Ten-year-old Nuha Syed became the first in her family to participate in Girls on the Run. In the years that followed, her sisters joined too, and what began as a single experience soon turned into a family tradition.

Participating in fourth grade at the Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Nuha knew she wasn’t the fastest runner and was not the biggest fan of running. At the start of the program, she was self-conscious about her running ability, but over time, she realized Girls on the Run was not really about running at all. 

“I realized that the program was really about all the girls supporting each other. I had never had an experience like that before. I did soccer, but it was competition-based, so Girls on the Run was different,” she remarks. She mentions that having people cheer her on, even when she wasn’t the best, made her feel really good about herself, and she felt like she could do anything,

Nuha also credits Girls on the Run with showing her that femininity and athleticism do not have to exist separately. She remembers race days filled with headbands, hairspray, and tutus, which helped create an environment where girls could feel confident being themselves while still embracing physical activity. 

“The program showed us you can be girly and athletic too,” she says. “Often you have to separate those things, and Girls on the Run is telling you it's fine to do them together.”

After Girls on the Run, Nuha joined her middle school’s cross-country team and later returned to volunteer at races. She also continued participating in the program’s 5K events for the next five years, running alongside her younger sister and encouraging her throughout the 3.1-mile course. Soon, family friends who had never participated in Girls on the Run began joining them as well. What started as Nuha’s involvement in the program evolved into a family tradition centered on the race days they shared. 

“We would all go together to the 5K run, and it became a bonding moment for us.”

Now 20 years old, Nuha still remembers the races, the bandanas, and the encouragement from coaches and teammates. More than a decade later, what stands out most are the connections she built through the program and the family traditions that grew from her participation. 

“Girls on the Run helped me build connections that I have kept for the rest of my life.”

Nuha’s story is just one example of the lasting impact Girls on the Run can have long after the final 5K. If you are a Girls on the Run alum, we invite you to stay connected through Beyond the Finish, Girls on the Run South Louisiana's alumni community. Connect with fellow alumni, share your story, hear about volunteer opportunities, and continue making an impact in your community. Join the Beyond the Finish Alumni Community today.