An early member of New York Road Runners, Barry Geisler started the organization’s youth programs in 1966, when youth-focused run programs were rare. He served as NYRR’s age group director, expanding the program to serve thousands of kids. His efforts to get kids running helped lay the groundwork for today’s free, inclusive NYRR youth programs that share the sport of running with future generations. He became a national leader in age-group running and started a national age-group cross country championship in Van Cortlandt Park. Geisler had a radically egalitarian approach to running, welcoming every child regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or ability. This inclusive mindset helped create a culture that defines New York Road Runners to this day. He served as NYRR’s sixth president (1971–72) and his work paved the way for the organization’s dramatic growth in the decades that followed.