History

Jerry and Phoebe Levine, the founders of the Bridgton 4 on the 4th Road Race, started running for exercise in 1975, and conducted the first four-mile race in December 1977 from their farmhouse on Chadbourne Road. Twenty-eight runners ran this race and finished with hot cider in the Levine’s kitchen. By 1982, the race had grown to almost a thousand runners, and the Levines moved to North Carolina, so Loraine and Jay Spenciner became the Race Directors and directed the race through 2002 when it was turned over to David Fadden. In 2004, the current Race Committee assumed direction of the race. The Race Committee members are all volunteers, as are the approximately 100 other people who make the race possible.

Originally run on Chadbourne and Upper Ridge Roads, the race then moved to begin at the Bridgton Highlands Golf Course and end at Highland Lake, but because of increasing numbers and the difficulty of transporting runners to the start line at the golf course, the race course was changed in the 1980s to begin and end in the downtown area, and certified by the USATF (USA Track & Field).

From the beginning, proceeds of the race have benefited the Bridgton Public Library. Current 4 on the Fourth Corporation by-laws require 90% of the proceeds of the race to go to the Bridgton Public Library and the remaining 10% is available to be disbursed either to the Library or to other deserving charitable organizations. In 2006 and 2007, proceeds from the race totaled approximately $20,000.

The race has attracted a growing and faithful group of runners from 37 states and several foreign countries. In 2001, the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth was named New England’s top race by New England Runner magazine. More than 1600 runners registered in 2006 and 1505 runners registered in 2007. In 2008 1770 runners registered, and there were 1670 finishers.

Race Management

Historical Race Directors & Number of Runners