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Episode 13. Girls on the Run with Kelsie Tarbell
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Welcome to the show! Today we're joined by Kelsie Tarbell, Program Coordinator for Girls on the Run South Louisiana, a nonprofit that helps girls build confidence, develop life skills, and discover their inner strength through movement and meaningful mentorship. In her role, Kelsie works with schools, volunteers, and communities across South Louisiana to bring this life-changing program to more girls each season.
We'll talk about how running becomes a tool for building resilience, leadership, and self-confidence, what makes Girls on the Run so impactful, and how the program is shaping the next generation of strong, compassionate young women. We'll also hear Kelsie's own journey, what inspires her work, and how listeners can get involved.
Kelsie, welcome to the podcast! It's great to have you here.
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Transcript
00:09:46
Speaker
Sweet.
Introduction of Kelsey and Her Role with Cajun Roadrunners
00:09:47
Speaker
Welcome to the podcast, Kelsey. We are so excited to have you. Welcome, welcome to the Wild Ones. I'm excited to be here um So I know Kelsey from...
00:10:00
Speaker
i yeah We just kind of met at Run Club. yeah um Yeah. Your husband's very involved with Cajun Roadrunners, which is another run club down here. um And do you run with them a lot? Because I feel like I've met at a Girls on the Run ah event and then met at the backpacking event.
00:10:20
Speaker
but i feel like you've done a lot with Cajun Roadrunners. I'm on the board as well. I'm the secretary for two years now. That's incredible. So i um I plan on staying because it tends to like cross over for both, like for work and the nonprofit that I volunteer with, with Cajun Roadrunners.
00:10:40
Speaker
So it works out because then it puts me in all the right places. Yeah, that's so cool. And what your husband is on the board as well
History and Evolution of Cajun Roadrunners Club
00:10:52
Speaker
or not? Yes, he was the president previously, but he's not currently. He's just on the board. He's just there.
00:10:59
Speaker
He's just there for the vibes. but Yes, exactly. Wait, I've never been part of a running community that has like a board. This is new to me.
00:11:10
Speaker
and didn't know this existed. I'm not sure how it started. It's been around since the 80s from what I understand. And they started it to benefit UL track team.
00:11:22
Speaker
And so they started putting on Cajun Cup and then it slowly like became more and more and they started offering a membership. And so they have a partnership with the UL track. and you can pay for a membership and it covers our insurance.
00:11:35
Speaker
So you can use the UL track once a week and we have like a dedicated time for like a track workout. Oh, that's cool. We love a track Tuesday. That's where i i ah get all of my speed, speed work. And I wish it was later. I know during the year we like run into issues with like the track team workouts stuff like that, but It's so hot at 5 o'clock still in Louisiana, especially this summer. Yeah. We have to petition like during the summer to be like, hey, can we push this till 7 and maybe it'll be cool enough to we're not all dying in the heat?
00:12:11
Speaker
It's great heat training, too. Sure. That's what I keep telling myself. Who was it? There was someone telling me the other day that it takes two weeks to acclimate to the heat weather, like to run in. And i was like, I don't know that I ever acclimate.
00:12:27
Speaker
I feel that in my core. if it just i just continue to suffer in it. Yeah, I don't think it happens. Yeah, I mean, ah when we're when we're recording this, um not when it gets released, Kelsey and I ran this morning, and it just turned into just us sweating for an hour, just dripping, continuous.
00:12:48
Speaker
it was this It was just a ah walking sauna trip. Guys, i kind of miss that, though, because I don't even sweat here anymore. It just evaporates immediately. Well, Sarah, get what? i like You can come visit us. I'm going to have to. Come sweat. Come sweat.
00:13:07
Speaker
I'll come sweat with you. Maybe early spring, though, so I don't actually die. into shock. Ease into it instead of full on. Peace, love, Louisiana. Kelsey, are you born and raised
Kelsey's Journey into Running and Community
00:13:18
Speaker
here? Yes.
00:13:18
Speaker
full on yeah oh please love louisiana kelsey you're are you born you're born raised here yes Okay. you always um been into running and into sports?
00:13:31
Speaker
Absolutely not. I was the laziest child. I was telling the girl Brooke I was running with this morning, i was telling her, I was like, my parents called me their couch potato child. It was just the way that I was. Like, I just, am they I remember we even went on a trip and we did a lot of walking. It was in Washington, D.C. to like see all the monuments. And I complained the entire time that we had to walk.
00:13:56
Speaker
They still talk about it. And they were like, oh, yeah, Kelsey complained the entire time. But now I'm probably the most active person in my family. That's wild. so way so I don't know what happened. When did that change for you?
00:14:12
Speaker
Maybe 10 years ago, so I'm 33, so about 23, about 10 years ago, i started to become interested in running. My mom was running at the time, and I thought, oh, well, she's running. I'll run with her at races so we can run together, and that was a goal.
00:14:30
Speaker
Now, I wasn't very efficient about my goals, so I would like run and then like I would stop. It really helps being a part of the running community to like see what works for others and just learn a lot. So like I just hadn't found that yet.
00:14:43
Speaker
And i i wasn't very consistent. um So I've been running for 10 years, but not like at all consistently. But i met my husband in 2020.
00:14:59
Speaker
And he introduced me to the running community and everyone that, I mean, all of our friends are running people now. Like, it's just what you do. Which is so cool because I was slightly worried. I was like, oh, is there going to be, like, running community in South Louisiana? Are people going to be – because I was mostly just worried about the heat moving down here. I wasn't sure what it was going look like. And we have a really good crew between all the clubs down here that – they really are very welcoming.
