done for me. I’d love to get more girls involved.
What a great program! Especially at that age when young girls really need something to get invested in. Good luck!
Thanks I am loving it!
Awesome! Did you start this program yourself or did they come looking for you? We simply cannot give back enough- kudos for making it happen ! 🙂
Oh no it’s part of the Girls on the run. I am doing the new middle school program that is rolling out this fall.
I love the name! And this is such an awesome cause – they are lucky to have you and your passion!
I love the name too! Thanks I think I am lucky to have them as well
What a great program, my daughter is in girls on the run a similar program. I love what they do.
It is a great organization. Hope she enjoys it!
I love (and am jealous) that you are involved with GOTR. I’d like to do that one day….find a way to fit that into my life! I very often use the charity miles app when I go for a walk or run, and the charities that I regularly pick on it are GOTR and EMC (every mother counts).
That’s great and do hope you are able to work with them someday. I think you would love it!
GOTR is such a wonderful program! I love that it instills a feeling of support of among the girls while showing them that they are stronger than they think they are. Good for you for helping!
Exactly! I love working with them
Love GOTR! Running as a solemate this weekend for DC Ragnar 😉
I am volunteering at my son’s school even though my daughter is not even in school yet-ha! Just want to help out and encourage the girls.
The new middle school program seems so great and so perfect-the need for support during middle school is so important ;). Way to go and good luck!
Thanks I am really excited about the season. Ah the weather this weekend in DC is looking pretty dire. I am so bummed to not be doing the race this time. I have a wedding.
I love GOTR. I have volunteered a few times and ran numerous races. I have been meaning to coach it just hasn’t fit my schedule yet. Thanks for sharing!
It is a big time commitment and I couldn’t do it until my kids were older. I hope one day you have the chance to coach as well.
Love that you coach for GOTR! Such a great program to be a part of. Will definitely try to coach once my schedule allows!
It is a great program and I hope you have the chance to help out someday when your kids are a little older.
What a fun community! I wish there had been something like this when I was a kid.
I know so do I!!
love that name and LOVE that sign that you pictured. it gave me chills (well that and my window is open :)). so great that the program is now extending to middle school. those years are so tough!
They sure are. I wish I had been a part of something like this at that age.
Such a cool group. I think I’ve said it before that I would love to help coach one day. While I have two boys I also remember what it was like to be a preteen girl growing up and it’s not easy!
It’s certainly not easy at all! I hope when your boys are older you can help out. You would love it!
What a fantastic program! It’s awesome that you participate and I’m sure you get a lot out of it too!
Thanks and I really love it and do feel that it is so rewarding for me.
What a great group Deborah! I love everything the GOTR program stands for! We are teaching our future women so much more than just running, not that that itself isn’t enough lol! I can’t want to hear more about this!
Thanks so much!
Love the new program name! I was hoping to get involved with Girls On The Run this year, but the coaching times don’t fit with my schedule :-/. Hopefully one year I’ll be able to do it!
It is a big time commitment. I hope you have the chance to help out one day. They would be lucky to have you
I’m so happy that GOTR has a middle school program! I should look into this since I’m no longer coaching at high school level.
Oh yes you would love it and they would love you!!
This is fantastic! The picture with you and all the girls is really cool! This must be incredibly rewarding to see these young girls grow and change over the year.
Love this and they are lucky to have you! 🙂
That is a wonderful gift that you’re giving those young ladies — I am really excited for all of you!
Thanks! I am really excited too!
What you’re doing is so cool Deborah. Never in a million years did I imagine myself saying this but yoga is my heartfelt passion.
Thanks! I never imagined running would be my passion. Funny how things change!
What a great program that is so important for our young girls. Your passion shines through in this post! I wish I had more time to do more outreach like this…I need to at least participate in a GOTR 5K sometime!
Participating in a 5k would be a great place to start. Sometimes they are looking for buddy runners for girls whose parents aren’t able to run with them. You’d be great!
Love that you do this for girls, it can really give them the confidence to do whatever they want in life. I am
Passionate about running and helping people.
It’s really very rewarding and I am so lucky to have them in my life.
Girls on the Run is such an amazing program! The middle school extension is so needed and amazing!
I agree!
Wow – this is just such a great program for so many reasons – health, self-esteem, friendship. Those girls look so happy!
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Thanks I am really excited about the season
Your work is so inspiring. I bet your work has a great impact on their lives later. A great coach can make such a difference. What a beautiful post.
Thanks so much friend!
I think it is awesome you volunteer to coach them. What an amazing opportunity for both you and the girls! Great way for you to impact their lives positive and they yours!
Thanks I am really excited about the season!
I wish I had time to do something with GOTR! My former au pair is back in the US for college and she just started volunteering with them. I’m so happy!
That’s really great perhaps you can be a buddy runner sometime for the 5k
What an inspiring name for the program! Hope you have a great season 🙂
Thanks I am really excited about it! Love the possibilities
This is such a great cause! Love it. Lately, I am finding my passion is shifting. More about family and kids… everyone has a story adn the more time I spend in the classroom teh more I see how the world is HURTING… my passion is to HELP others. I just haven’t found out HOW yet 🙂
That’s why I enjoy working with the girls so much! You will find you HOW too.
I enjoy reading about your passion for communities like this 🙂 I’m passionate about my job as a personal trainer. There are moments that mental exhaust me, but overall I am very emotionally, mentally, physically invested in how to help my clients become healthier and fitter!
Absolutely! They are lucky to have you 🙂
So amazing. I really want to get involved with GOTR. I know I’ve commented this before and I keep meaning to volunteer but havent had the time yet to delve into it. After my marathon I plan on looking into the details. Would love to be a coach!
I hope you have the chance to coach or be a buddy runner. You’d be great at it!
I hope your Heart & Sole team has a wonderful season! The girls are lucky to have you as their coach.
Thanks for linking up!
Thanks friend!