Wheeler Announces Brooksee As New Producer Of Portland Marathon

PORTLAND, OR – First it was the Portland Marathon. Then, last year, it was the Portlandathon. It's coming back – maybe this year – with a name that's not yet been announced but the important thing is – it coming back.

Mayor Wheeler announced Wednesday that the city has chosen a company, Brooksee, to produce the city's next marathon.

Brooksee is a Utah-based company that stages marathons at Mt. Hood as well as in Denver, Las Vegas, and Tucson.

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"My vision for a marathon is one that is a world-class event worthy of a host city that’s known for running – but also for a marathon that highlights the entire community and increases opportunities for community participation and equal economic prosperity," Mayor Ted Wheeler says.

"I believe in Brooksee's vision for community and desire to highlight the best Portland has to offer, and I could not be more excited to award them the marathon."

Brooksee says that their goal is have 20,000 runners by 2023 and 35,000 runners by 2030.

"We look forward to working with elected officials, city staff, community organizations, and Portland's residents to create the most iconic and unique race in the world," Brooksee CEO Jared Rohatinsky says. "We pledge the entirety of our resources to the ultimate goal of serving Portland.

"We warmly invite the Portland community to unite with us in the creation of this event. We have an open-door policy and will gladly accept and implement suggestions from all stakeholders."

As part of their efforts to work with people in Portland in putting on the event, Brooksee says that they've hired longtime Portland running fixture Paula Harkin to be their Local Liaison and Director of Community Outreach.

Harkin an the marathon last year, jumping in after the marathon's board dissolved itself following the news that the race's longtime director paid a six-figure settlement to the state's Department of Justice. He had kept some of the non-profits money for himself.

Photo via Portlandathon.