00:15:29
Speaker
um i know Cajun Roadrunners especially like has gone through a couple of changes in the last couple of years. um And it it seems like you couldn't even tell that it had done ah gone through those changes to make it more inclusive, it feels like. And the races that get put on this like down here is pretty incredible too. like The community definitely shows up, especially like from like young age to like all the way to 80 year olds.
00:15:59
Speaker
Well, they approach it correctly. We have race seasons. Yes. Cause no one's going to run in the summer for a 5k. Like you can't find, I don't know that I know of a 5k or like a race during the summer in Louisiana.
00:16:13
Speaker
I mean, they're probably out there, yeah, it's not that I'm interested in doing. don't think would be interested in doing the, the like, don't think anybody would be interested doing one in the, in the summer, unless it's like, a winter like running sport like race community i feel like race season starts in august which is still hot but we do have a ah half marathon in august and then it goes till like may ish okay so like june and probably april may yeah yeah
00:16:46
Speaker
Okay, so like the two like hottest, probably most humid months. Everybody's just like, break for the body. Relax in the AC. Cool. It's quite opposite from the rest of the world. Yes.
00:17:00
Speaker
I figured out. It's just everybody else, like Sarah will be skiing and and not running so much outside. And I'm like, this is perfect weather. I love this. Like the 10th of January. Yeah.
00:17:13
Speaker
Exactly. I'm learning so much about Louisiana right now. It's great. We're here. We're here for it.
The Role of Running in Mental Health
00:17:26
Speaker
So, Kelsey, what was your first race that you ran? um you sign up ah for one with your mom? No. My mom quit running by the time I was, like, serious running. Or not serious, but, like, more interested in, like, dedicating the time to grow my running. Yeah. um She was like, I'm done.
00:17:47
Speaker
i'm over it. she does She was teaching cycling classes, so she thought it was just too much like at her age. She was like, it's just too much. She was tired of doing both, so she quit. But I had done Maddie's Footprint. My office that I was working at previously was like a sponsor, so we had a team, and that was my first five k The first like longer race I ever did was the Mardi Gras Mambo That was the first race I remember. I don't remember much about the other one.
00:18:18
Speaker
It's okay. I think it was 2021, so it wasn't like too long ago. When you started running, did you have like the desire to start racing like different distances and things like that? No.
00:18:34
Speaker
It took me a really long time to grow in confidence for racing. I remember there was several conversations I had with my husband, Jimmy, whenever we were dating, we would sign up for races and he was like, yeah, we're going to go do this race. And I would wake up in the morning. I'd be like, no, I i talk myself out of it. Like I'm not going to do it for like no other reason than just like my head, like my head would just be like, no,
00:18:59
Speaker
Like physically I was able to. So that was, I struggled more so with like moving past the mental and emotional part that comes with running rather than the physical.
00:19:12
Speaker
Gotcha. Yeah. There's a lot that goes into running. It's not just moving your body. For many years, I was convinced that it was just, all you gotta do is move your legs and breathe really heavy. But like there's a lot that goes into it. It really is.
00:19:31
Speaker
So how did you overcome some of that? i had a season that was really tough and I ended up getting on medication temporarily. And I'm very much like this, just my preference. I'm very much anti-medication to like stabilize some of that, but I was having a really tough time. And so I ended up deciding to get on something.
00:19:53
Speaker
And I was on Prozac for maybe two years just to kind of like figure out what yeah was the next steps for me, learn to level myself out. And so running is the only reason I'm able to stay off of medication.
00:20:07
Speaker
true like it It stabilized me out like a lot and kind of like balanced everything. um I noticed like I struggle on weeks whenever I'm not able to run as much.
00:20:19
Speaker
Like I try to do two to three times a week, even if I'm walking most of it. It's just like, it helps so much. Yeah. yeah it's the It's the best like natural medicine. Exactly.
00:20:32
Speaker
So it, I, uh, I forgot your question.
00:20:38
Speaker
Just, yeah. No, you nailed it. I just asked how you, it. Yeah.
00:20:46
Speaker
and losttic
00:20:49
Speaker
It's okay, we do too. Regularly. Yeah, one brain cell doesn't talk to the other one, and then I'm like, where are we at? What happened? And then I'm like talking about otters. That should happen, actually.
00:21:04
Speaker
I don't know what episode that was, but go listen to episode whatever it was with Danielle and Annie. That's where we went down the otter rabbit hole. So it happens and happens quite often. So TBD.
00:21:17
Speaker
oh good There you go. Yeah, I know running is, is I definitely, I'm with you. I noticed difference when I can't get a good workout in or like just moving my body. I'm just like,
00:21:28
Speaker
It's definitely something. I know there's some science backing to it as well. But listen, Elle Woods said, happy people just don't kill their husband because they endorphins. So, and I believe it.
00:21:41
Speaker
She was on to something. What a beautiful quote. It's a quote I live by. It's fitting, It's very fitting. I support it. Right?
00:21:52
Speaker
That's all awesome. Okay, so then how did running transform to
Career Shift to Girls on the Run
00:21:57
Speaker
you? Because you've been with Girls on the Run almost two years, right? Yes.
00:22:03
Speaker
So how how did you get into that? And took that job. Really? Okay. i was working in the medical field for seven years at a doctor's office locally.
