Coach Erin Gibson Brings Her Past Experience, Compassion and Enthusiasm to her GOTR Team
by Kara Witsoe
Erin Gibson is busy. She’s a nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital who works long hours on the night shift caring for premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She’s also a newlywed who’s prioritized time to coach a Girls on the Run (GOTR) Puget Sound team.
Erin’s been a nurse for over four years and is dedicated to helping families in difficult times. “I was drawn to nursing because it combines my passion for science with my desire to care for people in a holistic, compassionate way. I love working in the NICU because I am constantly amazed by the resiliency of babies and the incredible lifesaving technology we have access to,” she said. “Working closely with families during a very challenging time is something I never take for granted. One of my favorite parts of my job is helping parents hold their baby for the first time!” She’s equally passionate about coaching and has been involved with Girls on the Run for years.
Erin’s GOTR journey started as an elementary school student in 2005 with a team in Bellingham. “I knew I wanted to coach because I have very fond memories from my own years as a GOTR participant,” she said. “In fact, I still think about some of the lessons to this day! I’ll never forget the feeling of finishing my first 5K at the end of the season, being cheered on the track by family and friends.”
Erin’s been a Girls on the Run coach in Seattle for two years and enjoys seeing connections among the girls develop. “I love to see the way that girls with a variety of personalities, who maybe have never interacted at school, come together at GOTR practice and grow into friends throughout the season,” she said. “One of my favorite moments was watching two of the shyest girls on our team develop a friendship based on a realization early in the season that they were both Taylor Swift super fans. Seeing them run together, belting out Taylor songs, was a blast!” Erin has found her personal coaching experience deeply fulfilling.
“The most rewarding thing about coaching is knowing that every girl is capable (whether of completing laps, completing a GOTR goal or thinking deeply about a lesson) and watching her realize it throughout the season,” she shared. “And the look of accomplishment on each girl’s face at the end of the 5K cannot be beat.”
We appreciate coaches like Erin who help empower girls with the life skills and tools to build confidence, navigate challenges, develop a strong sense of self, and form meaningful connections with others. “Coaching is THE MOST FUN! There are days when I’m tired or I’ve been challenged at work, but the girls always energize and center me. I leave practice with a smile on my face every single day." Sign up to coach a team this fall by Friday, September 13 and have your own rewarding adventure with Girls on the Run!