Morning runners switch things up with volleyball game

By Elyse Helkenn

Every morning at 6 a.m., Girls State had a run led by Jordan Bremer of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, for anyone willing to come. As Thursday’s group of only nine girls discovered today, it doesn’t always have to be a mile run in 20 minutes.

As the girls stretched and anticipated the run they talked about upcoming elections and about the food during the week. Once Bremer arrived at the north complex to meet up with the group, he told them they wouldn’t be running.

He wanted them to have fun so he rented a ball for the girls so they could play volleyball at the sand pit.

He would like to see more people come and exercise with the group sometime this week. Bremer told the girls to expect activities other than just running. Maybe even some ultimate frisbee.

However a few of those girls did not mind running in the mornings.

“I like to run, I run cross country and track,” said Sydney Gall, Minneapolis.

She said running was in her usual routine at home and, that runs on her gravel roads all the time.

A few of the girls agreed they had to like running if they were going to run all five days.

“It starts out your day.” Lacy Stager, Seattle, said. Everyone has an activity or a routine to wake her up in the morning, running just happens to be Stager’s.

“What motivates me is myself, I know what’s best for myself” said Jeryka Goble, St. Louis.

The runners spent the morning at the sand pit having fun and laughing as they played volleyball. The girls split up between nationalist and federalists, having five nationalists and four federalists. During this game no one kept score; it was just for recreation.

Meanwhile in the dorms some girls were sleeping in or just starting to get ready for the day.

“Priorities mainly, sleep over everything” said Kathryn Paulson. Most of the girls stayed up late to finish and hang up posters Wednesday night. Some girls stayed up late just to bond with their cities.

The girls agreed that it would be nice to have a larger group and to get more of the delegates active.

For the last two days at Girls State, different early morning activities are in the works.

If you would like to join them, meet in the front lobby of the North Complex at 6 a.m.

(Photo: Early risers change up their pace Thursday morning by not going for their usual mile-long run. Elyse Helkenn / Sacajawea Scroll)