Girls from four Sanford schools headed to the Topsham Fairgrounds to compete in the Girls on the Run 5K, joining participants from across the state of Maine.
Students and staff from Sanford Pride Elementary, Margaret Chase Smith Elementary, Carl J. Lamb Elementary, and Sanford Middle School represented the Sanford School Department at the event.
The 5K was the culmination of several months of preparation. Beginning earlier this school year, the girls took part in the Girls on the Run program, which combines running training with life skills development. In the weeks and months leading up to the state event, participants trained and practiced at their own schools, and each school held its own individual race to help the girls build confidence and experience ahead of the big day.
Rain fell for some of the day at the Topsham Fairgrounds, but that did not slow down the Sanford runners, who completed the course alongside their peers from communities throughout Maine.
Girls on the Run is a national nonprofit program designed to inspire girls in third through eighth grade to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them unique, using a running-based curriculum to build confidence, resilience, and teamwork.