00:22:15
Speaker
And I was about to start. and It was God, truthfully. Like I was like about to move further into that and start like looking into schooling to get certified as a medical coder.
00:22:27
Speaker
And probably like that same month, I was like pricing schooling, about to like sign up. I had already like applied for certain like financial aid. and Jimmy saw one of our friends in the running group post about the opening with Girls on the Run. And so he had known like, i had kind of been like, do I want to pursue? Do I want to change? Like, what did I really, what was I wanting to go towards?
00:22:53
Speaker
And so he sent me that and I started to do some research and just reading about what Girls on the Run does and what they stand for and their purpose. I was like, oh, this is I'm meant to do this.
00:23:07
Speaker
Like, this is where I want to be. This this is the kind of work that i would love to be a part of. I had a passion for, my passion is just people. Like I liked working at the doctor's office because I've got to interact with the people and I got to feel like I was helping people, even though i'm not a nurse, it was just like the other side of it. Like I felt like it was still impacting enough people.
00:23:32
Speaker
i cared. So I just needed to feel that in another career. And this was the right move for me to feel like the care was there and the purpose was there.
00:23:45
Speaker
aligning my life with how i live and that mission that they're doing. That's incredible. So I didn't got lucky. that They liked me the most. So I'm just very fortunate. That's awesome. What, um, for, I guess anybody who's listening, who doesn't know what girls on the run is, could you explain a little bit more what the,
00:24:09
Speaker
what that company
Overview of Girls on the Run Program
00:24:10
Speaker
is. I guess company, foundation, don't really know what to describe it as. It is a 501c3. It's a, they call it Girls on the Run International. So like we call it GoToRai, we shorten everything because it's really long. And so it's just easier whenever you're typing stuff. So GoToRai was um founded by Molly, I forget her name. And I'm going to, I think it's Molly Barker. Either Molly Barker was the one who founded it or she's our current CEO. I've mixed them up. I mix up their names.
00:24:45
Speaker
The lady who founded it was triathlete and she saw a need for this type of programming to encourage girls who felt like, I mean, back in the, like, i think it was founded in the eighties or early nineties.
00:24:58
Speaker
And it it just wasn't as prominent for women to be encouraged to pursue running and pursue being active and that style of activity. Like, I think I had read something at one point, like it it blew my mind, like the year that the first woman ran a marathon, like secretly. And it was like in the 80s. I was like, what?
00:25:21
Speaker
That's not that long ago. really wasn't that crazy to think like people weren't doing that before. It's stupid that they thought women anyway. and So we can go off on a whole tangent of just the fact that they thought women couldn't weren't capable physically to be able to do these things.
00:25:36
Speaker
So she founded it. It started in Charlotte, North Carolina. And then it just... It's everywhere now. Like it blows my mind. Like anytime Jimmy and I travel and I like, I'll get on Google and I'm like, Oh, I wonder if there's a girls on the run here. And I'll look it up and I'm like, Oh my gosh, there's a girls on the run in Anchorage, Alaska, whenever we went, like, it's just, they're everywhere. i actually went and visited a friend in North Carolina and we went on a walk And we passed where there was girls on the run chalked for like the 5K like a random path. We were walking at North Carolina and I was like, oh whoa, I was like, it's everywhere. So the we are putting on a program after school for girls, third through eighth grade.
00:26:20
Speaker
They're learning different life skills in the sense of physical and emotional health, teaching them how to take care of themselves from a mental and emotional health and impact inputting the physical aspect of it. So like like we were talking, like what impacts me in running is I notice a big difference in my mental health and running. So like these girls are learning that from an early age, being taught through different I don't want to activities because I feel like it's just redundant to say activities, but that's what it is. Yeah. And they're doing like little group activities through their lessons. I can't think of another word for it. So they're doing different lessons each time they meet and it has like a purpose to it each time. So like, that's cool.
00:27:10
Speaker
It'll have like, um we're learning to run at our happy pace. So that lesson that day will be the happy pace. Yeah. Yes. Oh, me and my friend that she coaches for us, we run and we're like, okay, but what's your happy pace?
00:27:26
Speaker
So you find your happy pace. So that's like one of my favorite ones is happy pace. So all the girls, they're learning happy pace in different ways improve. are going to have that will impact the way that you run and the way that you handle different situations, whether it be at school or just outside in life. So, cause they're all in school. So it's like, yeah, putting all of that together.
00:27:51
Speaker
So like, Taking a test and slowing down and taking a deep breath. So it's teaching them how to like take a deep breath and take a moment and think through your actions and reactions first.
00:28:03
Speaker
So they'll do that twice a week. And then we end with a 5k. It's not a 5k race though. It is a celebration. Yes. and parties So fun. If you have, I will plug this. If you haven't volunteered at a Girls on the Run 5k event, you need to do it. Like that was the most fun I've had at a 5k in I don't know how long. It was so, so cool.
00:28:27
Speaker
It's so cute. They're all so excited as they should be. And then like, they're just pumping up like the energy just everywhere. There's glitter everywhere. There's tutus, pink. It's just,
00:28:39
Speaker
I've never been super girly and I'm like, I'm feeling like everything in my wardrobe now is pink. Cause I'm like, ah it's girls on the run colors. It's incredible. I love that. And that's such a powerful thing for kids at that age as well. Just to have something after school that's like feeding like life and positivity into like their, their normalcy of like life and just ingrained in that as young age. Yeah.
