Every year the Al Sproul Samoset 10K road race is a popular event during the Olde Bristol Days celebration. The Samoset Fire & Rescue sponsored race started as a four-mile run nearly 25 years ago and raced around the Pemaquid area.
For the last 13 years, the event has been a dedication to the late Al Sproul. It has blossomed into a bigger event each year and this year was no different. Race organizer Dan Mocarski, says that this year saw an excellent turn out with more participants than expected.
Paul Yates, 59 of Pemaquid, has participated in every single race during Olde Bristol Days since the very first one.
“I’ve been doing this race since 1986,” says Yates. “It started back then as a four-mile run down by the fort. It turned into a 10K around ’94 or ’95.”
Yates keeps in good physical condition by running at least three days a week. He keeps a strict schedule so that he can participate in many other races around the state.
“I like to run,” says Yates. “I participate in numerous races, like this one, the lobster festival, and others.”
Next year will be Yates’ 25th time participating in the event. His hope for next year is to improve on his time from this year.
“This year I was five seconds off from my last run,” Yates says with smile. “But, I finished 39th out of 105 so I guess that’s not too bad.”
Yates, too, was close with Al Sproul. He says that the two of them were good friends and that he will continue to participate in this event for as long as he can.
