Girls on the Run Vermont Essex 5K 2025
Vermont Business Magazine Girls on the Run Vermont (GOTRVT), a statewide nonprofit organization for girls in 3rd-8th grade, will be culminating its spring season with a joyful 5K event at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction on Saturday, May 30th, 2026 that will celebrate the accomplishments of over 1,300 participants from northern Vermont GOTR and Heart & Sole teams this spring season. Girls will be accompanied by over 400 volunteer coaches, approximately 500 running buddies, over 100 volunteers, countless spectators and other supporters in the GOTRVT community, cheering them on through the finish line. This event is supported by GOTRVT’s 23-year statewide sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and is presented by 15+ year partner, M&T Bank.
Over 41,000 girls have participated in Girls on the Run Vermont’s programs over the last 27 years.
Participation in the 5K celebratory event on May 30th is open to the public and all proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run Vermont’s Every Girl Fund. This fund helps to ensure that every girl in Vermont can participate in the program through automatic subsidies and additional financial assistance to those who need it.
Early-bird online 5K registration for the Girls on the Run Vermont Essex 5K is open until 10:00pm on Wednesday, May 27th. The 5K registration fee for children aged 17 and under and for GOTRVT alumni is $10, and $25 for adult running buddies and adult community runners. This pricing will also be honored in-person on Friday, May 29th from 4-6pm at the Expo in the green state building. Event day registration will be open on Saturday, May 30th from 7:30-9:30am at the Champlain Valley Expo with entry fees remaining $10 for children and alumni and increasing to $35 for adults. All GOTRVT participants and coaches who registered for the program do not need to register for the 5K event.
Volunteers are still needed! From course volunteers and face painting, to equipment setup and breakdown, there are many opportunities to get involved. Individuals, families and groups—school clubs, sports teams and others—can sign up in advance to volunteer at www.gotrvt.org/5k-essex. Community service hours are offered for high schoolers.
Activities for participants will begin at 8:30am and are free for all in attendance. The 5K event will start at 10:00am and early arrival is suggested as parking will take some time to navigate. For more information about the event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gotrvt.org/5k-essex.
As a statewide non-profit, Girls on the Run Vermont relies on its generous sponsors to help make its program possible throughout the state. The following community businesses are joyfully sponsoring this year’s GOTRVT Essex 5K:
Statewide Sponsor: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Presenting Sponsor: M&T Bank
Village Sponsors: Casella Waste Systems, Chira Orthodontics, Concept2, Keurig Dr Pepper, Momentum Physical Therapy, National Life Group, Skirack, Sprucewood Dental, and The Vermont Agency.
Sparkle Sponsors: Danform Shoes, DR Power, Global Foundries, Green Mountain Athletic Association, Heritage Ford & Toyota, Northwestern Medical Center, Paul Frank + Collins, PC Construction, Peregrine Design + Build, Rotary Club of Essex, Stewart’s Shops, and Vermont Gas Systems.
In-kind Sponsors: 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Champlain Valley Expo, Local Muscle Movers, Price Chopper/Market 32, Star 92.9, and Westminster Bakers Co.
Our 5K events will also proudly feature the presentation of GOTRVT’s annual Rick Hashagen Limitless Potential Alumni Scholarship Awards, two $2,500 awards in support of the future educational goals of our recipients. The winners will be announced during one or both of the statewide Girls on the Run 5K events (Essex or Manchester). Applicants submit an application reflecting on the impact GOTRVT has had on their lives and how they bring the organization’s core values to life each day. Made possible through the generous support of M&T Bank, these scholarships help empower recipients to pursue their educational journeys beyond high school.
To learn more, visit www.gotrvt.org or email [email protected].
About Girls on the Run Vermont
Girls on the Run Vermont is an independent and 501 (c)(3) recognized council of Girls on the Run International (GOTRI), which has a network of 175 councils across the United States. Since 1999, Girls on the Run Vermont has empowered approximately 41,000 girls in grades 3–8 across the state to build physical, emotional, and social well-being through its 10-week after-school program, with 123 teams participating across Vermont this year. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a research-based curriculum that addresses developmentally appropriate life skills and creatively integrates running, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
Find out more at gotrvt.org.