Julia Tregger is training at Westborough’s Haskell Field to run another 5K. She's even run a few 10Ks since last fall.
"It feels really good," Julia Tregger said.
Julia is part of Girls on the Run. The nonprofit program teaches dozens of girls across Worcester County to be confident and healthy. Julia said she’s learned a lot.
"Different things like helping your community, cheering on people. Those kind of things," Tregger said.
Rebekah Tregger is Julia’s mom and a Girls on the Run coach. Besides learning social and psychological skills, each season the girls run a 5K. Tregger is a runner too.
"At the beginning of the season, they think there's no way I'm going to run a 5K, they think they can't do it, they can't run. They don't like to run. And then at the end of the season they do. To see them cross the finish line, and think, I just ran 3.1 miles. It's just really a wonderful feeling to know that I helped get them there and that they achieved something so huge," Tregger said.
Tregger said it’s important for girls in elementary school to learn the skills taught in the program.
"I think it makes them realize that they can do anything, you know if they train for something physically, obviously, but whatever they set their minds to they can do. If they just work hard enough for it," Tregger said.
Julia said the program is empowering her.
“It tells you that you’re good at running and you can do things that you didn’t think you could do," Tregger said.
Girls on the Run coaches said anyone who's interested can still sign up for the spring season. There are different practice locations across Worcester County.