Every year I take the best 200 or so photos from all my photographers that I have recruited to help me and make a photo slideshow.  It is my favorite part of covering this event because I get to tell the whole story of the day.

If you have viewing or it wont load, please go HERE

A super special thanks to my partner in crime Paige Pearson of Simple Expressions Photography. Paige has shot 5 different GOTRDC races with me and schleps all the way from Stafford, VA.  Each race she ROCKS it out of the park!  She is a fantastic photographer and friend and I could not do this without her help.

And a special thanks to my newest photog helper Ella Barnes, daughter of Fran Barnes – the GOTRDC Events Coordinator.  Ella is off to college next Fall (keeping my fingers crossed it is my alma mater ) where she hopes to study photography, among other things, and she did a fantastic job of capturing the race out on the course.

For those of you interested in ordering some prints check out the GOTRDC SmugMug page HERE

In past races I have highlighted the Moms and the Dads that run with their girls.  This year I want to highlight the Running Buddy.

In every 5k there are bunch of grown-ups who volunteer to to run with a GOTR girl who does not have a family/network member to run with her. Running Buddies are assigned to a team and the coaches identify the girls who could use some extra support and encouragement. The Running Buddies are ordinary folk from the community and most have never met their little buddy before the 5K. But you would never know that from the photos. What I see, as they come down the pike to the finish line, is the pride and joy they exude for their little buddy as she crosses the finish. Some cheer their girl on, some hold their hands, some hold their little buddies gear so she can run unencumbered, but all beam and radiate the community spirit that makes GOTRDC and this program so special and amazing to begin with.

Here are some of my favorite images of the Running Buddies from the December 2011 5K.

GOTRDC shared some testimonials from some of this year’s Running Buddies:

• The young girls were amazing. I was a running buddy and was paired with an 11 year old, who really kept me moving. She was amazing and really motivated me!!! I think this is an amazing organization! Thanks so much for allowing me to be involved.
• I plan to run again –it was a blast! Thanks for such a fun race!!!
• I had a great time! Thank you GOTR for this wonderful experience

Thank you to all the 140 Running Buddies who came out to support a girl on the run.

If you are interested in becoming a Running Buddy for GOTRDC for the next 5K click HERE to learn more.

EDITED: To view all the photos form the GOTR-DC December 2011 5K click HERE

What a beautiful perfect morning to run a 5K.  Want to see some yucky weather in which to run a 5K check out December 2008, November 2009, and December 2010.

Once again I had the honor and the privilege to be a part of Girls on the Run DC 5K.  Every semester they ask be back and every time I say yes.  Regardless of the weather, when I see the girls who are struggling get to the finish line start to beam as they round the corner for the home stretch…my heart is filled with love.   Always.

I may only know them from the images I take every year but I could not be more proud, more excited, and more thrilled for each and every one.  Every time I get a little verklempt.  Every time I have to remind myself to keep shooting, because a part of me can’t help but put down the camera to cheer them on. Every time I can feel the love, the joy, the excitement, the energy, the full on girl-power-party.

It’s infectious.

This is why I {heart} the Girls on the Run 5K and make sure you go over Simple Expressions Photography, aka Paige Pearson and my second shooter for these races, for some more great images of today…she always manages to capture the heart of this event.

Also be sure to check out he GOTR-DC SmugMug page to see all the official Race Photos

My most favorite part of the whole experience is to create this slideshow. I’ll just let it speak for itself

In honor of Father’s Day, I wanted to take a minute to recognize that DADS that come out to support their daughters who participate in Girls on the Run.

There are Dads that coach a team, Dads that spray paint their hair pink, Dads that run with their daughters and hold their hand the whole way, Dads that cheer their girls across the finish, and the one that always brings a tear to my eyes are the Dads that slow down, step back and let their daughters shine across the finish ahead of them.

Here is a selection of photos of Dads that help to make Girls on the Run so special

Happy Father’s Day (a little early) to all the Dads out there that the support their girls!

Head over to my Facebook Page to see the rest of the photos HERE, and HERE, and HERE, and HERE

When anyone asks why I continue to photograph the Girls on the Run 5K every semester I have only one answer.

• Because I was once one of these girls.
• Because watching the girls cross the finish brings tears to my eyes EVERY TIME.
• Because watching the Moms, Dads, coaches, buddy runners, grandparents, and volunteers who run/cheer/propel/hold hands with these girls as they cross the finish line is the coolest thing ever.
• Because the girls  are amazing, special, powerful, strong and beautiful and watching them inspires me to push myself harder and reach my own goals.

I am so privileged I get to be a part of this amazing organization.  I am so humbled they keep asking me back.  And I am so fortunate that I get to be a part of this day.

Thank you to all the GOTR DC staff, volunteers, and American University for outdoing yourselves once again.  And a special thanks to Molly Barker and Liz Kunz of GOTR, Councilmember Mary Cheh, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Shellie Pfohl of the Presidents Council on Fitness for adding your star power to this years 5K.

And super special thanks to Paige Pearson of Simple Expressions Photography who is my perfect photo partner and helped photograph to this event.  Make sure you check out her awesome first shots on her blog HERE

It was long, it was hard, but completing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer was one of the most exhilarating, amazing experiences of my life.  I pushed my self physically and mentally.  I got to know my friends better through all our wonderful long talks along the way.  I walked through DC and re-experienced the city I know and love in the company of amazing friends.  These 4 ladies are my inspiration.  Their love and friendship over the last 25 years has given me so much and they have made me a better mother, spouse, friend and human being. And i am so proud of all us.  We collectively raised over $8K that will be put right back into our community.

Thanks to my wonderful friends, my super supportive husband and children, and to all the amazing volunteers and cheerers  along the way.  Could not have done it without all of you!

Spent the morning down at the National Marathon photographing the Kids Monumental Mile fun run for the Greater Washington Sports Alliance.

My favorite part of this event is putting together the slideshow. I cant wait for all the photographers to get me their images, to see how they saw the day, and then put it altogether  as a visual story that represents the day and hope I do it justice.
A special shout out to the other photographers who took some amazing photographs Stephen Laico and Matthew D Lyons.
And this also means that all the photographs are ready for viewing here http://www.digiproofs.com/EmilyWeiss/
(EDITED: The original gallery has expired but please contact me if in interested in prints)

One word for the Girls on the Run 5K today: WET!  But it did not dampen the spirit, enthusiasm, and determination of these girls and their parents/run buddies/coaches.    You know they worked so hard to get here.   You can see it in their faces. This moment is huge, to finish is amazing, to see all the hard work pay off is exhilarating.

EDITED: Come view all the Race Day photos at: http://www.digiproofs.com/ecom/g.pl

This was my 5th time photographing this race and was my coldest, wettest, darkish conditions to date.  But I loved every minute of it.  Looking at these photographs, looking at their faces…these girls inspire me.

More photos to come!