Girls on the Run activities in New York

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Turns out you're never too young to start training for a 5K. Just ask some grade-schoolers who'll be running on Roosevelt Island over the weekend. They are part of a program that encourages young girls to stay active.

Girls in grades 3 through 8 participating in a national program called Girls on the Run are getting physically fit and building self-esteem.

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit that partners with schools and organizations to use physical activity to build confidence.

The New York City chapter is currently at 45 locations in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Girls on the Run NYC Executive Director Allison Hauser says she wants girls to be comfortable with who they are.

Not only are they boosting confidence in the 10-week program, the girls are also learning about gratitude, compassion, and empathy.