All-girl running group is expanding
A NEW fitness group aimed specifically at girls is about to begin in Bray and Greystones, having been successfully run in Wicklow town over the last year.
The Go Girls initiative is a girls-only running and fitness group which caters for children aged between ten and 13.
The initiative began in Wicklow town a year ago and the people behind it, Eithne Walsh and Vicky O’Connell, are now going to expand with the two new branches.
The first sessions in both areas will begin on Saturday, September 29; in Ladies Gym, Castle Street, Bray, and Eire Og GAA Club, Greystones, from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
There will also be a session on the same day in the Assembly Hall, Wicklow, from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Speaking to this newspaper about the group, Ms O’Connell said it’s specifically aimed at girls who may have stopped participating in sport or feel they aren’t very good at sport.
‘We work with girls who may have stopped sport or who may not particularly like sport and we aim to increase and develop their fitness,’ she said.
Both organisers are club coaches and they carry out core strengthening and nutrition programmes with the girls and slowly build up their general fitness.
At the end of the term, the girls participate in a 5km run and for many of them this brings a great sense of achievement.
‘It’s all about building their confidence and self-esteem,’ said Ms O’Connell.
There is also a social aspect to participating in the group and the girls get a new circle of friends which contributes to their overall well-being.
‘We’d hope that by completing our programme it will encourage them to continue with their own respective sports,’ she added.
Some of the current programme participants successfully completed the 5km Shanganagh Park Run which brought them a great sense of success.
The cost of participating in the 12-week programme will be €90 and to register interest contact Eithne on 087-9880518, Vicky on 087- 1741064 or alternatively email: gogirlsgorun@ gmail.com