“She asked me, and I just said yes. I didn't ask any questions,” Bekah says. “I just remembered doing it in elementary school, and I loved it.”

Bekah joined the Girls on the Run program in fourth grade when her mother signed up her and her sister. Years later, while finishing her last semester of college, Bekah reconnected to Young Life in her hometown and met Carley Fuller, who invited her to become a Girls on the Run coach. Bekah quickly accepted, remembering her time in the program as a child.

Bekah shares that participating in the program as a child boosted her self-confidence and taught her valuable life lessons. “I just remember feeling so special, especially on race day. Getting to pick out the headbands and being with all my friends that I trained for the 5K with was the coolest thing I could do. It really helped with my self-confidence as a kid and taught me good life lessons.”

Despite meeting many of the girls for the first time after being away at college, she quickly formed strong connections with her team. She notices the girls growing in kindness and motivation, even when facing challenges.

Bekah continues, “As a coach, it’s been super fun to mentor kids that age and help them the same way I was helped when I was their age. Getting to know their stories and different backgrounds, and witnessing them grow, is super cool. I feel like it’s definitely helping me grow.”

One of Bekah’s favorite activities has been using beads as lap counters, which the girls can wear on their shoelaces. This small reward motivates them to run more laps and fosters a sense of accomplishment. Seeing the girls proudly wear their beads to school the next day reminds Bekah of her own time in the program and the joy it brought her.

Looking to the future, Bekah hopes to continue volunteering and staying involved with Girls on the Run, even as she navigates post-college life and job hunting. She believes in the program’s mission and wants to keep recommending it to others. Her advice to potential coaches is to embrace the chaos, stay true to themselves, and lead by example, as girls look up to their coaches and learn from their actions.

Thank you Bekah and all of our alumni coaches who have returned to serve the next generation of strong, confident girls! Together, We Go Further!

As we say at Girls on the Run, “the finish line is only the beginning…” and we celebrate the journeys of over 13,000 Girls on the Run SOLA alumni. Girls on the Run remains a place where you can grow, learn, and activate your limitless potential. 

Are you an alumni of the Girls on the Run program? Find Your Place with Girls on the Run. Join our Alumni Network.