Fit For the Race New Beginnings

For New Beginnings this year, we saw the theme Fit For the Race here… and RAN with it!  We all worked together and were able to pull everything together in just a few weeks after getting called as a new presidency!  THANK YOU to Sarah, Jenny, Alena, Natalie, Rhonda, Heather, and Erin for your amazing talents and time spent to organize and carry out this event.

Our Amazing Bishop created a logo for us, which we used for the invitations, decorations, programs, race packets, and even water bottle labels. 

You have permission to use the logo above, and i even have it in a few other colors as well.  The designs below are just for examples, I purchased the digital papers and embellishments from etsy at ThisToo Designs/ThisToo Designs, digiscrap delights, and DewDrop Digitals if you want to duplicate them.

The Beehive girls spent a class activity helping us by decorating race packets, designing and painting a big sign for the entry area, and attaching our water bottle labels with packing tape.

As the Young Women arrived, they each stopped by the Packet Pick-Up table to “register” and pick up their race folder.  Check out that awesome sign the girls made!  Each folder was labeled with a girl’s name.  The contents of each folder were:

2013 “team” roster

“All About Me” form (to use for spotlights throughout the year)

2013 yw calendar at a glance
Mini Strength of Youth pamphlet

Bookmark with overview of value items from skit

Stride gum with “Lengthen your Stride” quote

Jenny Phillips CD

Race Bib (got them donated, extras from a race)

Just inside the doors to the cultural hall we repurposed some balloon topiary poles into a starting line using fabric bunting banners and balloons of course.  We taped the word START onto the ground beneath.  

Then we used blue painters tape to mark off a course with arrows to the finish line on the stage which was decorated in white with pictures of the Savior.

The refreshment table was decorated with the cute bunting and some bright orange cones with balloons on dowels.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the completed look!

We had a combination of an ice cream bar and a trail mix bar and it really turned out delicious.  There was something for everyone, from super healthy to sweet sugar rush!  And of course the cute water bottles for thirst quenching.

For the program, we started off singing “I Love to See the Temple” and then our YW President kicked off the evening with a great talk based on our Fit For the Race theme.

Each age level of girl participated in the program; Our 4 Beehives stood up together and gave a few training tips on how they stay on the right path with things like good music and service.

Next our Mia Maids did a fabulous job performing a skit we wrote… they added a bit of their own flare and really made it great!  The skit compared different items you need in a physical running race to a value you need to compete in the race of life in order to return to our Father in Heaven.  You can find the skit here.

The Laurels came prepared with spotlights for each of the girls who will be turning 12 this year and entering Beehives, it was so fun to see the personalities shining through for each of them.  After their spotlight each upcoming Beehive received a draw-string bag (found at the dollar store) that contained items from the skit representing the values.  

We also had a Mother/Daughter duo talk about “teamwork” and working on their personal progress together.

Our Bishop gave some closing remarks which were truly inspiring and told the story about Derek Redmond, the Olympian who tore his hamstring 150 meters into the 400 meter race.  Watch the amazing video on youtube... makes me cry everytime.

For the closing song we had a musical number sung by the young women and leaders called In That Holy Place by Sally DeFord.  You can find it here on her website.

We hope this helps someone else!  We had a great time putting it together.  There are lots of great talks to use for inspiration, including The Race of Life by Thomas S Monson.

Also, I framed a few inspirational running quotes and placed them around the room and on the race folders, there are so many to choose from!  Here are a few we used:

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" -NYC Marathon winner Juma Ikangaa

"life is a marathon, not a sprint"

"Find Joy in the journey" - Thomas S Monson

"The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness the less likely we will be on a path to regrets." - Dieter F Uchtdorf

And I love this one found here (see photo below) ... goes perfectly with personal progress!

Race Themed Values Skit for New Beginnings

This skit goes with this post (Fit 4 the Race New Beginnings).  Feel free to adapt as necessary for your ward's needs.

Fit 4 The Race Values Skit

By Vanessa Bickmore and Jenny Crandell

Here in the ________________ Ward Young Women Program, we are training and preparing to enter the temple to make sacred covenants, and remain pure and worthy throughout our lives.  Our leaders have given us 8 VALUEable tools which help us to be Fit 4 the Race.  We have been taught that these Values can help us overcome any difficulties, hurdles or temptations we may face on the course… and in fact even help us stay on the right path!  Even with pit stops and temptations along the way, we know we can finish the race which leads back to our Father in Heaven.

Faith- map/strength of youth

Because we have not run this course before, we will need a map and directions to complete the race.  Our Faith and understanding of the gospel standards will put us on the right path… The Strength of Youth Pamphlet provides us with excellent directions to follow through the course.

Divine Nature- running bib

This running bib represents Divine Nature.  Our Divine Nature is what qualifies each of us as a participant in this race.  We have inherited divine qualities from our Father in Heaven who loves us and sent us to earth as participants.

Individual Worth- friend

Competing and training with a friend will help the experience be more enjoyable and more successful.  This is because each of us brings important skills and abilities to the race, our Individual Worth is what makes us unique and important in the sight of God.  Running the race with loved ones helps us remember that all of Heavenly Father’s children are of infinite worth.

Knowledge- water

Water represents a continual thirst for Knowledge, opportunities and growth.  Staying well hydrated on the race is vitally important to our mission.   Hydrating our spirits here on earth is an essential part of strengthening our testimonies and abilities through scripture study, prayer, and developing our talents and interests.

Choice and Accountability- music

Just like we have a choice in the music we listen to, we also make many other choices along the path… those choices lead to consequences which either slow us down or lengthen our stride.  Choice and Accountability is all about learning to make good choices and accepting responsibility for our decisions. This will greatly affect which paths we take on the race of life. 

Good Works- energy bar

Sometimes we may be slowed down by either feelings of pride or self doubt… this loss of energy may be contributed to the need for some fuel.  The energy bar we crave in the race of life is Good Works.  Helping others and building the kingdom can give us the boost we need consisting of Christ like Love and Gratitude.

Integrity- sunscreen

Applying sunscreen is something we do because we know it is right, and not because anyone else knows whether we have applied it or not.  When we have Integrity, we base our decisions on our beliefs and knowledge of right and wrong… not on what others will think of our actions.

Virtue- tennis shoes

Making covenants in the temple and remaining pure and worthy will require Standing in Holy Places… on our own two feet.  By choosing to let Virtue garnish our thoughts, we can ensure that we have a holy place to stand at all times and in all things and in all places.

With these 8 VALUES we can be Fit 4 the Race, and return to our Heavenly Father again.  Along the way we will be cheered on by our family and friends… and we can pray for additional guidance anytime and anywhere.  The finish line is Eternal Life… but the goals and progress we make along the way will be what keeps us Standing in Holy Places and on the right course.