About The Dover Race Series
The Dover Race Series (DRS) is a community organization in Dover, New Hampshire who's central mission is to frame and promote partnership among ten local road races. Taking place throughout the year, from March to November, each of the ten road races are independently owned and operated by external partners in the community. These partners range from school departments to business associations, all of which are non-profit organizations.
The DRS does not organize a race itself, rather it provides community runners free registration for eligibility in an overall series achievement structure that awards race participation in a variety of ways. Those who complete a minimum of six races in a calendar year qualify for a Dover Race Series season performance race jacket. Additionally, the DRS point system compiles each registrant's race times from all races and establishes a global series ranking for overall performance and top winners are rewarded among the various runner classes.
The DRS Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is comprised of one representative of each of the ten community races within the Dover Race Series and up to five general community members. Meetings take place each month, as scheduled by the Board Chair, throughout the year.
Underwritten by Mass General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
The Dover Race Series (DRS) is generously underwritten by Massachusetts General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. This partnership has been strong with the DRS since its inception in 2008 and flourishes in 2024. Wentworth-Douglass and Mass General continues to enhance and grow the quality of care and services available for patients and their families in the community and understand the value of partnerships with the Dover Race Series community races.
Dover has benefited from access to world renowned care as Mass General & Wentworth-Douglass Hospital work together to enhance the quality care available for patients and their families here on the Seacoast. Wentworth-Douglass Hospital remains an independently licensed, not-for-profit, charitable health care organization, and maintain its own medical staff, community connections, and fundraising activities. The Dover Race Series is proud to be among the community interests of Mass General Brigham Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and thanks them for their support.
The Dover Community Road Races
Ten road races make up the Dover Race Series. These races are independently owned and operated by a variety of community organizations in Dover, New Hampshire. The series season kicks off with Dover Main Street's Run Before You Crawl 5k around St. Paddy's Day in March and ends with the Garrison School PTA's Dover Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving Day in November. In between, the series commences with races in April, May, June, September, and October.
While the races are fun and exciting for the community, their purpose are to raise funds for each organization's mission, programs and projects. The DRS looks to support these organizations with the help of its underwriting, while giving the Race Directors a way to connect with each other for the benefit of bolstering their recognition among the running community.
The ten community organizations and their race:
- Dover Main Street: Run Before You Crawl 5k & Pub Crawl
- Saint Mary Academy: Saint Mary Academy 5k
- Community Action Partnership of Strafford County: Red's Race for a Better Community 8k
- Zebra Crossings: Moms On The Run 5k
- Triangle Club: Spirit of Recovery 5k
- Goodwin Community Health: Father's Day 5k
- Horne Street Elementary School: Horne Street School 5k
- Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce: Apple Harvest Day 5k
- Dover Middle School: Pumpkin Dash 5k
- Garrison Elementary School PTA: Dover Turkey Trot 5k