our founder

real -adj. 1. Genuine and authentic. 2. Not artificial. 3. Free of pretense.  4. How one would describe Molly Barker.

Molly Barker, MSW and four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete is a visionary.  Using her expertise in counseling and teaching along with research on adolescent issues, she founded Girls on the Run® in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Girls on the Run® is a non-profit organization with the mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.  The innovative, experiential program combines training for a 5k event with life-changing self-esteem enhancing lessons that enhance social, physical and mental health in 8 – 12 year old girls.

Molly began running at the age of 15 - an age when she found herself stuck in the "girl box", where only girls who were a certain size with a certain beauty were popular; where girls who wanted to fit in had to mold their bodies and their personalities to fit the requirements of the box.

In 2006, Molly was the recipient of several prestigious national awards including Redbook magazine's "Strength and Spirit Award" which recognizes individuals who are building a better future for all of us, the "Woman's Day Award" from Woman's Day magazine which salutes individuals who have used their vision and heart to help fix pressing problems and the highly prestigious "Heroes of Running Award" from Runner's World magazine.  Corporate sponsors for Girls on the Run International include Secret and Goody's Hair Products.

With the success of the Girls on the Run program combined with her books, Girls on Track, A Parent's Guide to Inspiring our Daughters to Achieve a Lifetime of Self-Esteem and Respect, and Girls Lit From Within, Molly has become an inspiration and positive role model for people of all ages.

Molly lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and enjoys writing, running and cycling.    She is passionate about her work but is most inspired by her two children.