00:29:04
Speaker
It's more welcoming than some of like the other after school activities that are out there, like some of the girls, because you have to try out for track or cheer. And like I had a parent come and tell me, oh, well, my daughter didn't make the track team.
00:29:19
Speaker
And now what does she do? Like. she's How disappointing to say, like, you want to run. And, like, not to say that every girl has to run for our program. Like, they're welcome to do its movement, however makes you happy.
00:29:33
Speaker
But i was like, what ah how disappointing. So she was asking me about it anyway. Oh, wow. that's I didn't even think about that, like, how you have that tryout and you don't make it. You're like, okay, well, what I want to do something. What do I do? Did she end up joining Girls on the Run? Yeah.
00:29:52
Speaker
I just spoke with her. Our season ended in May. so I'm hoping like in the fall. That's true. It is summer. Yay. School's out for the summer. Yeah. Cool. That's awesome. Fingers crossed.
00:30:05
Speaker
So is there a fall, a fall semester, I guess, fall race? That's what we call it. Yeah. So we do a fall and a spring season every year. Okay. That's cool to keep it going.
00:30:18
Speaker
Yeah. Are some of the girls that are in this program, do they stay in the program through like their school age years? They'll do it third through fifth grade. That is our most. So we have two set two different like sections of grade levels. Because I mean, if you think about it, like third and fifth graders, third through fifth grade has like a whole different dynamic in life and school and emotional health. than a sixth through eighth grade like middle school age we don't currently have in Lafayette I know we have some in the Baton Rouge area we'd call them a heart and soul team for sixth through eighth grade and it'd be a girls on the run team for the third through fifth um but they could potentially like do all of those years if it's at their school okay
00:31:09
Speaker
that's hard A lot of them I've seen do return, though, like third through fifth. They, like, continue to do it all of those times. Oh, that's awesome to see. so what is your what is your official role title? What do you do um for an at Girls on the Run?
00:31:26
Speaker
I am the program coordinator for Acadiana. So I am over all of Acadiana with our 5K, our schools, our coaches, our volunteers. Yeah.
00:31:39
Speaker
yeah making sure everything it Making sure people are communicated with what they need to know, basically. That's the easiest way to like say it.
00:31:50
Speaker
I've tried to like describe my job any other way, and I'm like, the simplest way is just to say, and making sure everyone has the information they need. Yeah. that's That's a hard task sometimes in a very important role. we We've been, I've had it several people a compliment my boss and my, ah in she didn't like me call her boss, but she is my superior, my coworker.
00:32:16
Speaker
They have done a really good job on keeping us really organized. And we've worked since I started on just like streamlining things, making sure things are easy and consistent to make our lives easier and make sure our our volunteers are getting the information they need and their parents as well.
00:32:34
Speaker
That's really good. do How does one get a Girls on the Run program at their school? or i guess it's just through school, right? It's not like a community center or anything like that.
00:32:48
Speaker
We have the ability to do it at a community center if they want to. um i feel like probably been years. I feel like I've seen something about it being held at Girard Park in the past. So I know it's possible in Lafayette. I know we have a couple in Baton Rouge that are at community centers or rec centers is what they have a lot of rec centers there. um You would fill out on our website. We have a site interest form or email me either way.
00:33:19
Speaker
There you go. then Facebook page, like we have many different ways. Like you can find our Facebook page and just like message us like however is easiest. Okay.
00:33:29
Speaker
That's awesome. Yeah. Cause I'm just thinking like anybody listening to this who doesn't have girls on the run um in their own backyard or close, like how they could start one or even just maybe bring it to the school. If there's a teacher listening to this, who's interested in girls on the run to do that.
00:33:49
Speaker
anywhere in the country because it's i I mean like you said there's chapters everywhere which is really cool to see I had a friend who was volunteering with us in Lafayette and she moved the one that moved to Colorado and she already sent me something and she was like oh already found our Denver chapter and gonna volunteer with them because she's she's hooked now she likes it she's it helps because you like once you volunteer with us you know the flow of everything so then you can go anywhere and just do it and know like what the system is That is really nice too, like that it's all the same SOP. You're not going to like yeah do anything different and makes a uniform to, I guess, again, volunteer literally anywhere in the United States.
00:34:33
Speaker
well i guess girls only went international so like don't know mexico where are we where we international but i i don't know why it's international i'm like where where is it international maybe that's the goal maybe they made that name because it's the gold i'm not aware maybe i've missed it but i am not aware that it is out of the country yet yet there we go Well, you're going to Canada um later this summer, so you might as well just bring ah Girls on the Run to Canada. okay but actually, we have some listeners from like Spain and France and some other places, so maybe that's how Girls on the Run International makes it international. you're listening and you're inspired by this and you think more women should be in sports, get in your schools and let's get this program going because I would have loved something like this as a kid. Right.
00:35:27
Speaker
didn yeah like growing up i was not like super physically active like i always ran around and played sports and like was outside all the time like with my neighbors and stuff but like like doing something like a track team wasn't and like, it didn't sound interesting to me. sounded like too competitive and like I wasn't a runner at that age. um But I think I would have been interested in like a community that like really just taught me how to move my body and have a happy pace. Like I love that so much. Oh, my husband just looked it up and put his phone close by. is in Canada.
00:36:12
Speaker
and maybe maybe that's why we are we are international but hey now we wait with spain sweden like somewhere else yeah it could happen we we we know somebody i promise i definitely was the same i was not interested in being competitive and joining sports or anything like that um Yeah, ah I did art.
