Girl of Gratitude

Kathleen and her running buddy, Animal Loving Angela

My name is Kathleen Goodman and I was a Girl on the Run.

Girls on the Run was started by 4-time Ironman Triathlete Molly Barker in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. Molly combined her love of running with her background in Social Work to create a program that would take girls outside of the “Girl Box.”

What is the “Girl Box” you might ask? This “box” refers to the restraints society tries to place on young girls. They say things like young girls must be thin, polite, and agreeable. They must not be too athletic, too boisterous, or too competitive. WOW! I am glad there are people like Molly who want to help girls climb out of this box.

Before I was a Girl on the Run, I was stuck in that “Girl Box.” I was reserved, self-conscious of my body, and somewhat emotionally fragile having moved to a new city and shuffled back and forth between my recently divorced parents. My mom heard about the inaugural program through a teacher at my new school and thought it would be a good way for me to make friends.

When she first told me about it, I didn’t want to do it. I had been playing soccer ever since I could walk and didn’t need to do a running program. I quickly learned that Girls on the Run is so much more than just a running program. At our first practice, we had to come up with an adjective that starts with the first letter of our name. Back then I was known as Katie and at that time what defined me was soccer so my adjective was “Kicking Katie.” Remember how I said Girls on the Run was more than just a running program? It was the perfect combination of fun and real-world lessons.

One of the first lessons I learned was that I didn’t have to be the best; I just had to be myself. I could laugh whenever I feel like it, cry if I was having a bad day, and run as hard as I could if I just needed to get the anger and frustration out.

It was funny with soccer running seemed like an obvious movement that I had to do in order to score a goal. With the GOTR, running was more intentional. Even though I didn’t realize it at that time, each time I ran I set an intention for that day. Perhaps my intention was to be a supportive teammate and slow my pace down in order to encourage a friend or to completely free my mind of what was bothering me at school.

At the time of GOTR I was overweight, had braces, and glasses; an easy target for ridicule at school. Combining that with being new was horrible. At first I felt like the other girls had to be nice to me but then I realized that they actually liked being around me. I was invited over for sleepovers and parties and more importantly, they stood up for me in class when kids would tease me. When my new GOTR friends stood up for me, it empowered me to stand up for myself. That was the year I found my voice!

Unfortunately I left that school and GOTR after only one year because I moved to yet another school. This time starting school wasn’t so scary because of the confidence I had developed through GOTR. I tried out for Calamity Jane in our 4th grade play and was cast that part and that was just the beginning. My braces and glasses grew on me and what I noticed was the more confident I felt on the inside the less people focused on what I looked like on the outside.

In middle school, I took another risk- running for student council. I was hesitant at first but just kept telling myself these 4 words: I can do it. Those were the same words I uttered in my first 5k with GOTR when the finish line seemed so far away. Even though I didn’t get elected to student council that year, I improved my speech and worked harder to become treasurer the following year.

Through GOTR I learned the power of perseverance and the power of taking chances. You never know what you can achieve if you don’t try. I would have never known how much I liked debates if I didn’t try back in the 6th grade to run for student council.

GOTR taught me to love running. It was truly a time to focus on just myself. Going out for a long peaceful run was a habit I developed in high school and still carry with me today. Those runs were my sanctuary. They were a chance to de-stress from school work, friendship struggles, and even boy problems. I began to develop a greater awareness of just how strong my body is. Before GOTR I would hide my legs never wanting to wear shorts or a bathing suit but running taught me to celebrate my strong leg muscles that carried me those 3.1 miles.

In high school and college, I ran a handful of 5ks and even some 10ks but I what I did last spring on April 30, 2011 was my greatest accomplishment of all- the Country Music Half Marathon. I have never been so proud of my strong legs as they carried me to the finish line after 13.1 long miles. You know what I also thought of as I was running? All of the buddies I’d ever had with GOTR Nashville. I thought of the times when my buddies would say “Miss Kathleen, I can’t do it anymore. I’m tired.” I would say to them “you are strong and I know you can do it.” I took some of my own advice and keep telling myself “I can do it” the same four words I’ve said to my buddies and the same 4 words I said to myself many years ago in North Carolina.

I never thought that over twenty years later I’d come full circle and be standing here in front of you tonight. I am thankful to have had Molly as a positive role model for me when I needed one the most and that’s what I ultimately want to be for the girls in my life. I work as a middle school counselor at an all-girls school in Nashville and am so blessed every day to have the opportunity to take them “outside the Girl Box” challenging them to be authentic.

Sometimes when I’ll teach the girls in class, I’ll have a student say “Mrs. Goodman we learned that in GOTR.” This is a powerful program that sticks with girls long after the 12 weeks are over. My hope is that it sticks with them for a lifetime. To the current GOTR congratulations on completing a 5k. For some of you it may have been your very first and for others one of many. Whatever it was for you, we are all so proud of you.

I encourage you to take this experience with you as get older and look for ways to be involved in a GOTR chapter whether it’s here in Nashville or another city. Think about being a practice volunteer or running buddy when you’re in college. Think about being a coach when you’re out of college and wanting to connect to the community.

To the parents out there, thank you for supporting this wonderful program. I promise it does make a difference in the lives of girls and who knows perhaps it’s even showed you how to love running.

To the coaches, board members, and many volunteers thank you for your devotion to the health of young women and for sharing your talents. It’s an amazing feeling to have so many people believe in you and cheer you on.

I’d like to close with this. Dunkin Donuts has a slogan that says “America runs on Dunkin.” I think that’s true for some people that they really do run on caffeine. I think others would say they run on adrenaline but here at GOTR we run on love and isn’t that the best thing?

Thank you!

Kathleen

Kathleen Goodman was an original Girl on the Run. She was coached by founder Molly Barker during the inaugural program in Charlotte, NC. Now a Nashville resident, Kathleen has volunteered with GOTR Nashville since 2008 serving as a SoleMate, Committee Member, Practice Volunteer, Running Buddy, and even completed our Coaches Training. She wrote the grant proposal for Kappa Delta this year, which was awarded to GOTR Nashville.  As a middle school counselor at Harpeth Hall, she is passionate about building the self esteem of young girls. She hopes to instill a life-long dedication to healthy living and wellness in the girls she works with. Kathleen has come full circle with GOTR and hopes to inspire young girls to do the same.