Girls on the Run
Our Program
for Silver Oak Girls in Grades 3-6
- 2025 Season News | Updates
- Practices
- FAQ
- Team Registration Info
- 5K Run/Walk Details
- Silver Oak Coaches
- 2023-2024 Team Highlights
2025 Season News | Updates
April 1, 2025 News
Silver Oak, Let's Show Our Support!
Our Girls on the Run team is working hard, completing their 5th week of a 10-week program, and they would love our support to reach their goals! We are so proud of these friendly, fun, considerate, and high-energy girls who are training for their upcoming 5K. For many of them, this will be their first 5K, and whether they run, walk, or skip across that finish line, it will be an unforgettable achievement!
Let's come together as a community to cheer them on and celebrate their dedication. Here are two fantastic opportunities to get involved:
Support our Team at the Practice 5K - Monday, April 14 at Silver Oak Track
Everyone at Silver Oak is invited to our Girls on the Run Practice 5K! Principal Cardona, teachers, staff, GOTR families, join us at the Silver Oak track on Wednesday, April 14, starting around 2:30 p.m. (after the girls' arrival and warmups). We are looking for volunteers to run with the girls, cheer them on, mark laps, hold encouraging signs, manage the finish line, take photos, and give high-fives!
Cheer our Team or Run at the 5K Event - Saturday, May 17 at Vasona Park
Join us in celebrating the amazing accomplishments of these girls! Come cheer them on or register to run alongside them on May 17 at Vasona Park. For more information and registration, please visit:
We hope you can join us!
Practices
PRACTICES
When does the program begin?
Practices begin March 3, 2025.
When are practices and where?
We will meet on the school playground on Monday and Wednesday from 2:30-4 p.m. There will be no GOTR practices during Silver Oak's Spring Break.
What date is the last practice?
This is a 10-week program. Coaches will let you know the final practice day.
FAQ
What is Girls on the Run?
Girls on the Run is a 10-week social-emotional after school program that teaches girls and anyone who identifies as a girl critical life skills such as: managing emotions, standing up for themselves and others, and how to be a good friend, all the while training for a celebratory 5K fun run at the end of the season.
What grades can participate?
Girls on the Run is for girls and anyone who identifies as a girl in grades 3-6.
Is there a program fee?
$300. Note: Learn more about the financial assistance options available to families in need during the registration process. Registration fee includes 20 fun lessons and activities, an official GOTR program t-shirt, journal, program keepsake, automatic registration for the 5K and finisher’s medal.
How do I register my daughter?
Registration for the Silver Oak Girls on the Run team opens online on Saturday, December 7 at 8 a.m. Head to www.gotrsv.org to sign up your daughter. Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A wait list will be available once 15 girls have registered.
Who are the Silver Oak coaches?
Thank you to our 4 coaches so far who have volunteered to work with our students during the Silver Oak Girls on the Run program. These parents have gone through special training with the Girls on the Run organization to be able to bring this program to our school.
- Desta Krong (head coach) – Coach Desta
- Veronica Gardener (teacher at Silver Oak) = Coach Gardener
- Robin Guzikowski – Coach Robin
- Vimala Veerappan – Coach Vimala
Ratio is 2 coaches per 15 girls. We will have at least 2 coaches at each session. There will be a waitlist once the applicants reach 15 girls.
How can I become a Girls on the Run coach for Silver Oak?
Email Coach Desta at desta@krongdesign.com for more information.
PRACTICES
When does the program begin?
Practices begin March 3, 2025.
When are practices and where?
We will meet on the school playground on Monday and Wednesday from 2:30-4 p.m. There will be no GOTR practices during Silver Oak's Spring Break.
What date is the last practice?
This is a 10-week program. Coaches will let you know the final practice day.
5K RUN
What is the date, location, and length of the end of season celebratory run?
The celebratory 5K run takes place on May 17, 2025. The race begins at Vasona Park's Boat Center in Los Gatos. Arrive by 7 a.m.; First wave starts at 8 a.m.
Program participants and coaches are already registered for the 5K and DO NOT need to register.
QUESTIONS?
Email Coach Desta at desta@krongdesign.com.
Team Registration Info
Registration
Registration for the Silver Oak Girls on the Run team opens online on Saturday, December 7 at 8 a.m. Head to www.gotrsv.org to sign up your daughter. The registration fee includes 20 fun lessons and activities, an official GOTR program t-shirt, journal, program keepsake, automatic registration for the 5K and finisher’s medal. Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A wait list will be available once 15 girls have registered.
Financial Assistance Programs
Learn more about the financial assistance options available to families in need during the registration process.
5K Run/Walk Details
Silver Oak Coaches
Thank you to our 4 parent coaches for volunteering to work with our students during the Silver Oak Girls on the Run program. These parents have gone through special training with the Girls on the Run organization to be able to bring this program to our school. Ratio is 2 coaches per 15 girls. We will have at least 2 coaches at each session. There will be a waitlist once the applicants reach 15 girls.
