There are moments in life that at first blush seem ordinary, yet are later revealed to be turning points that significantly affect the course of one’s life. Such was the case when a collegiate peer and fellow athlete urged Porter Bratten to host his first triathlon on their campus in the early 2000s.

The notion had sprung from the lack of opportunity for such events in the area, which the pair were interested in participating in. Bratten took the bait and applied his natural attention to detail, which had been honed throughout his engineering program, to put on his first race.

With ample support from the college, and a pool of enthusiastic attendees ravenous for more races in the heart of the sport’s popularity surge following its adoption as an olympic sport in 2000, success came surprisingly easily. 

A runner at an Orca Running race. (Photo: Orca Running)

Bratten was bewildered by the notion of people—hundreds of people—handing over money for an event that was months away. “It was a lot of fun, and it gave me, I think, a false sense of how easy it was to make a living from putting on races, which is maybe a good thing [because] it planted the seed,” he said.

This seed grew, as did his own passion for triathlons and fitness. After a short stint in engineering, Bratten jumped into hosting and organizing races full-time in 2010. Initially working in this capacity for other organizations, he launched his own race company, Orca Running, in 2016.

Initially the company hosted triathlons, but they would later narrow their focus to solely running.

Porter Bratten with his children on race day. (Photo: Orca Running)

The Emblematic Orca

At the outset, hosting races that ran on time and were properly supplied was the priority. Once this solid foundation was established, continuous improvement flowed as a natural outgrowth. This has included adding more races each year, prioritizing ambitious environmental initiatives, and embedding charitable giving into each race. 

“From the start, we were always interested in continually improving,” Bratten said. 

Environmental stewardship seemed to be an obvious area that the company could make an impact. Orca Running provides no single use cups at watering stations—something that is historically commonplace in the road-racing sphere. Instead they encourage racers to bring their own water bottles or hydration packs and offer reusable cups for purchase that can fold down and be carried in racers’ waistbands. 

There are also shoe recycling stations for worn out running shoes, an option to have a tree planted instead of receiving a race T-shirt through the Trees Not Tees program, and the adoption of zero waste stations.

A cause for celebration—ringing the Personal Record bell. (Photo: Orca Running)

In addition to these efforts made at the race sites, the company has gone a step further and has committed themselves to being carbon neutral since 2022—recognizing that the most significant contributor to their carbon footprint was transportation to and from the races. 

In an effort to reconcile this, they have diligently calculated their emissions and have been investing in vetted carbon offsetting initiatives, like Crow Lake Wind—a South Dakota-based wind energy project that harvests energy from the prevalent winds that sweep through the state’s vast prairies.  

Orca Running also provides resources on their website for racers to calculate their own carbon footprint and learn more about how to reduce it. As the company says, “There’s no running on a dead planet.”

Post-race jubilation. (Photo: Orca Running)

Additionally, in honor of their namesake Orca Running has adopted Alki, a member of the Southern Resident pod of killer whales. Southern Residents spend a significant portion of each year in the waters of Puget Sound in Washington state, where the company is based. These whales have been listed as federally endangered since 2005.

“I chose orca because I like orcas and it just seemed like they're … emblematic of the area and my own personal interests," Bratten said of the company’s name and ethos. "Also, come to find out later on, [that] would be really fortuitous as far as tying into the environmental priorities.”

Feeling the half-marathon burn. (Photo: Orca Running)

Giving Back

Another area of continuous improvement for the company has been the incorporation of the practice of charitable giving. Bratten’s wife has a career history working in nonprofits and fundraising. Charitable giving is also a part of their personal practice. 

As it did with so many things, the COVID pandemic helped to catalyze this initiative. In 2020, Orca Running held their first virtual race, something they’ve hosted annually since. The interest in the event was staggering—with over 3,000 people from 12 countries and nearly every state in the U.S. participating in the event.

Racers on board a Washington state ferry. (Photo: Orca Running)

With the influx of capital and minimal event overhead, the company made the decision to donate the surplus. Since that fateful race, the company has made it a practice to partner with local and philosophically aligned charitable organizations for all of their events.

The Journey Continues

In looking to the future, Bratten is energized by the prospect of continued growth in multiple arenas including expanding their sustainability efforts, as well as bringing awareness to mental health—which has been well proven to benefit from regular exercise. 

Plans are in the works to host a virtual race for mental health next year. “That will be our one virtual run for the year because I think that it's important,” he said.  

Bratten emcee. (Photo: Orca Running)

This past year, the organization was also a part of the documentary "Beyond the Finish Line" which chronicles the exercise and mental health journey of one of their team members. The film is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit before being released more broadly.

Participating in the project has opened the door of exciting possibilities for projects that Orca Running could be involved with now, and in the future, in their continued pursuit of excellence. 

A racer proudly sports an Orca Running medal. (Photo: Orca Running)