00:36:40
Speaker
So I guess I had something. But like, as far as being physically active, like, I had no interest in doing sports or anything in that manner. But having a welcoming place.
00:36:53
Speaker
It's different. Like i've I've heard a lot of parents who have said like they see how we are and how we do things and they're like, oh, it's really welcoming. Like we had camp last week at Broadmoor and it was just four hours. And the amount of times the parents were like, oh, my daughter's coming home so happy. Like they're so excited. They're loving it. wow Because I think I even had one the first day whenever she dropped her off, she said she's nervous. Yeah. And i was like, no, like all the girls were so welcoming last year for camp. And sure enough, every day that she left, she was big smiling.
00:37:25
Speaker
And then whenever she would get there after she was like ready to go. Cause it's just, all the girls are so welcoming to every one that joins in. That's incredible. Yeah. i think it's like the culture that's created yeah through girls on the run that like teaches other girls to like be welcoming and supportive and like really truly cheer on and encourage each other, which is what women in sports needs. And I love that it's starting at such a young age for these kids.
00:37:55
Speaker
It's impactful. No, it's huge. I mean, i was the weird one who did sport all the time. i was in gymnastics and did hours of ballet and just like was all over the place. And so i like,
00:38:11
Speaker
kind of felt to the outside and never like was totally welcomed by like girls at my school just just kind how it was um and so I think having something like this definitely would have at least helped like I mean you're teaching like girls in right is teaching kindness is teaching like inclusivity and not just like oh you look and smell weird okay um so i but that makes a huge difference when you're that age because like you can like be, like, one of the mean girls or be on the other side of it. But I think even if like, the girls, like, are are being taught hate, be kind to one another, and they see somebody being unkind, like, they have more of a voice because they have that incredible base to be just awesome humans in sport and in life, which is really cool. to be Last week at camp, they had, like,
00:39:04
Speaker
It's set up very similar to the program, just extended four hours. So this was something that I liked that they did at camp that we don't normally see in the program is compliment cards.
00:39:15
Speaker
So the girls, we would write like a name and then we'd pass out at random and they're supposed to kind of like keep an eye on this person. and at the end of the day, they were the morning, they would write on the card something they wanted to compliment that person. And you have to do it in a way that's, You look at them and it's teaching them to give a compliment and receive it.
00:39:38
Speaker
So they're saying it to the person directly. They're looking at them while they do it. And the person that they're telling says, thank you. And they say, you're welcome. And it's like teaching them those skills of that.
00:39:52
Speaker
I mean, even like as adults, do we know how to take compliments all the time? Oh, my gosh. Yeah.
00:40:01
Speaker
Yeah, I'm like, I'm always like, everyone's like, oh, I like your dress. And I have to explain, oh, it was on sale. It was somewhere else. It has pockets. Like, instead of just saying, thank you. Like, that's the same way. Like, can I just say shut up? it Like, can I just shut up and say thank you? Like, yeah.
00:40:18
Speaker
I mean, it is nice. Like, if if it is an outfit, like Viv was saying, if it is an outfit. Some people do want to know. So I agree. But I think we forget to just say like, oh, thank you sometimes. So I'd like that they integrated that into the curriculum for camp to just teach them that from an early age.
00:40:37
Speaker
That's awesome. And so if they're not hearing anything positive outside of camp, they're at least hearing something positive and it might impact them to think in that way. Yeah, or think differently of themselves if some external sources from other parts of their life are not positive. You know, they have, like, that one consistent place that they can go, and they know that, like, they have positive influences in their learning life skills in that as well.
00:41:07
Speaker
Which is really important. And I think it's changing a lot of lives. And I had learning so much right now. I didn't know this much about girls on the run. um My husband's friend is a volunteer teacher for one of the programs here in Colorado. And so like, I just had heard about it for the first time this last fall. And um I really didn't, yeah, didn't know a whole lot about it until today.
00:41:33
Speaker
i knew nothing about it until Jimmy sent me a job listing. And I like, went on a deep dive and I was like, what is this? Where did it come from? Like the history of it. Cause it's just so fascinating. Like if you're not, I think we were talking about it at work, like with my boss, like if you're not in this realm, you're not going to hear about it.
00:41:56
Speaker
Yeah. It's I, yeah, it's kind of like, I mean, slightly like how we started this podcast too. was like, how, how can we get more females in endurance sports, but also like, how do we create a positive conversation around it versus just being like, Oh yeah, we need more females in sport. Okay. Yeah, we do. But how do we, how do we do that?
00:42:14
Speaker
How do we have these conversations? And like, preaching girls on the run um is one of them because you that's how that's how we can start them from a young age and be like you can do something incredible because you are incredible instead of just like okay there's these really cool sports out there give it a go and if you're not fast enough if you're not good enough you're not you're not going to be successful at it instead of that positive talk of like yeah you are incredible you can do this it is possible yeah And it's it's been so cool because, like, I i knew Girls on the Run, but I think after the 5K and having, like, more conversations with –
00:42:54
Speaker
A lot of your coworkers during that like volunteer time, that was something really cool because like I got to hear kind of their stories of how they got into it. because I didn't know too much because knew we were going to chat eventually. um But just knowing how you got into it is so wild. Just like, hey, random job post.
00:43:13
Speaker
it was so random. I love that. Sometimes the best things in life come that way, though, just out of the left field. You just jump on the opportunity. yeah And here you are today. That's amazing.
00:43:26
Speaker
What's kept to you going um in this job? Like what's the, what's your favorite part about what you do every single day?
