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Learn More: The Girls Movement

A free running program tailored exclusively for girls.

Stefanie Ediger avatar
Written by Stefanie Ediger
Updated this week

Empowering Girls Through Running

The Girls Movement, a free program under the Marathon Kids banner, is dedicated to championing girls' physical and emotional well-being.

Thanks to the DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation and the Brooks Running Empower Her Collection for making this program possible.

The Girls Movement Program addresses the significant disparity in youth sports participation, where girls drop out at twice the rate of boys by age 14.

Your commitment to empowering young minds through running is crucial in addressing this imbalance.

The Girls Movement is a free, confidence-building physical activity program for girls in grades K–12 focused on self-paced running, walking, games, and positive social experiences.

This flexible program can be tailored to fit your group’s unique needs.

The program is centered around three goals:

  • Build Confidence

  • Develop Character

  • Cultivate Connections

The program has a curriculum for girls, team-building activities, pacing strategies, and more, all found in the Resource Library.

(Note: The lessons and materials are geared towards girls in 4th -8th grade)

Track laps and minutes of activity with our free digital tracking platform!

Watch the video for a quick demonstration of your account.

The digital platform is in two parts:

In your account, you will add your participants, print ID cards, see the data, reward for milestones achieved, and pull reports.

The scanner app has one job: to scan the personalized ID cards for laps or minutes of activity completed. Each QR code is auto-generated and personalized for each girl.

Coach Empowerment Kit

Qualified schools may receive a Coach Empowerment Kit with a coach stipend for leading a club with girls in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and/or 8th grade.

This flexible program can be tailored to include any grade level within this range, ensuring it fits your group’s unique needs.

Start Your All-Girls Program Today

If you are interested in The Girls Movement, start today by creating or logging into your Marathon Kids account to start a club.

  • Be sure to check the box "Is this an all-female club using The Girls Movement Curriculum?"

If you're already familiar with and passionate about The Marathon Kids program, rest assured that this beloved program remains unchanged.

Marathon Kids is for all kids, age, abilities, and backgrounds.

And guess what? You can have multiple programs with Marathon Kids led by one or more co-workers/staff/parent volunteers!


The Goals of The Program

Building on our proven six evidence-based pillars, the Girls Movement program is a dynamic initiative aimed at achieving three key goals.

Confidence Building:

A positive coaching approach fosters an environment that empowers participants to set and achieve personal running goals, promoting a sense of accomplishment and building lasting confidence in their abilities.

Character Development:

Instill strong character values in every participant by emphasizing resilience, determination, and teamwork through the targeted running curriculum and positive reinforcement within the program.

Cultivate Connection:

Facilitate meaningful connections among participants, coaches, and the broader community, creating a supportive network that encourages shared experiences, friendships, and a sense of belonging within the Girls Movement program.


Managing Multiple Marathon Kids Programs

You can have multiple clubs with Marathon Kids. If you are considering starting a Girls Movement run club in addition to your current club, you can easily do that!

  • In your account, start a new club to track your Girls Movement program separately from your existing program.

    • Click "Add a Club" and claim your location again.

      • Give this club a unique name.

      • Check the box, "Is this an all-female running club using The Girls Movement curriculum?"

The curriculum and program materials are available in the Resource Library.

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