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The Portland Bureau of Transportation and the Office of Mayor Ted Wheeler today selected a new group, Run With Paula Events, to organize the 2018 Portland Marathon.
The city opened applications to interested parties last month after the former race director, Les Smith, head of the non-profit Portland Marathon Inc., paid a $865,000 settlement to the Oregon Department of Justice and resigned from his position. The remaining marathon board dissolved the non-profit soon after.
Related: City Hall Is Seeking New Group to Organize This Year's Portland Marathon
Applications from groups interested in organizing the race were due May 25, but PBOT says Run With Paula was, "the only organizer to meet all the criteria for the 2018 event."
The Portland-based event firm is owned by Paula and Dave Harkin, who also own Portland Running Co. and have organized long-distance running events like the Hippie Chick and Helvetia half marathons in Hillsboro.
"Fall just would not be the same without a marathon in Portland," Paul Harkin says.
While Run With Paula was selected by the city, PBOT clarifies that the event will not be city-owned or sponsored. The race is scheduled to take place October 7, and a separate application process for selecting a 2019 event organizer is in the works.