Meet Molly Sheridan: Running for Good
Running a full marathon, with its 26.2 miles of arduous distance, is at the top of many people’s personal achievement wish list. For most, it’s a one and done deal. Some catch the running bug and notch several marathons in their lifetime. And then there are the rare spirits for whom running becomes essential to life.
Meet Molly Sheridan, one of those special souls who lives to run. And not just in a regular marathon. Molly’s specialty is ultramarathons, races that push athletes to the limits. Now, Molly has signed up for her most epic adventure yet, to run seven marathons back-to-back in seven days. And she’s doing it all for a good cause.
An Epic Challenge
The 2025 World Marathon Challenge is an epic logistical and physical contest that tests runners’ limits of endurance in some of the world’s most difficult environments. To compete, runners must complete seven marathons in seven days, on seven different continents. You read that right, seven races on seven continents.
How is this possible? Race participants run traditional 26.2-mile marathons each day, hopping on a plane in the evening to jet to the next location for another marathon. This colossal race kicks off in Novo, Antarctica and culminates seven days later in Miami, Florida, making stops in Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe and South America along the way. And Molly is up for the challenge.
Life Starts at 50
In her late 40s, Molly embarked on the second half of her life asking herself a lot of questions. As a wife and mother of three teens, she felt accomplished at home but also felt something was missing. After years of caring for her children, she realized she had put her own needs aside.
After being invited to participate in a half-marathon, she scoffed, “Who on Earth wants to run for fun?” but the idea stuck. She hadn’t exercised or really enjoyed a new hobby in years. Molly decided to give it a go, bought a pair of running shoes, and started training.
Despite a minor injury and discouraging feedback from her doctors, she completed her first marathon. This success sparked something within her. “I felt like I had conquered the world. Then, amidst all of the clapping and cheers, a question lit up inside my brain: ‘I wonder how far I can run.’”
This one question laid the foundation for her future as an ultramarathoner. Molly decided to push herself and test her body’s limits. With each race she signed up for, she took on more and more miles. Eventually, Molly became the first American woman to complete a treacherous 138-mile race through the Himalayas.
Molly’s passion for running spans the globe, with over 85 ultramarathons under her feet. This includes the Marathon de Sables, a 150-mile run through the Sahara Desert, which she completed despite a bout of dysentery. She also conquered 120+ degree temperatures in the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile race from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney.
Molly will be 68 years old when she embarks on the World Marathon Challenge, making her the eldest female competitor in the history of the race. With every race she’s run, Molly has proven that age is nothing but a number.
Motivation Drives Molly’s Passion for Running
Despite some of the exotic race locations, the races themselves are not glamorous at all. Molly has run through sickness, injuries, blistered and bleeding feet, and complete darkness in the remote wilderness. Not to mention, sleeping on the ground and not showering for days is part of the ultramarathon experience.
It’s clear that, for Molly, it’s the adventure that makes the experience worthwhile. In her book, Running Past Midnight, Molly explained: “People still ask, ‘Why do you go?’…The better question for me is, ‘How could I NOT go?’ All I could think about was adventure… adventure… adventure.”
Ultramarathon Runner to Author & Motivational Speaker
When Molly isn’t training for ultramarathons, she travels the country as a motivational speaker, inspiring people to start an exercise routine and take life by the horns. According to Molly, the trick is to simply get started.
“I believe that running, walking, moving, [and] simply getting out in nature expands a person’s mind. Out there, you can find your creativity, your confidence, your strength. You can get your independence back and your sense of self-worth.”
The World Marathon Challenge will be one of Molly’s biggest adventures yet in ultramarathon running. For a race this big, she needs extra nutritional support during training, and for that, she turned to Touchstone Essentials. As an advocate for healthy living, Touchstone Essentials’ commitment to using clean, organic superfoods in its supplements stood out. It is one of the many reasons Molly decided to become an ambassador for the brand.
To power her body for training and recovery, Molly uses organic superfood smoothies with Touchstone Essentials’ Super Green Juice and Organic Super Protein. These ready to mix powders provide complete protein and organic superfoods to energize, alkalize, and support Molly’s immune health. Sometimes, Molly admits, she drinks multiple smoothies per day, adding a variety of fruits and vegetables to jazz up her routine.
Running for the World
When Molly participates in ultramarathons, she uses her platform for good. Molly fundraises for charitable organizations whose mission resonates with her. While she competes in the World Marathon Challenge, she will be raising money for 261 Fearless. Founded by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, 261 Fearless empowers women through running.
Molly’s charitable work extends around the world. Her running has brought her across the globe, where she’s seen the impact of life-changing programs in local communities. Molly will also be fundraising for SwaTaleem, an after-school program for girls from underrepresented communities in India, and SureWave Foundation, which supports humanitarian initiatives in Tanzania.
Molly’s message of movement touches countless lives. She inspires others to prioritize wellness and to reach for their goals. We’ll be cheering Molly on as she embarks on the World Marathon Challenge starting in Novo, Antarctica on January 31, 2025. Keep track of Molly’s journey on her social media as she touches lives with goodness @mollysheridanruns.
