Run Like a Girl on Sept. 27

We know that being active is one of the biggest contributors to higher quality of life and higher self-esteem, but many Canadian girls aren’t getting the activity they need.

According to a 2013 Statistics Canada survey, only 6% of girls aged 5 to 17 are getting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Boys are more than twice as likely (13%) to get the recommended dose of exercise, although there’s still lots of room for improvement.

Why the difference in participation?

One reason is that girls face more barriers to sport, from a lack of programming options to low confidence in athletic ability.

Working alongside two great partner organizations, Run Ottawa is hoping to help break down some of those barriers by offering a new race for girls (and women of all ages) from across Ottawa and Gatineau.

Coming this September is the first ever Girls Run Ottawa, an event that promotes physical activity for girls in a way that’s fun, open and encourages positive self-image. Featuring a 5K route along the beautiful pathways of Mooney’s Bay and Hog’s Back Park, this is a race for new and experienced runners alike.

In particular, this is a great opportunity for moms who love running to get out and run with their daughters in a fun, supportive atmosphere.

Two Great Partners: Canadian Women’s Running Series and FitSpirit

The Girls Run Ottawa is a part of the Canadian Women’s Running Series, a new series of similar events taking place across Canada. The series roots go back to 2007 and the À Toi Lola race day in Mont-Tremblant, Québec.

After many successful years of bringing thousands of women to Mont-Tremblant for races of 3, 5  ,10 and 15 kilometres, the organizers of À Toi Lola wanted to bring the same experience to women living in the rest of Canada.

Now with events in Sudbury, Montreal and Ottawa, the Canadian Women’s Running Series hopes to keep getting more and more women active.

While the Canadian Women’s Running Series hopes to reach out to women of all ages, another partner organization is focused on reaching girls while they’re young.

FitSpirit was founded in 2007 by Claudine Labelle and since then, its programs have reached more than 80,000 teenage girls in schools across Quebec and Ontario. Their flagship event, the FitClub, is an 8-week fitness training program that culminates with a 5K or 10K run.

Each FitClub starts with a visit from a female Canadian athlete, who shares stories about her own experience growing up and being involved with sports. Past speakers have included pro athletes like triathlete Isabelle Gagnon and three-time gold medal winning hockey player Becky Kellar.

With partners like FitSpirit and the Canadian Women’s Running Series, the first Girls Run Ottawa will be a not-to-be-missed event for mothers, daughters and women of all ages.

More Information and Registration

For more information about the Girls Run Ottawa, and to register by yourself or with a team, check out the race event page. We hope you can come join the fun on Sept. 27 and show us what it really means to run like a girl!