00:43:35
Speaker
Seeing the girls. So like I was going to add something about our 5k that just like, I still think about it. I cried at the end of the first 5k I witnessed. No one could see it because it behind my sunglasses. But was like tearing up.
00:43:50
Speaker
this So we never let like, I think our goal is to not have the girls be last because it's not like a race. It's not a competition. It's just finishing it and completing the goal that they have. And so we in Baton Rouge, they have a consistent group that walks behind the last girl of the 5K and that last girl finished. And y'all, I could cry about again. was just so sweet. oh She like finished it and she threw her hands up and she said, I did it. And I was like,
00:44:20
Speaker
Oh, like it just melted my heart. I was like, this is just so precious. She was so excited. And I was like, I just, I mean, like, I feel that about finishing races, but like, I'm a grown adult. Like I have the ability to like,
00:44:33
Speaker
really think through that kind of stuff. Like these kids don't always like really think through like what they're accomplishing is such a big deal. Like we had one girl who wasn't supposed to be able to make it to our Lafayette 5K. So her mom had her go to the Baton Rouge one. So she did the Baton Rouge one. And then she texted me and she said, Hey, she's going to come be at the Lafayette one. And I said, do y'all realize this child has run more miles than I have in two days this weekend? That's Yeah. back to back. i mean, three miles. So six miles for the weekend.
00:45:02
Speaker
It's like y'all need to frame this, put her two medals together. Like this is a huge deal. So I made sure like, does she know that it's a big deal? Like does she know that this is like an amazing accomplishment for someone her age?
00:45:16
Speaker
That's so fun. Oh, I love that. You're like, yeah, this is, this is huge. Come on. Like, big deal. I feel like that's a big deal. It is. So I just, I enjoy, like, even at camp, like, some of the girls remembered me from last year, and they were like, oh Coach Kelsey. And so I loved having them, like, run. It was just, I just, I like it.
00:45:36
Speaker
yeah i do I do also really, like, what keeps me going as far as, like, the day-to-day stuff, because I don't always get to interact with the girls, yeah is I have really good coworkers.
00:45:49
Speaker
That makes It's a really good work environment. um In our, like, onboarding training, there is even, like, a section that you have to watch about work-life balance. And so Girls on the Run is really supportive of, like, making sure you take care of yourself.
00:46:07
Speaker
I mean, at our conference, at our summit in two weeks, they have group activities, like hiking, a group run, a yoga before like summit starts, like the sessions start for the day. So like they're really into making sure everyone takes care of themselves. And I'm just fortunate that my boss sticks to that and she believes that and sees that it's impactful to your Yeah.
00:46:36
Speaker
I also think it makes people more productive when they can put themselves first and take care of their mental and physical health and like really come fully present who they are to their workplace. um I really love that. And I would really love to see so many more jobs like that in America because we could – oh, my gosh. I could go on a tangent, but like we could really benefit – as a society, as a whole, if more workplaces took this approach on work and life.
00:47:10
Speaker
hey Oh, we'd be so happy. One day, and maybe one day. As more studies come out to prove that that's what makes an impact on people being able to function well. and I just hope we're not 80 when that happens, though.
00:47:29
Speaker
Okay, but honestly, with all the girls that are joining Girls on the Run, they're about to be adults soon. So like the ones that like started when they were young are starting to be that generation that's getting into the workforce and really making changes happen. So it could happen. We have people who are volunteering for us that are alumni that have completed the program in the past.
00:47:52
Speaker
I love that. That's really, really cool. like ah That is truly a full circle moment. Yeah, it's been really neat. Oh, that's awesome.
00:48:03
Speaker
Oh my gosh, that's incredible. So is it the 5k celebration at the end of each season, that's is that like the only Girls on the Run race-ish celebration that they do?
00:48:17
Speaker
Yeah, they do it twice a year at the end of the season. Okay. Are there any um larger races that girls or larger races or events that Girls on the Run either promotes or um sponsors do know of?
00:48:33
Speaker
We have our soulmates. So you could be sponsored as a runner through Louisiana Marathon. um And you I think you We have a sign up on our website, probably. It's probably linked on the website. If not, I can give you the link to put in the notes.
00:48:53
Speaker
um But you can register the Louisiana Marathon and sign up on our end to be a soulmate. So you would raise money and run.
00:49:03
Speaker
and forget what they call it. It's like a specific. I can't think of the word. I'm blanking, but you would raise money. A charity runner. Yes. Okay. I was like, I couldn't think of the right word for it. A charity runner.
00:49:19
Speaker
So we have that with the Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge. Okay. That's really cool. That's normally in January. Yes. i've have you Have you been to that one? Have you ran the half or the full?
00:49:33
Speaker
I have not. I've done Zydeco, but that's the only one like in that time frame that I've run in the beginning of the year. Yeah. Fair.
00:49:44
Speaker
Yeah. We got to stick to our ah running schedule here in the South. We can't do anything in and July um like the rest of the world. No. Okay. That's really awesome.
00:49:55
Speaker
I wonder, I'm curious now if like other, I'm sure other like marathons have soulmate and charity spots for girls on the run since it's a since it's so big Oh, yeah. yeah they' well here It's just so we're under Girls on the Run South Louisiana. So like to directly support us for like us. So like it's probably like that for other yeah councils in other areas. They may have a race they specifically partner with that has that as well.
00:50:29
Speaker
nice All right. If you're listening, find your local chapter and ask them about a sponsor so you can raise money for Girls on the Run in your area. you should do that. I would love to. I'm so in this now, invested in it.
