Join in on the Celebration as She Crosses the Finish Line 💛
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Looking for a meaningful way to support girls in West Virginia—while getting inspired yourself? Join us as a Running Buddy for our Spring 2026 Girls on the Run 5K!
Our celebratory 5K is so much more than a run—it’s a powerful, joyful event where girls showcase the confidence, strength, and perseverance they’ve built throughout the season. As a Running Buddy, you’ll be right there beside a participant, helping her cross the finish line with pride.
What is a Running Buddy?
A Running Buddy is a dedicated adult (18+) who completes the 5K alongside a Girls on the Run participant. You don’t have to be a runner or go fast—you just need to show up ready to encourage, support, and celebrate.
As a Running Buddy, you’ll serve as a:
- Motivator
- Pace-setter
- Cheerleader
Your presence helps ensure every girl feels confident, supported, and never alone on race day.
Who Can Be a 5K Running Buddy?
A Running Buddy can be a parent/caregiver, a 18+ community member, teacher, coach, or a 16+ year old family member/family friend (if requested by the participant's caregiver) who wants to cheer on their girl throughout the 5K. What matters most is a positive attitude & the willingness to encourage and celebrate the girl’s achievements this season!
Why We Need You
Our goal is to have a Running Buddy for every girl. At the start of each season, we review our participant applications to determine how many Running Buddies we will need to find to match to a girl in need. Out of our 460+ Spring Season participants, 202 girls indicated on their program application that they did not have a Running Buddy at the start of the season. Your commitment—just one morning—creates a lasting impact and makes sure that no girl will cross that finish line alone!
How Matching Works
If you sign up as a community Running Buddy, we’ll take care of the rest:
- You'll be prompted to complete or provide a copy of a background check, if you are not a caregiver-assigned* running buddy. Our council can take care of the background fee if completed through our vendor.
- You’ll receive your assigned team information 1-2 weeks prior to the 5K.
- On race day, you’ll check in and be paired with a participant from that team
Taking a race day to an incredibly rewarding next level!
Registration Details
Running Buddy registration includes a fee, which helps make this event possible:
- Our 5K is not just a race - it is a large-scale celebration focused on our girls, which can be a significant cost to our non-profit.
- Registration fees help keep the event accessible and free for all Girls on the Run participants, volunteer coaches, and site liaisons.
Early Bird Registration ends April 18—don’t wait!
Not interested in being a Running Buddy but would like to join us for the race? You can still be part of the magic—select 'General 5K Registration' while completing our Spring 2026 5K Registration form.
Family members & friends are welcome to show up too - there is no entry fee to the event for spectators! So come cheer your girl on!
💛 Join us. Show up. Make a difference.
Because every girl deserves someone by her side at the finish line.
Ready to Register?
Scan the QR code or visit www.gotrncwv.org/5k to learn more or register today!
*caregiver assigned Running Buddies can be 16+; no background check is required. Questions? email us at info@gotrncwv.org