Girls on the right track

At Bristow Run and Cedar Point elementary schools, students are working to improve their health and their self-esteem.

The schools both have Girls on the Run programs, running clubs aimed at girls ages 8 to 13.

In the program, which is also in place at Yorkshire, Henderson, Mountain View, Penn, Pennington, Rosa Parks and Springwoods elementary schools in Prince William County, girls learn running skills as well as life skills.

At a recent meeting at Bristow Run, the 16 girls in the program there discussed what it means to be a community before running laps.

"I think what they enjoy the most is the discussions," said Felice Hilton, a coach at Bristow Run's program.

"You get to learn something new every week," Bristow Run student Emily Lowe said.

At Cedar Point, most students said they joined the club because they like running.

"I wanted to exercise and be healthier," said Cedar Point student Emily Kelly.

The girls also said they've learned a lot about running through the program.

"When you pace yourself you can run really far," Cedar Point student Elizabeth Martin said.

"I can now run much longer distances," said Bristow Run student Lea Neumann.

They will run in a 5K race—a first for most of them—in Reston on Saturday.

"I've always been a runner, but I didn't run in my first 5K until I was 30," Hilton said. "And these girls are doing it at 8, 9 and 10."

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.