She’s Behind Girls on the Run Kentuckiana
Terri Gillis Tucker is a former attorney, mom to three daughters, and the executive director of the Girls on the Run Kentuckiana chapter. Find out more about her local go-tos, what makes the nonprofit exciting, and how you can get involved!
Girls on the Run is an international nonprofit program designed to motivate and encourage young girls. Though the program finale is a 5k run, the curriculum covers so much more — it teaches girls about inner beauty, how to make good choices, and how to show respect for themselves and others. Meet Terri Gillis Tucker, our newest FACE of Louisville and the executive director of the Girls on the Run Kentuckiana chapter!
What is Girls on the Run?
Though it might sound like it, it’s not just about running — and it’s not competitive. It’s about the whole girl. The ten-week program focuses on building girls’ confidence, character, and connection with their peers, coaches, and community. It gives them tools they can use as they get into adolescence and beyond to become leaders and strong women.
How old are the girls in the program?
The age range is 8 to 13, and it’s for anyone who identifies as a girl. Third through fifth graders go through the elementary curriculum, and we have a separate curriculum for middle schoolers. The curriculums cover topics like inner beauty versus outer beauty, how to make healthy choices, and anger management skills. It also covers how to resolve differences with others and respect and accept people for who they are. A lot of it is about teaching the girls how to be compassionate and confident members of their community.
Where does the running aspect come into play?
Over the 10 weeks, the girls train for a 5k. These kids are not always comfortable with running, so it’s not competitive. They’re not told to race. In fact, they can walk if they want to. It’s not about the fastest time — it’s about accomplishing a goal. We like to say that the 5k is about setting goals and achieving a thought process that can be applied to other areas of life. When you take something that seems completely unattainable — like running three miles when you’re nine years old — and break it into little chunks, you can set out to accomplish that task over time.
How did you get involved with the program?
I am a mom to three girls myself. I used to practice law as an attorney, and when my girls were in elementary and middle school, I helped coach their sports teams. I really enjoyed working with them and their friends and ended up coaching middle school field hockey for about six years. It was just so inspirational to watch these kids start as sixth graders — playing a sport they’d had no experience with — and grow in every way. Not just in physical fitness but also in their confidence and ability to collaborate. All those qualities you find in athletes.
Once the girls I’d spent so much time with grew up and moved on, I decided I wanted to do something in this vein for my actual job. A friend of mine had participated in Girls on the Run in North Carolina. When she told me about the program, I immediately knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of. It just so happened that the local council was looking for an executive director at that time, so it just sort of worked out.
What’s the best part about working at Girls on the Run?
My favorite part about the whole program is the 5k. The kids come across the finish line, and you see the look of accomplishment on their faces. It makes everything worthwhile. I love that we can make an impact on 700 girls’ lives every year, and I love to see the families when they see their children do this thing they set out to do. There are always tears and so many hugs. It’s just a heartwarming experience. It’s joyful — I don’t have another word for it.
On the flip side, what’s the most challenging aspect?
We’re a small organization, so we depend on our volunteers to make the program happen. And because we’re just a small staff of four part-timers, there are a lot of little things we have to do ourselves, like loading and unloading equipment and supplies. It takes a lot of hard work to put on these events. But at the same time, it’s so rewarding because we’re such a small, bonded team. And I will say that when it’s a group of all women loading up a U-Haul of heavy stuff, it’s girl power! It makes us feel like we’re living out the Girls on the Run philosophy — that you can do anything you might’ve thought you couldn’t do.
When you’re not busy getting ready for an event, where do you like to spend your free time dining, shopping, and playing in Louisville?
One of my favorite things about Louisville is that you can get pretty much anywhere in 20 minutes. That makes it easy to try all kinds of things around town. One of our favorite places is 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, a brewery in Crestwood. We also like Guaca Mole in NuLu. And my favorite park is the Parklands of Floyds Fork. We spend a lot of time there all year, through all the seasons.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was from my mother-in-law when my kids were little, and life was crazy. She told me to make sure that my husband and I carved out time to nurture ourselves because when the kids are grown and gone, it’ll just be the two of us. We’re empty nesters now, so I think back on that. It was really good advice.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
Exercise, music, and my pets. There’s Chaco, my Goldendoodle who weighs about 100 pounds, and then there’s Cleo, my four-pound kitten. They sleep together and play together; they are the best of friends.
All images were submitted by Terri Gillis Tucker.
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Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.