On Wednesday, December 31 at The Run Pub in Portland, OR., local event director and business owner Paula Harkin will celebrate her 17-year streak of running every day.
Paula Harkin, owner of Run With Paula Events and Portland Running Company, prides herself on creating local running and walking races and fitness opportunities marked with enthusiasm, energy, and a sense of community.
Seventeen years ago, on January 1, 2009, Harkin decided to change her running focus. She set a goal of running at least one continuous mile every single day. No breaks. No rest days. No excuses.
“I decided that, throughout my challenges, injuries, and dynamic life events, I could run myself better. My running streak has given me motivation to stay fit mentally and physically each and every day.”
Running every day is quite a challenge, but Harkin has taken it one step further averaging over 6 miles per day. This year alone Paula will run over 2,000 miles. Several years ago, Paula completed the equivalent of running around the planet. Paula has run for almost 6,200 days in a row at this point. Her total run streak mileage is over 37,000 miles and counting.
During her running streak, Harkin has competed in countless local, national, and international events. Harkin also achieved her Six-Star Marathon Major Medal, competing in the six most renowned marathons in the world (Boston, Chicago, New York, London, Berlin, Tokyo).
Paula and her team are hosting a group run/walk at The Run Pub at 2258 NW Raleigh Street in Portland at 9am on New Year’s Eve. Community members are encouraged to come, participate in a short run or walk, and then enjoy some amazing hot cocoa. But be careful, this is where many run streaks have begun!
