The Unified 5K Series · Brunswick, ME

Thank You, Brunswick!

The Inaugural Unified 5K in Brunswick, hosted in partnership with Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, was a wonderful celebration of inclusion and community. Whether you ran, walked, rolled, volunteered, sponsored, or cheered, you helped make this day truly special. For a small event in size, we feel like we had a huge impact! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors and vendors that made it possible.

We can’t wait to see you at the starting line in 2027!

View 2026 Results View the Full Gallery

2026

A Race for Every Body

A family of finishers holding up their medals together

A duo team on the road, a runner pushing a green racing chair

A group of participants in green shirts wearing their medals

Handcyclists racing along the road past the trees

Four participants in AdaptX shirts walking the course together

A runner pushing a duo chair along the shaded course

Athletes in Hoyt racing chairs lined up beside the stands

A handcyclist setting off alongside cyclists at the start

Two handcyclists racing side by side on the road

Thank you to our 2026 Brunswick Sponsors!

On the day

Thank You to Our Volunteers!

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this event run smoothly and successfully! From bib pick-up to course marshals to photographers who generously donated their time so that we could raise more money for AOEC, thank you!

The field packed under the start and finish banners at the start of the race

2026 Brunswick Expo

Our expo was intended to educate and introduce participants to adaptive/para sport and showcase the incredible services of our vendors. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Community Impact

Adaptive Bike Program

100% of proceeds from the event go to Maine’s Adaptive Outdoor Education Center’s Adaptive Bike Program. This Fall, AOEC will launch an inclusive learn to bike program in Falmouth and Brunswick schools for kids with and without disabilites to learn to bike! Balance to 2 wheel bikes will be paired with adaptive bikes to support kids of all needs. Supported by local high school service learning students. We are partnering with a local non profit bike shop as well for additional volunteers bike donations and bike maintenance. So the funds will be used to purchase the supplemental adaptive bikes to support kids with disabilities in participating alongside their peers!

Hoyt Running Chair Donation

Nine years ago, Stephanie became Mason’s home health nurse. What started as daily walks turned into 10Ks, half marathons, and a dream of crossing a marathon finish line together.

Mason has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. His journey has not been devoid of setbacks but every time he comes back with the same smile, finding ways to do the things he loves.

Mason has outgrown their current jogger so to keep racing safely and successfully, they needed an equipment upgrade. So on Saturday, at the Unified 5k in Brunswick, we had the honor of surprising them with a Hoyt Running Chair.

We couldn’t be more grateful to have these two representing our organization and helping us carry on the legacy of duo running that Dick and Rick Hoyt pioneered 50 years ago.

Running Blade Recipient

Thanks to our partnership with Less Leg More Heart and the support of Atlantic ProCare and Ossur, we were able to donate a running blade to Sean Cooney, a local amputee. With his new running blade and the support of his family and friends, Sean was able to complete his first 5K.

Thank you to our Brunswick Race Directors!

Brendan Aylward
Race Director
Brendan Aylward’s career has revolved around making fitness and physical activity accessible for people with disabilities. He is the owner of Unified Health and Performance, Executive Director of AdaptX, and a member of Team Hoyt New England, completing more than 100 races together with his friend, Jacob. He hosted the first Unified 5k in 2019 and is now working on scaling the event to communities around the country to make endurance sports accessible.
Justin Peirce
Race Director
Justin is the Director of Development for AdaptX. He has been passionate about the inclusivity and accessibility of sports since high school, where he was a volunteer for a Special Olympics basketball program and at an inclusive strength and conditioning facility. Justin went on to play collegiate basketball at Franklin and Marshall University and now competes in marathons.