Over his forty-one-year streak, Raven has worn out 120 pairs of running shoes, many of which he can’t bear to throw away.
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
In 1978, Raven ran his first and only race, which happened to be eight miles in South Beach. He loves the inclusive nature of running and doesn’t believe in paying to run.
Raven started dating Astrologer in 1975. “After going out with her, I could never again date a woman who isn’t smarter than me,” he said. They are standing on the old South Beach Pier with Goliath, a bodybuilder.
Killer (middle) and Bulldog (right) were two boxers training at Miami Beach’s famed Fifth Street Gym. In 1972, they invited Raven to join for “roadwork,” which inspired him to start running.
Raven, at 26, with his pet kitten. He loves animals, especially cats. Today he has a big-headed tabby named Joe, whom he calls his son.
In the first year of his streak, Raven ran in a spray-painted-black cowboy hat, which earned him a temporary nickname of Cowboy, or Cowboy Bob.
For three and a half decades, Raven swam three tenths of a mile in the Atlantic after every run. He still encourages Raven Runners to swim following the eight-mile run.
(Photo by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Raven, singing with Teen Idol, a musician and lieutenant on the Beach Patrol.
Over the years, Raven has picked up over $1,800 in coins and bills from the sand and grass. He stores his finds in ajar.
(Photo by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Placard Man, whose love of nature and exercise influenced Raven, is a Raven Run Coach.
(Photo by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Gringo has completed over 1,600 runs with Raven, many of them while undergoing chemotherapy.
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
Hitter, Raven, Poutine, and Sheik make the southern turn of eight miles at the new fishing pier by Government Cut. (Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
Taxman, Chapter 11, and Dizzy are all in the Raven Run Hall of Fame with over 1,000 runs each.
(Photo by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Raven, running toward the 5th Street Lifeguard Stand on Miami Beach, where he begins every eight-mile run. (Photo by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Every afternoon before the run, Raven goes to the outdoor gym on 9th Street. There, he does three sets of twenty pull-ups and chin-ups, followed by a 45-second “hang.”
(Photo by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Raven’s workout at the 9th Street Gym also includes a set of one hundred push-ups.
(Photos by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth and Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Raven and his girlfriend, a photographer named Miracle, have been together for nineteen years.
(Photos by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth and Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson)
Raven, running next to author White Lightning, and Dizzy, on the 110,000th mile of his streak.
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
Raven, author White Lightning, and photographer Yellow Rose before eight steaming miles in the August sun.
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
Raven, his mother, Mary, and his father, Walter. Raven was their only child.
Raven calls himself a collector, but most people who have been inside his nest use the word “hoarder.”
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
When Raven’s collections became a potential fire hazard, Gringo helped him clean up.
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
During Hurricane Sandy—and many other storms—Raven ran his usual eight miles.
(Photos by Priscilla “Miracle” Ferguson and Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
Raven became an ordained minister in order to marry Creve Coeur and Hollywood Flasher, a couple who fell in love while running with him. Raven performed the ceremony during a run.
(Photos by Rudolph “Taxman” Volenec)
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine proclaimed February 10, 2016, “Robert ‘Raven’ Kraft Day.” Pictured here, the Mayor and commissioners—one of whom, “Relay Ricky,” is a Raven Runner—honor Raven’s achievements.
(Photo by Laura Lee “White Lightning” Huttenbach)
The Judge, a Circuit Court Judge in Miami, ran with Raven up until three days before giving birth.
(Photo by Maury “Encyclopedia” Udell)
(Photo by Mary Beth “Yellow Rose” Koeth)
Running with Raven Page 26