00:50:46
Speaker
You're going have to look and see if there's BV chapter. or soli Yeah. Make it happen. There's enough women here that will make that happen. Depending on how far Denver, like if there's one in Colorado Springs, like sometimes like, so our regions go out further than you would think. So they may have a further reach or they can submit to be in that area.
00:51:11
Speaker
Yeah. and And support you in your area. Put one or i submit for a, is it a site? Is that how would call Yeah, a site. Okay. Perfect. There you go.
00:51:22
Speaker
That's so fun. I love these conversations because. I learned so much of Girls on the Run, too, from you today and just how it works and the inner workings of it because it's it's not complicated, but the impact is so massive to females in sport um and just your interactions that you've you've talked about with with the girls that it makes an impact in their lives, truly. Yeah.
00:51:52
Speaker
I want to do this. This is cool. It's not anything um super competitive, but at least like shows them, hey, you can be incredible at something. You can accomplish the goals that you set out to do.
00:52:05
Speaker
That's really cool. I love it. the So like it's doing it with support. So each girl, i forgot to add this, I guess we'll go back to five k a little bit.
00:52:16
Speaker
Each girl, like we try to have them with a running buddy. we actually started calling them a 5k buddy just to know like not everybody has to run. Like you could walk it and it's okay. yeah um So each girl has a 5k buddy so that they have that support system while they're doing it. So they're not out there by themselves. It's for safety and for that.
00:52:33
Speaker
Okay. I did notice that a the buddy is at the 5K. That's good to know. I was just like, oh everybody just hopping in. This was a fun time. There's actually a purpose to it.
00:52:44
Speaker
yes Yes. That's awesome. Can you sign up? So let's say um anybody listening or there their local chapter, what's the best way to get involved with Girls on the Run?
00:53:00
Speaker
It depends on what your availability is We have people who are able to coach. um A lot of them end up being teachers. We have some that are parents, college students, because it is like, let's say,
00:53:14
Speaker
It's after school. So it would be two days a week from, i don't know, like three to 345. It depends on when school ends. Some of them are later, some of them are earlier. So not everyone's able to commit to that timeframe. So another way to be involved would be like, we have committees. So we have like a 5k committee that would help planning in our We have a coach advisory board. So you would have had to coach to do that, but that's another way. Like if you're not able to coach, you can say, oh, well coach, but I can be coach advisory. 5K volunteer works really well for everyone because it's on the weekends.
00:53:54
Speaker
easy to commit it's one day but it makes such a difference to have our good support system out there as you saw it is a lot going on yeah it is i think we had we probably had close to 700 750 this that's yeah our has probably around a thousand to two to it just depends um So, yeah, it's it the volunteers are definitely needed.
00:54:29
Speaker
I didn't realize how many. That's OK. Those are some good ways to get involved. And I'm sure it's all on the site for the Girls on the Run. talk And you could reach out to your local council and say, like, where can I be involved? I typically will send people like, here's your options. Here's what works for some people. Here's what works for some people.
00:54:49
Speaker
Just so you have like choices to choose from. Yeah. no That's really good to know for anybody who's sponsoring as well. We love that as well.
00:55:02
Speaker
You got to get some sponsors in there. yeah Anybody wants to sponsor Girls on the Run um at any point, you own a company. find them. yeah Let us know. We will connect to you. We will find somebody. Martin, let's see.
00:55:22
Speaker
We put all the companies into the algorithm here. Just tag them on this podcast. I got a Powerade. Well, I don't know I had some girls calling it the Blue Juice. They're like, have the Blue Juice? And I was like, you can have the Blue Juice. So Powerade will go water.
00:55:39
Speaker
and i was like, all right. well Maybe we have a ah new ah a new ah little wording for Powerade and Girls on the Run. Blue Juice. Yeah. Whatever works.
00:55:51
Speaker
Oh, that's awesome. That's incredible. i I love this. That's really, really cool that you've been able to get randomly get into this job and then see the impact that it has made, too.
00:56:05
Speaker
How has being part of Girls the Run impacted your own athletic journey? It's much easier for me to motivate myself because i it because like I learn stuff from the lessons that they're learning.
00:56:21
Speaker
Like, happy pace. And like just seeing like they just do it and they just go out and run. And I'm like, i I should be able to do that. it' like bridge out They make you look easy.
00:56:33
Speaker
Yes. Like, naturally. Yes. It just... I guess that's that's pretty much... I'm trying to think of what else, but that's, that's it. They just, it motivates me to stay active because we're also setting an example.
00:56:51
Speaker
Yeah. that's huge. Like, well, I know I can do it. I can do it. One of our schools, I think I'm, I've, I coached there for whenever I had to as like a new staff member. And so I got to know some of the parents there and,
00:57:10
Speaker
a lot of them started running and started taking better care of themselves in a physical stance because of their daughters being in girls on the run. And they have to run a 5k with their daughter who is either going to run or walk, but like it might be more activity than the parent is used to doing.
00:57:29
Speaker
And so they were like, oh, I realized I can't do that. And so then the next time i saw them and I was like, oh, wow, they've been like, you can see a difference physically. And they were like, oh, started walking every day. Wow. Or I started running once a week with my daughter. Like it just it brings more family stuff together than we realize. It makes that impact as well.
00:57:54
Speaker
That's amazing. That's cool to also see. Positive, contagious.
