Be Your Own Superhero: 600 girls take part on "Girls on the Run" 5k

GREENFIELD PARK (WITI) -- It's an opportunity for girls to be their own superheroes! Greenfield Park on Sunday, June 8th played host to the "Girls on the Run" 5k.

"Girls on the Run" is a non-profit program for girls in third through eighth grades.

"Girls on the Run's" mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

"I feel like I`m gonna accomplish something new in my life. I feel like I'm stronger and I can rely on my body for more things now. We trained for awhile and we've been working really hard. We've been excited for this day for a long time," India Vielehr said. said.

Excitement, encouragement and empowerment were on display Sunday at Greenfield Park for the run. The theme of the run was "Be Your Own Superhero."

"We do so many fun, creative activities -- and all the while these girls are talking about things that affect their everyday life," Tina Jones said.

Jones says the program came to Milwaukee in 2007 -- when 50 girls went through training.

This year, nearly 600 girls participated in Sunday's run.

"Healthy eating, body image issues, dealing with bullies, peer pressure -- these are some of the topics that we cover, and we incorporate really fun running games, so the girls have no clue that they`re training," Jones said.

After 10 weeks of training, the runners gather in a group and get going!

"I think that sometimes, a 5K scares people, and this is just a good environment where you feel welcome and the time doesn`t matter," Sheila Wordell with Girls on the Run said.

Aeriela Rogers says what matters to her is that her dad, who's serving the country in Kuwait can share her success.

"I hope I have -- this is a great moment, so he can see this," Rogers said.

The next 10-week training program starts in September.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the "Girls on the Run" program.