Robert Kraft
Retired Runner
Miami Connection
Kraft has inspired generations of runners in Miami Beach by offering tips during his daily runs and fostering a supportive running community for over 50 years. The city honored his perseverance by naming a street after him and installing a plaque at Ocean Drive, celebrating his role as a local symbol of discipline and resilience. His story highlights broader South Florida challenges like condo fee surges affecting retirees.
About
Robert 'Raven' Kraft, now 75, began his legendary running streak on January 1, 1975, as a New Year's resolution after returning to South Florida from Nashville following challenges in the music industry. He runs 8 miles every day on South Beach, rain or shine, through hurricanes and personal hardships, amassing over 145,000 miles and ranking 6th on the U.S. Running Streak Association list. In Miami Beach, his dedication earned him the renaming of 3rd Street to Robert Raven Kraft Way, a commemorative plaque, and multiple keys to the city. As a retiree living in a modest condo on Ocean Drive, he continues his streak despite injuries and financial struggles from rising condo fees. Kraft has built a community of runners, married couples during runs, saved drowning swimmers, and witnessed turtle hatchings over the decades.