Go to the Archives to see coverage of every 4 on the Fourth Race since 1977!
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 the race and finished with hot cider in the Levine’s kitchen. By 1982, the race had grown to several hundred runners, and the Levines moved away from Bridgton. 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 was first 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 racecourse was changed in the 1980s to begin and end in the downtown area and certified by the USATF (USA Track & Field).
The race continues to attract a growing and faithful group of runners – now approaching 2,100 actual runners, with a race limit of about 2,500, the course limit, from more than 35 states and numerous foreign countries. In 2001, New England Runner magazine named the race New England’s top race. In 2010, the race was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame.
In 2016, a Kids Fun Run/Walk was added to the race agenda for the first time. The race is held on July 3 at 4:30 PM in the rear of Stevens Brook Elementary School and is for children ages 3 – 10. Participants can choose from three distances – ¼ mile, ½ mile, or 1 mile. Parents can accompany their children during the race/walk. All kids participating in the event receive a prize. Proceeds from the Kids Fun Run/Walk benefit the Children’s Room at the Bridgton Library.
From the beginning of the race and each year since the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth Road Race has supported the Bridgton Public Library. At least 90% of the race proceeds are donated to the library each year. These proceeds have allowed the library to provide programs and resources for the community, including free computer/internet use, wi-fi internet access, regular children’s craft and activity programs, upgraded collections, and special guest performers and entertainers.
Additionally, proceeds from the race have benefited the following charities and public service organizations: Bridgton Community Center, Bridgton Hospital Oncology Clinic, Bridgton Recreation Advancement Group, Christmas Angel Program, Hurricane Katrina Library Relief, Lakes Environmental Association, Lakes Region Senior Transportation Program, Project WARM/Fuel Assistance Program, Shawnee Peak’s Adaptive Ski Program, Pondicherry Park, Stevens Brook Elementary School Reading Boost Program, Rufus Porter Museum, Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition, Special Olympics, and Bridgton High School Scholarship Foundation.
For 2025, the race distributed a record $95,000, with a record $85,000 going to the Bridgton Public Library, and another $10,000 to local charities. We made a special focus on four of the local towns food pantries, as well as a few other charities that support the race with volunteers and the local community with a broad set of services.
RACE MANAGEMENT:
FOUR ON THE FOURTH CORPORATE DIRECTORS AND PRIMARY RACE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CLASS OF 2026 Jim Cossey-Race President, Donna Bleakney, Jason Fuller, Bob Lee & Dave Sheldrick
CLASS OF 2027 Bill Graham-Secretary and Race Director Terry Brennan-Treasurer, Bridgette Fuller, Alice Gold & Roger Lowell
CLASS OF 2028 Katie Chalmers, David Hursty, Chris Roy & TBD
OTHER PRIMARY RACE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Alan Beaulieu, Scott Bleakney, Erica Chute, Dana Flanders, Candy Gibbons, Dan Gyger, Jess Gyger, Will Libby, Rick Olson, Richard Packard, Charles Phillips, Diane Phillips, Abby Warren, Dana Warren & Becca Weston
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