It’s off to the races in Lewiston and Auburn this summer.
The 2025 L-A Triple Crown 5K Series, a community run and a fundraising opportunity, kicks off Sunday, June 8.
The jewels of this Triple Crown are the YMCA Fit Fest, Emily’s Run and the Bridge Run spaced each month throughout the summer, with proceeds split equally among the organizations behind each race.
“It’s all for the community. None of us on the committee are paid, we’re all volunteers,” said Bridge Run Race Director Mike Lecompte, a retired firefighter and longtime runner. “It’s a win-win for everybody. We get to have some local races and at the same time we get to give it back to the community and make some things happen. It works out real well.”
The 5K (3.1 mile) races cover different areas of Lewiston and Auburn. Each race will begin at 8:30 a.m., with bib pickup at The Pub at Baxter Brewing from noon to 2 p.m. the day before.
Preregistration is $30; race day registration is $35. Registration for all three races is $75 ($25 per race). Children under the age of 14 run for free and can participate in the Auburn Firefighter’s Local 797 Kids’ Fun Run, which precedes each 5K at 8 a.m.
There will be prizes for the overall male and female winners, as well as age category prizes for first- and second-place finishers. Those who participate in all three races will earn commemorative pint glasses.
The races feature chip timing, prize drawings, food, refreshments, massage, music and awards that will start at 10 a.m. following each race.
Coming first is the YMCA Fit Fest, which will begin June 8 at the Festival Plaza on 132 Main St. in Auburn. Proceeds will benefit the Auburn-Lewiston YMCA, a health and fitness center that offers programs to promote physical and social well-being regardless of ability to pay. Among the YMCA’s programs is a Couch to 5K training for the race, which began with a group meeting and run April 12. Other initiatives include youth sports, family activities and events, exercise classes, aquatics and summer camps.
A flat and fast run, the course will begin on the corner of Court and Main streets in Auburn and will include sections in Auburn and Lewiston, following the Androscoggin River and offering scenic views and very little elevation.
Course records were set by Ryan Smith, who finished in 14:49 in 2019, and Erica Jessman, who finished in 16:59 in 2016.
The second race is Emily’s Run on Sunday, July 20, at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Proceeds benefit the Fletcher Foundation, created in memory of Lyn and Emily Fletcher to promote education, health awareness and conservation in Maine communities.
Emily Fletcher grew up in Auburn and was a runner in cross-country and track at Edward Little High School. The run is dedicated in Emily’s memory and spirit after the 21-year-old passed away tragically in a car accident while driving home from the University of Vermont.
The Emily Fletcher Memorial 5K, or Emily’s Run, was established to celebrate her life and raise funds for two college scholarships and donations to the Auburn Public Library, Auburn Nordic Ski Association, Androscoggin Land Trust and Tree Street Youth, among others.
Unlike the YMCA Fit Fest, the Emily’s Run course is moderately hilly and winds through suburban roads. The loop begins and ends at Edward Little High School’s track at 77 Harris St. Course records are 15:07 set by Jesse Orach in 2017 for men and 18:02 set by Michelle Sumner in 2013 for women.
The series concludes with the LA Bridge Run on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Rollerdrome at 12 Riverside Drive in Auburn.
Proceeds benefit the Bridge Run Foundation, which encourages active outdoor experiences for local youth, promoting health and wellness. The foundation supports students from Lewiston-Auburn middle schools and the Boys and Girls Club, providing them with opportunities to attend wilderness programs that foster an appreciation for nature, develop self-esteem and promote camaraderie.
The race begins and ends at the Rollerdrome, following a route through Lewiston and Auburn. The moderately flat course runs over bridges and a railroad while following the Androscoggin River. There is a slight incline about halfway through the course. Course records were set by Ryan Smith with 15:04 in 2017 and Kristin Barry with 17:19 in 2006.
“There’s a certain energy when you get a community of runners together, there’s a good energy, a good vibe,” Lecompte said. “People seem to enjoy the races.”
