Photo Gallery: Girls On The Run 5K

Girls On The Run (GOTR) Greater Boston Chapter and the Nantucket Community School partnered this spring to create a program where volunteer coaches facilitated lessons with girls grades 3-5 over a two month span that blended physical activity with life skill development including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. 

Girls On The Run is a national 501(c)(3) program and the Nantucket chapter was founded by Kate Chambers and Bridgette Hynes. Chambers previously served as a volunteer coach in Denver for a couple of years before moving to the island and said after witnessing the positive impact the program had on girls in Denver, she wanted to bring that same program to Nantucket. Hynes, owner of the Nantucket Run Centre, had previously heard of the program and the duo worked side by side to create the island's chapter.

The lessons, which involved five Nantucket Intermediate School students and five volunteer coaches, took place on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:30-4:00 p.m. The first lesson was on April 4.

The end of the season is celebrated by a Community Impact Project and a 5K. However, the 5K race was orchestrated by the Boston chapter and held in the city on June 1 in the early morning hours, so it didn't make logistical sense for Nantucket participants to be able to attend. This led to Chambers and Hynes getting creative.

Ultimately plans were set in motion for Girls On The Run to team up with Brant Point Runners to participate in the first Brant Point Runners 5K of the 2024 summer season. These community fun runs take place every Tuesday night from early June through early September with about 25-50 runners of all ages and levels joining in the event.

This collaborative run was held on Tuesday, June 4 at 5:15 p.m. and began on Easton Street. Below are some photos taken by the Current of the runners during the 5K.