Sometimes runners take running for granted. It's good to get out there and do a three-miler or longer workout. Girls on the Run, a 10- to 12-week program for third- through fifth-grade students, shows that running can be much more.

"Girls on the Run focuses on physical activity to help (promote) personal and emotional character," says Roxanna Hartline, coordinator for Ottawa County Communities that Care.

The program culminates in a 5K fun run, which all the girls hope to finish. But what happens between enrollment and the finish line counts more.

Paricipants meet a couple of times a week, after school. They run --with a training program and specific workouts in place -- but they also get character-building lessons to help them with problems most early adolescents face.

"The program tackles tobacco and alcohol use, personal safety, and how to communicate and appreciate differences," says Hartline. Other issues confronted include teen pregnancy, drugs, obesity and anorexia. "We use running to assist girls with other lessons," Hartline says.

Girls on the Run was launched in North Carolina six years ago by Ironwoman triathlete Molly Barker. "Holland is host to the first such program in Michigan," says Hartline. "It's now the largest in the U.S."

Girls on the Run encompasses more than 60 communities, with 30,000 participants nationwide.

"We started at two grade schools here in November 2000," says Hartline. "Communities that Care asked school counselors to help set things up for about 20 girls we thought might be interested. At an organizational meeting the next month "fifteen groups showed up!"

When Girls on the Run finally kicked off in Holland, there were 17 programs with 391 girls. "We probably could have doubled that number," says Hartline. "We just couldn't register them all."

Fifth-grade enrollees were given priority at first. A few girls were identified and recommended as being at-risk. "We worked with family courts," says Hartline. "Probation officers identified girls who had older siblings in the court system." But, she emphasizes, the program is intended to reach all girls.

"This has been an eye-opening experience for my team and myself," says volunteer coach Kate Anthes. "I saw girls set goals for themselves and develop socially, emotionally and academically. They will cherish the life lessons learned through Girls on the Run, and I will too."

Hartline says volunteer coaches, such as Anthes, "were elementary teachers, athletic instructors, a probation officer, social workers, counselors, police officers and health department workers. We had one stay-at-home mom too." Participants are encouraged to set goals, such as completing the 5K, then shown how to meet those ends. Workouts, for instance, were broken into manageable segments -- "long runs" consisted of first running to a stop sign, then to railroad tracks, and so on.

Hartline described one workout that first focused on the uniqueness of each girl. "Who just moved here from California? (coaches had to do their homework)," might be asked. "OK, run around that trash can." Then, to invite cooperation and togetherness, a relay was run, encouraging "everyone who likes chocolate-chip cookies to run around that trash can, too."

Gazelle Sports, a specialty running store in west Michigan, "came on site, fit the girls and made New Balance shoes available at a discount," remembers Hartline.

"New Balance wants to add Holland Girls on the Run to their website," Hartline continues. "People from Pittsburgh have called to ask us how we did this, and a private firm just asked us to apply for a grant from them."

The Holland program's sponsors -- community groups, schools and other government agencies, private companies -- were rewarded with pictures of the girls. The 5K fun run became a community affair, with more than 1,000 participants supported by local police and other officials. Of the 391 girls who enrolled, all but 12 completed the program and 364 finished the 5K. "One girl moved, another became ill ..." Hartline says.

"One of 'my girls' was very timid," says coach Jen Crawford. "At school she was being bullied. Her mom said every morning she would practically have to drag her daughter to school. But when it was time for Girls on the Run, the mom said, her daughter was excited and wanted to go to school. "The two of them finished the 5K together," Crawford remembers. Near the end of the race, the daughter was saying out loud, 'I can do it! I can do it!' She had the biggest smile and most confidence I have ever seen her have."

Holland's Girls on the Run has set its own goals, including to grow the program. Hartline was looking for a full-time coordinator when we spoke. She says "Girls on Track" (a sort of a graduate school for sixth graders) is being planned. "We already have a list a women who want to coach next year," Hartline says.

The national program has its own website, www.girlsontherun.org. It includes information for people or communities who want to start their own programs. Sample lesson plans can be found as well.

Barker can also be contacted by telephone at (800) 901-9965.

Ron Marinucci can be reached by e-mail at RMarin6424@aol.com.