One runner sported a glistening plastic tiara. Another wore a green cape with an "M" for Marissa. A third had a race T-shirt so big it fell down to her knees.
It was not a typical running event at Tempe Town Lake Saturday morning as the crowd of mostly husbands and fathers cheered on the 1,500 women and girls participating in the third annual Iron Girl run.
Among the runners were ASU students, who traversed the 10-mile course independently or acted as running buddies in a 5K, or 3.1-mile, race for more than 250 third- to fifth-grade girls.
Running buddies are usually friends or relatives who encourage the girls throughout the race.
ASU graduate student Sarah-Anne Kielczewski was a running buddy for her friend and neighbor Aquene Kimmel, a fifth-grader at Rover Elementary in Tempe.
"I love being with students," Kielczewski said. "I love helping them pursue and achieve their goals, which Aquene did."
The program of running buddies was developed by Girls on the Run, a national organization to boost self-esteem through athleticism that has programs at eight local elementary schools.
Through the program, the girls trained three hours a week for 10 weeks leading up to the Iron Girl.
The Iron Girl, with a name playing on the Ironman triathlon, is specific to women and girls because they often have problems keeping active, said Jessica Weidensall, public relations director for the event.
"We hope women come to the race and keep exercising," Weidensall said. "We let new moms race with strollers, we offer two course options, and most of all, we try to make it fun."
Kimmel said her Iron Girl experience made her think about continuing to race.
"I'm pretty into it now," Kimmel said. "I'm really excited that I did it, and I'm proud that I did even better than in practice. I'm hungry too. Definitely hungry."
To feed all of the participants, Iron Girl had a catered breakfast, just one of the amenities that make the race unique, Weidensall said.
There were pink flowers on all the tables, running clothing and magazines designed for women, and hot-pink medals for all participants.
"It's just a great atmosphere," Weidensall said. "It's a total event, not just a race."
Still, the 10-mile race was the focus for nutrition and kinesiology senior Ashley Kelly, who ran as a stepping stone to January's P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll marathon.
"It was definitely a good way to work up to the marathon," Kelly said. "I really thought I was going to stop and walk, but I didn't. I'm not a runner at all."
The all-female race gave the Iron Girl a unique atmosphere, Kelly added.
"It was really great to have all of that energy right at the end," she said. "And for a 10-mile - you don't see that very often."
Whether training for a marathon or ending Girls on the Run's season, all participants, who ranged from age 6 to 74, should be proud, Weidensall said.
"Women come out and run after an illness, after they've lost 150 pounds or after they've quit smoking," she said. "It's a mark of success for any obstacles that they have overcome."
Kimmel said completing the race was a reward for the training she'd done at her school but that it wasn't all work.
"The race people gave me this tiara when I ran by," Kimmel said. "They gave it to me because I was having the most fun."
Maricopa County's Girls on the Run will begin training in January for May's 5K Diva Dash.
Reach the reporter at: meghan.keck@asu.edu.
