09/29/2026
Good evening, everyone,
Look around this room – or better yet, look out at the starting line of any race we host from Lincoln to Augusta. What you see isn’t just a gathering of runners. You see the heartbeat of a community. You see individuals who woke up before dawn, not just to test the limits of their own bodies, but to share a collective journey.
When we founded Lifestyle Sports Global, LLC and eventually transitioned into the Maine Endurance Sports Alliance - MESA, we had a vision that went far beyond finish lines and medals. We wanted to build something that belonged to the people of Maine - a legacy of health, deep, lasting community impact and a race where any age or ability could cross the finish line and reach their goal! Today as we look at the incredible reach of the Mesa-Maine Race Series, we are witnessing that vision come to life.
Endurance isn’t reserved for the elite. It doesn’t belong only to the front-runners chasing a marathon personal record. At MESA, we believe endurance belong to anyone with the courage to lace up their shoes and take that first step. That is why our events have no time limits, we wait for everyone to cross that finish line and we celebrate their achievenment. We stand by the belief that every participant deserves the same dignity, the same cheering volunteers at the aid stations, and the exact same celebration at the finish line, whether they finish in 2 or 8 hours.
Our miles do more that connect towns in Central Maine like Town of Lincoln, Maine, City of Bangor, Maine - City Hall, Augusta and Waterville; they build bridges of support. We work with the local chambers; Lincoln Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce to partner with local businesses to promote all the businesses and tourism in these communities.
Through our pending 501(c)3 nonprofit status, we are turning the energy of our running festivals into real, tangible help for organization like the local United Way chapters, Maine Veterans Project, Northern Penobscot Activities Council and Our Heroes Military Museum. We are investing in the next generation by partnering with Husson University’s School of Hospitality, Sports and Tourism Management to give students real-world experience in building tourism and athletic leadership in our home state.
To our volunteers, our sponsors, our operations team and every athlete taking on the Vacationland Triple Crown: you are the reason we do this. Every time a runners crosses the finish line, every time a local business steps up to sponsor a race, and every time a volunteer hands out a cup of water, we are proving that Maine is a place where no one walks or runs alone.
Let’s keep pushing the boundaries. Let’s keep welcoming runners from all over the world to experience the beauty of our state and the warmth of our communities. Thank you for running with us, for believing in this alliance and for making every single mile count.
See you at the starting line…
DavidandLaura McIntyre