00:58:03
Speaker
That's so fun. Oh, I love that. Well, if you've not heard of Girls on the Run, here's the entire podcast on it. because this this is This is really, really cool to hear about. like I'll keep harping on it. is I mean, we've definitely, Sarah and I, both learned something about it, but also just like the...
00:58:23
Speaker
impact it's made on your life as well as like anybody else um who's been a part of it um because it's a kind of like one of those again if you're not in the world around female sports or getting females into sport then it's um you're not going to hear about it you're not going to look at it you're going to try and um see in it or not even see it that makes sense exactly so that's awesome um uh something we ask um kind of all of our guests is do you have any advice for any females trying to get into sport that are not part of girls on the run stop putting so much pressure on yourself yeah like and sometimes like just don't take it so seriously like that's what i've kind of learned like i think that's why i would get so intimidated about signing up for races like i was saying like
00:59:19
Speaker
I was taking it so seriously and i was like, oh my gosh, everyone's going to be faster than me. Everyone's going to be better than me. Who cares? Like, truthfully, like, who cares?
00:59:29
Speaker
Like, it took me, the 40 mile race I did took me probably an hour longer than I wanted it to. But like, what's it matter? I did it and I finished. Yeah. And I'm proud to say, like, I finished a goal that I had set out.
00:59:42
Speaker
So like, just, I think I've learned that also just in trail racing, like trail racing is way less serious. Yeah. Like the first trail race I did was in Texas. don't remember where. And it was called the Sasquatch Shuffle. And it was majority women that ran that race. And they were just out there having fun.
01:00:01
Speaker
I love that. So like that would be my one thing is like, please don't take it so seriously sometimes. Like just have fun.
01:00:09
Speaker
I think that's a really good wisdom nugget for sure. It's so easy to get caught up in yes like the paces, the goals, all the things that like sometimes you can even forget why you started it in the first place.
01:00:24
Speaker
And it is just to be happy and outside and move your body and to have fun and to meet new people and to have new experiences and none of the other stuff. That just, yeah. Yeah.
01:00:37
Speaker
Just got to let it go. Let go and let it roll. Good and ah job. Now I'm thinking about dinner rolls. I'm hungry. I'm not so hungry. I'm hungry too.
01:00:55
Speaker
It's too late to eat lunch and ah breakfast and then i now I'm like, oh, lunch is three o'clock and I need to eat. It's, like it's, like it's linear at this point. What's, what's, what's breakfast, uh, lunch and dinner all together. We need a think of, think of a word for that. Cause I woke up at like 30 this morning.
01:01:20
Speaker
There you go It's all, it's all one big blur at this point. Yeah. Yeah. Linner. I'll go have linner. So funny. Kelsey, do you have any like last pieces of... and i Well, you already asked that question, actually. This is how hungry my brain is. I can say one more thing. Just go find yeah girls on the run council. Get involved. Find something. There's there's some way like, oh another way people people come and, like, prep our 5K stuff for us. Like, oh people make bandanas, make tutus, make whatever your council does as, like, a giveaway or a fundraiser. Like, we do tutus for a fundraiser. So, craft night. I was curious where the tutus came from.
01:02:07
Speaker
yeah we have people that make them.
01:02:11
Speaker
That's amazing. So get involved somehow. Just, yeah, find a way. There's something. there's it They have plenty of options for whatever your schedule is.
01:02:22
Speaker
That's amazing. I like that. I've learned so much today. I'm absolutely going to be going on the website right after we end this call. and Find it. Are you hiring? Find out what's so close by. Hey, there you go. we'll ah hope We'll find you a post and we'll send it to you, Sarah. too.
01:02:43
Speaker
there's any job openings, let me know. It's a really fun job. and No, like, the more you talk about it, the the more I am just, like, very interested in a job in a community like that. It's been my entire life now. Like my husband would probably tell you that's all I talk about.
01:03:03
Speaker
Like we go places and I'm like, Girls on the Run, have you heard about it What amazing thing to talk about. it I mean, that's that's us with Swim Run. Everybody knows that we're like, hey, yeah this work have you heard of this?
01:03:15
Speaker
Because it's so incredible. Like Girls on the Run is incredible. Everybody needs to know about it. I've just been drinking the Girls on the Run Kool-Aid now. but ready Ready to commit.
01:03:28
Speaker
We're going to
01:03:33
Speaker
No, actually, it's so amazing. I have really enjoyed this conversation with you. Thanks for sharing so much about it and just your journey with it as well. It's been really fun to listen in and I really hope people enjoy listening and get inspired to get out there and also be more involved in growth the your run community and just move their bodies and whatever that happy pace is and just get after it. Yeah, find your happy pace.
01:04:01
Speaker
I love It's my favorite phrase. It's just so good. you too now. It really is.
01:04:10
Speaker
Awesome. Oh my gosh. Well, thank you so much, Kelsey, for coming on the podcast. We've definitely enjoyed this conversation and I hope everybody listening has as well because you are, um again, I say this about every guest. I will continue to say it. You are a gem of a human and I'm so lucky that you live in South Louisiana and I get to see you on like almost like a weekly bi-weekly basis um so it's it's so fun but getting to know you a little bit more and and um what girls on the run is has meant for you and um has been really really cool so thank you so much no thank y'all it was fun
01:04:45
Speaker
I like the chit chat though. i love a chit chat. Me too. Awesome. awesome Well, thank you all for listening to this episode of the podcast. We'll see you next time.
01:04:57
Speaker
bye i