Brynn Harrington was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but grew up in the country, where she was encouraged by her parents to play outside. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern University, where she is focusing on the intersection between the private and the public sectors.

Brynn has been an avid runner since age 14 and completed her first of many marathons as a freshman in college. She’s traveled extensively and has visited more than 21 countries, including the UK, China, Tibet and Morocco, as well as locations throughout North America, Western Europe and Central America.

Brynn learned about the Blue Planet Run after she attended the Net Impact conference for corporate social responsibility in October 2005 and was introduced to Simon Isaacs, who worked at the Clinton Foundation and is also a Blue Planet Run runner. Simon told her and Sean about Blue Planet Run, which he knew of through his work at the Clinton Foundation, Brynn and Sean immediately visited the Web site to learn more.

Brynn admits that the Blue Planet Run is a major commitment but believes that its mission to provide clean drinking water is worth her energy and time. The Run marries two things of importance to Brynn — fitness and making a positive difference in the world — and provides a global stage from which to tell the clean-water story in a way that will motivate countless others to get involved.

Brynn holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin. This year promises to be one of many challenges and opportunities, and she feels lucky to have the constant support of her friends, family and “heroes” — namely, her mom and her husband, Sean. She is consistently inspired by her family, with whom she is very close, and by the strength and resilience of the people around her.

When she’s not running or studying, Brynn enjoys hanging out with friends, practicing yoga, cycling, traveling, hiking, playing board games and taking photographs. Brynn’s favorite book is Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri; she also loves to rock out to folk music, Euro pop and ‘80s rock, and can’t get enough coffee, whether in drink or ice cream form.

She and Sean are expecting their first child in early May, and look forward to the challenges and joys of parenthood. They look forward to having one more Blue Planet Runner join the team soon!