Sideline Stories: Freeport Harriers Running Club – Community Voices
Freeport Harriers Running Club – Community Voices
The Harriers have built a proud tradition in our local running community, thanks to the incredible support of RSU5 Community Programs (Durham, Freeport and Pownal Community Programs), runners’ families, and the Freeport community. Over the past few seasons, that support has helped the Harriers team to grow and our runners to thrive—on the course and beyond.
“As coaches, our goal goes beyond building strong athletes. We strive to help our kids discover their resilience, understand the importance of teamwork and gain the confidence to take on whatever comes their way. We always tell the runners to set the example and to just have fun! We hear stories about runners getting their families outside and active. It doesn’t get much better than that!”
The team’s success reflects not only with the runner’s hard work and dedication, but also the encouragement of the entire Freeport community. Together, we show what is possible when families, coaches, businesses, and the community come together to support young athletes.
– The Harraseeket Harrier Coaches
Insight from a Parent –
The Harriers run strong each fall and spring, with weekly practices and community meets that bring together 4-5 from other neighboring towns teams with hundreds of runners at each. The youngest start with a ½-mile run, progressing to ¾- and 1-mile heats as they grow. The co-ed, mixed-age program welcomes all levels of runners, from first-timers to returning runners like my son. My son joined in 2022 and the team was smaller then, and it has now tripled in size with runners spanning kindergarten through 5th grade.
At each meet, teammates cheer each other on, high-five at the finish line, and push for new personal bests—all while keeping the focus on enjoyment and personal growth. The skills they develop—resilience, confidence, and teamwork—carry into middle and high school, and beyond, as running is a low cost sport for life. Local running legend Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, attended last spring’s home meet, inspiring our runners.
This program thrives thanks to a dedicated team of coaches who invest their coaching stipends back to RSU5 Community Programs and parent volunteers. Families, businesses and the community contribute through a bottle drive that raises thousands for community scholarships, and runners volunteer at the annual Freeport Chamber of Commerce Boots & Brews 5K, (May 16, 2026) where proceeds from the kids’ fun run were donated back to support recreational program scholarships.
As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how the Harriers inspire growth and grit. My son has built strength and confidence through running, and his enthusiasm even inspired his older sister to join. Though she isn’t as strong of a runner, she learned to become a cheerleader for others and overcame her doubts, achieving new personal bests.
From cheering runners on with kids racing side by side, the Harriers are about much more than running. They inspire community, perseverance, and the joy of crossing the finish line together.
– Emily Carville, Freeport, Maine
About RSU5 Community Programs (RSU5CP)
Serving Durham, Freeport, and Pownal, RSU5CP plays a vital role that positively affects the lives of children and adults throughout the community.
Our recreation and enrichment programs have the broadest reach and engage hundreds of participants each year, offering a wide range of sports and fitness, educational, and active-lifestyle opportunities for all ages. We also offer dozens of summer camps and clinics that run for eight weeks between June and August each year, including our flagship day camp known as Camp Seaside. The Harraseeket Harriers operate out of our recreation program, and this venerable running club has seen exciting growth under its current group of volunteer leaders.
Another significant part of our mission is adult education—helping adults earn high school equivalency diplomas, navigate career and educational transitions, and improve their English language skills. We also support families year-round through our Laugh & Learn program, which provides before-and after-school care for PK–5 students at all four district elementary schools, as well as a full-day preschool for ages 3–4.
RSU5CP remains committed to accessibility in all of our programming, and our goal is for every resident to find something in our catalog that inspires them to participate. The Harriers are one of the few programs we manage that takes the initiative to support our scholarship fund, and we’re profoundly thankful for their effort. Going the extra mile is clearly something they take seriously both on and off the trails!
– Peter Wagner, Director of RSU5CP, Durham, Freeport and Pownal Community Programs