Meet Our 2025 Coaches
Head Coach Desta
Coach Desta has been a running buddy four times for GOTR 5Ks at Golden Gate Park for East Bay Schools, where she fell in love with the Girls on the Run organization. This will be her 3rd season coaching GOTR. She has taught art classes grades 1-6 at Silver Oak Elementary and co-led choreography and set designing/building for Silver Oak’s yearly musicals while her daughter attended Silver Oak. She loves all forms of dance, is an avid trail runner and has participated in many running events including half marathons, full marathons and a 50K ultra. She also loves hiking, cycling, cooking, traveling the world, and spending lots of time with her family & friends. She can’t wait to meet Silver Oak’s new GOTR team, watch them blossom and grow in their confidence, friendships, as supportive teammates and caring community members while having lots of fun together.
Coach Robin
Coach Robin is excited to be a first time coach for Girls on the Run. She has long been an advocate for youth and strongly believes in the confidence gained from working towards challenging goals in a supportive community. Prior experience includes 12 years as a Girl Scout leader, martial arts mentor, substitute teacher, and coordinator for a national big brother/big sister program. In her spare time she enjoys martial arts, skiing, hiking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Coach Gardener
Coach Gardener has been a teacher at Silver Oak for 25 years and is excited to join the Girls on the Run team this year. She has been enjoying running since high school. She has also participated in several full and half marathons. She loves gardening, hiking, art and most of all spending time with family. As a coach this year she is looking forward to inspiring the girls to believe in themselves and never be afraid to reach for their goals.
Coach Vimala
Vimala is excited to join Girls on the Run as a first-time coach! Running has been a passion of hers since middle school. She competed in track and cross country in high school, and she is thrilled to share that love of running with her daughter, and now with the Silver Oak GOTR team. Her daughter has been a part of the GOTR program for the past two years, and this is her final year before graduation. Vimala believes Girls on the Run is a powerful program that teaches important values like trust, teamwork, respect, and confidence, all while having fun. As a coach, She is excited to be a mentor and guide the girls as they discover their potential, both on and off the track. She is a technologist at heart, with a love for cooking, traveling, and enjoying good times with family and friends. She can’t wait to be part of this inspiring journey with your girls!
2023-2024 Team Highlights
Highlights from the Silver Oak Team 2023 Season
Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley has posted photos of the 5K event on their Facebook. Click HERE to see a collection of snapshots from the 2023 Girls on the Run 5K. So much JOY in all of these photos!
2023 Silver Oak Team Wraps Up Season and Has Great Experience at 5K Run/Walk
May 22, 2023 ---The Silver Oak Girls on the Run coaches are all still smiling after the Silver Oak GOTR Team’s very first 5K event at Vasona on Saturday May 13! We couldn’t be more proud of all of the girls. It was so rewarding to see them smiling as they crossed the finish line after all their hard work -they did it, just as we knew they would! The Coaches, spectator parents, parents that ran with their girls and the GOTR girls had a blast at the event...most of us added temporary happy hair colors and ‘tattoos’ for the run! There were many activity tables, a DJ with lively music, spectators, cowbells, cheering, plus medals and treats for everyone at the finish line! The weather was perfect and the whole event was so well organized.
Fabulous 2023 Season - Coaches Corner
We can’t believe the GOTR 2023 season is over, it flew by. We had such a wonderful time with our Silver Oak GOTR team - each and every one of them brought something unique and special to the Silver Oak team. What a creative, confident, energetic, funny, excited, strong, independent-thinking group of girls! We enjoyed watching these girls from different grades and friend groups grow together to form a cohesive, supportive, caring and encouraging community of teammates and good friends. We coaches are going to miss the GOTR team of girls so much, and our time with them on Tuesdays and Thursdays - talking, playing games, running, laughing, and supporting each other!
Join Us!
Register to run or walk the GOTR 5K Saturday, May 17 in Vasona Park in Los Gatos
Questions?
Interested in becoming a coach for the 2025 season or have general questions about our program?
Email Coach Desta desta@krongdesign.com
Silver Oak Girls on the Run Team Crushes the 5K
May 17, 2024---Our amazing Silver Oak Girls on the Run team had a great time at Vasona Park in Los Gatos on Saturday. After 10 weeks of training these incredible girls tackled the 5K with smiles, teamwork, and pure grit!
They weren't just running a race, they were celebrating the friendships they built, the challenges they conquered, and the positive energy they shared throughout the season. It was truly inspiring to see them cross that finish line, each beaming with pride and sporting their awesome, self-decorated arm coolers.
A huge congratulations to all the runners on a job incredibly well done. This accomplishment is a testament to their dedication, encouragement for each other, and the fantastic lessons learned through Girls on the Run. We are so proud of each and every one of you.
Want to join the fun next year? Registration for the 2025 Silver Oak Girls on the Run team typically opens in December. Keep an eye out for announcements from the school or the Girls on the Run organization so your girl can be part of the next amazing group to conquer the track and build lasting friendships! Girls on the Run is So Much Fun!
Here is a link with more information about the GOTR 5K | GOTR Silicon Valley (gotrsv.org)