What happens when a race is designed with the runner at the back of the pack in mind? For Malibu Moves founder Erica Segel, it means creating an experience where everyone belongs no matter their pace. 

That shared belief is one reason Girls on the Run LA is proud to partner with Malibu Moves, and why our SoleMates will be hitting the road in Malibu this October 24-25.

Twenty years ago, a handful of girls crossed a finish line together under a single pop-up tent at the Rose Bowl. Today, hundreds of girls from every corner of Los Angeles do the same thing every season. This is the story of the coaches who made it real, the girls who carried it forward, and the community that never stopped asking: how do we do this for more girls?

As Girls on the Run LA grew from a handful of sites to a countywide organization, it faced a persistent challenge: how do you scale something while staying true to its mission and values? The answer came from the staff, board members, and volunteers who carried those values forward — and refused to compromise on them.

In early 2007, Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County gathered its community to ask a hard question: was this worth continuing? At the end of the conversation, someone placed a flip chart at the front of the room. One by one, people walked up and wrote their names down. Twenty years later, we're still building what that room started.

Confidence grows when girls know they have people cheering them on. 

At Girls on the Run Los Angeles, confidence is built one step at a time. For student Shirley Crocker , the Girls on the Run program has become far more than an afterschool activity. It’s a space where she feels encouraged, connected, and empowered to believe in herself.

On race day, Madelyn Chan doesn’t just see runners crossing the finish line, she sees confidence in motion.

In 2016, Denise Zaragora was a third-grade participant in Girls on the Run LA. At the end of her season, she attended the GOTRLA 5K not knowing exactly what to expect.