AUBURN — You know you’re a popular guy when an Olympic gold medalist takes time out of her day to sing your praises. 

It happened Wednesday night as Bob Brainerd, owner of Central Maine Conditioning Clinic, was named Citizen of the Year by the Auburn Business Association. 

When Brainerd walked through the doors of the Auburn Senior Community Center, he was promptly ambushed by a throng of his admirers. 

The words from gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson came later in the evening when the famed runner popped in remotely to send her regards. 

“Bob, you have served the people of Auburn and beyond in myriad selfless, caring and generous ways,” she said. “You have helped to build a stronger community by caring for the health of its people and those who want to give life and work their best effort. You have an exceptional gift of knowledge which, coupled with your experience, meets the needs and goals of the people you treat.” 

Brainerd, considered a leader in the world of fitness, served as a running coach to Samuelson, who continues to compete 40 years after winning the gold in 1984. 

“Personally, I want to thank you for all that you have done to keep me moving forward with my running,” Samuelson said. “You have always gone the extra mile for me and for this I  am most grateful. I owe you a debt of gratitude for the longevity I have enjoyed in the sport of running, skiing and cycling.” 

She had to wait her turn to make her remarks. At the Senior Center on Wednesday night were dozens of local men and women whose lives had been improved one way or another by the work of Brainerd. 

In 2005, Pamela Edgecomb was working in health care but she had become disillusioned by the industry. When she was invited to go into business with Brainerd, she jumped at it, and it revived her career. 

“He’s so passionate,” Edgecomb said of her business partner. “He has a desire to have a different kind of model related to taking care of people. He’s struck this path of innovation. He’s more than 110 percent dedicated when it comes to taking care of somebody and figuring how we can get the right services for them. That has involved a variety of different things from Parkinson’s groups, running groups, new equipment and a nonprofit foundation. People seek him out when they can’t find a cure or a direct path for treatment in a different way.” 

Brainerd is also heavy on mentoring, Edgecomb said, “because our goal is for our models to live beyond us.” 

Rep. Laurel Libby was a mom adjusting to life with two kids when she started attending Brainerd’s running group. It got her onto a path to better things and she credits Brainerd directly for that. 

“I know from personal experience how much he has benefited our community,” Libby said, “and I’m really thankful for how he’s invested in the Lewiston-Auburn community.” 

It was a raucous ceremony as the 50th Auburn Citizen of the Year. Brainerd took all the pomp and adulation well, though he admittedly tries to avoid the spotlight. 

“I try to keep a low profile,” he said. “But it really is nice to be appreciated when you make a little bit of difference.” 

That kind of understatement is a mark of Brainerd’s modesty, according to those who know him. The fact, is, Brainerd has made a very big difference to health and well-being in the community, and his fans weren’t going to let him downplay it. 

“Bob is a man of genuine compassion,” said Dan Campbell, who has coached track and field, cross country and Nordic skiing for decades at Edward Little High School in Auburn. “He’s an unselfish human being — Bob is the real deal.” 

“Bob made a huge impact on my daughters career,” said Auburn Business Association President Nicole Lajoie. “He was a mentor,  teacher and caregiver to her in her years at Central Maine Community College.  She was in the first cohort of the Physical Fitness program. He has helped her on and off the athletic field and essentially helped her decide to be an athletic trainer.

“I have the utmost respect for him and what he has accomplished in our community,” she said. “He is loved by many people.”

Brainerd, 61, was born and raised in Auburn. He graduated from Edward Little High School, attended the University of Maine at Orono and completed postgraduate studies at the University of New England for Athletic Training. 

He began his career as a teacher at Oak Hill High School in Wales, where he developed the health curriculum and served as the head football coach. Then he moved onto Lewiston High School where he was head of the health and physical education department.  

He ultimately left teaching and opened the Hilltop Community Sport Center with his wife, Jayne. Soon thereafter, the couple launched Central Maine Conditioning Clinic. 

Brainerd is a professional running-triathlon coach to more than 100 athletes, including Samuelson.  

In 2003, he started a weekly running group that has roughly 150 members. And that’s on top of several programs and events he’s been running for years. 

“In 2012, Bob co-founded the Lake Auburn Half Marathon, a treasured community event,” according to the Auburn Citizen of the Year program. “The following year he developed the nonprofit organization Moving ME Forward, whose mission is to provide mentors, resources and programming that inspires health and fitness professionals to develop strategies to promote social change in the areas of health and fitness in Maine communities.   

“Through Moving ME Forward,” the program continues, “Bob helped to develop the curriculum and facilities for the Physical Health and Fitness associates’ degree at Central Maine Community College, where he instructed and inspired students. Bob has coached or mentored hundreds (likely thousands) of people, humbly serving his community, out of the limelight, with his proudest moments being shared with the individuals supports.” 

Brainerd endured the ceremony with grace and gratitude. And his work continues, helping more and more people all the time, as Samuelson noted in her remarks. 

Appropriately, she put it in the language of a marathon runner. 

“There is no finish line to the good you have done for so many and for your community,” she said. “A community is strong because of its people who work hard  to pull others along with them — that would be you!” 

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