Talk about your perfect days . . .

A crisp, clear morning. The orange and red leaves against a bright blue sky.

Girls on the Run teams from several LINC programs joined with their trainers, teachers, parents and family members at the fall 5K run at Swope Park Nov. 7.

And boys and their support teams ran a 5K at Longview Lake in the Let Me Run program.

“I’m so proud of my girls,” said LINC Caring Communities Coordinator Connie Parker at Buckner Elementary in Fort Osage.

Buckner was one of several LINC programs with GOTR teams in action. Others included Elm Grove and Cler-Mont in Fort Osage; Border Star Montessori, Holiday Montessori, Carver Dual Language, Foreign Language Academy and Faxon with the Kansas City Public Schools; and Topping in North Kansas City Schools.

“It went really well,” said Elm Grove LINC Caring Communities Coordinator Raul Lopez Gomez.

Many girls joined the pre-run dance party, painted their faces and sprayed their hair in purple, pink and blue, said LINC Border Star Caring Communities Coordinator Shelley Taylor-Doran.

“The girls were high energy,” she said.

Carver had a girls team at Swope and a boys team at Longview. Everyone completed the 5Ks — 3.2 miles, some faster than others, despite whatever obstacles came up, like the hills in the Longview course that weren’t experienced in training around the school.

“We always teach that it’s not how fast you do something but rather if you finish it,” said Carver LINC Caring Communities Coordinator Deanna Snider. Everyone “had a great time and we can’t wait to do it in the spring.”

Girls on the Run, says its founders, is a health and confidence-building program underscoring the connection between physical and emotional health. “Our program addresses the whole girl when she needs it the most.”

Let Me Run, says its founders, “inspires boys through the power of running to be courageous enough to be themselves, to build healthy relationships, and to live an active lifestyle.”