FRYEBURG — George Dole placed 5th with a time of 4:25 when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile in Oxford, England, in 1954. Dole had won a place in that historic race as Oxford University’s top miler. Each person on the team had a job to do, George’s was to push everyone along at the beginning of the race, after which a different runner did the pace setting.
60 years later, members of the Fryeburg New Church Assembly family camp established the Dole 3 Miler road race to celebrate the life of the Rev. Dr. George F. Dole, who was still running in his 80s. In fact, in that inaugural Dole 3 Miler in 2014, Rev. Dole wore the same pair of running shorts as in the historic 1954 race! He finished first in his age group, in 37th place, with a time of 30:06.
‘Better than I thought I’d do,’ he said in the post-race interview. Rev. Dole passed on in 2021 just 10 days shy of his 90th birthday. One of the last things he said was, ‘I cannot wait to run again.’
The 10th annual Dole 3 Miler with be held Saturday, August 12, on the Mountain Division Rail Trail in Fryeburg, beginning at the western terminus directly across the street from the Assembly grounds where Dole attended camp yearly every summer for his entire life beginning at age of 1 month until well into his 80s, when failing health prevented it. As an adult at the Assembly, Dole taught, lectured, preached, lead, labored, laughed, and was universally loved by all who knew him.
This race supports the Fryeburg New Church Assembly, the Fryeburg New Church, and the Mountain Division Rail Trail. More information is available on the race site: https://www.dole3miler.com/
Please register here: https://runsignup.com/Register/?raceId=88183
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