Friends, fun, and a 5k?

For several Kahoa Elementary girls, running is fun, and educational, thanks to the Girls on the Run program.

"We learn about how we eat healthier, and how we get stronger and bigger, and how we exercise more, and we make sure we brush our teeth so much, and we exercise. We do a lot of stuff to make our body healthy," said Valencia Mercurio, 3rd grade, Kahoa Elementary.

For several years, this nation-wide program has been exercising, educating and mentoring 3rd through 5th grade students in Lincoln, creating a positive athletic experience.

"It's not necessarily about being the best runner, or the fastest runner, it's about setting a goal, and being able to reach that goal. We teach them different lessons during the week, leading up to their 5k, so we do a drug lesson, self esteem, girl empowerment," said Brandee Weber, volunteer coach.

In six years, the program has gone from 11 girls at one elementary school, to about 270 girls in 13 schools.

For two months, two days a week, the girls are preparing for one thing. "It's a 5k, and last year, they described it as being kind of like a celebration of doing all this stuff, and so, we just run with all the other schools in lincoln that did this program," said Alicen Campbell, 5th grade, Kahoa Elementary.

"You may not have the best legs, but if they get you where you need to go, then they work just fine. Just being satisfied with who you are. Everyone finishes, and everyone gets a medal, and it's really cool, because it's like you finished a real marathon, and it's a big medal," said Weber.

A medal, and a big piece of pride.

Each spring and fall, the program attracts not only Lincoln students, but girls from the Omaha area as well.

Last year, more than 5,000 girls participated in Girls on the Run program.

Halloween day, the little "ghouls" will make their way to the finish line of their 5k race.

For more information on the program, or ways you can get involved, click the link below.