Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk - Clearwater, FL

What is a Tunnel To Towers Run & Walk? 
The Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk Series was created to honor the heroic life and death of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter (FDNY) who lost his life on September 11, 2001 after strapping on his gear and running 3 miles through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers. We honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 by supporting our first responders and military who make extraordinary sacrifices in the line of duty! For more information on the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, please visit www.t2t.org.

This will be the 7th year in Clearwater and we are excited to once again bring together the community to honor first responders and military, remember 9/11, and raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers programs. The Clearwater event is one of four events in the Tampa Bay area with the others being a 5K in Trinity/Pasco, a Tower Climb in Tampa, and a golf, tennis and pickleball tournament in Oldsmar.  

In 2023 we are collaborating with the City of Clearwater again this year. This will be the first official race originating and finishing in the newly developed Coachman Park area. The Tunnel to Towers 5k will be part of the many activities happening during the 4th of July weekend at Imagine Clearwater.

How far is a Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk? 
This is a 5K (3.1 miles) walk or run. Anyone can run or walk this event.

Where can I pick up my packet?
Pre-event packet pick up will be on Thursday, June 29th at the Pinellas County Professional Firefighters Union Hall, 13220 Belcher Rd #6, Largo Fl 33773 from 3pm - 7pm. Race day packet pickup starts at 5 am at Coachman Park.

Please follow our Tunnel to Towers Clearwater Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/T2TCLW) for the most up to date information as the event date approaches. 

Can I register the day of the run? 
Yes. Registration will open at 5 am the morning of the run. You’ll save time if you register in advance. In addition, if you wait to register we may not have a shirt for you and we do not guarantee sizes for late registrants. There will be no paper registration available. All registration will take place on our website via a QR code scanned by your cell phone. Please bring a credit card to register. 

When does registration close for a timing chip? 
Registration for a timing chip will close on Saturday, July 1st at 6am. Timing chips will NOT be available if you register after this time. You can still register to run or walk, but you will not be timed if you do not register in advance. Registration for non-chip timing will close at 6:30am. 

Is there parking available? 
Yes. Please be aware of the active construction in the area. Construction involving Coachman Park is expected to be completed. We are working with the City of Clearwater to provide the best options. Volunteers will be onsite to direct you where to park. There is also parking available at all City of Clearwater parking garages. Remember to follow the parking garage rules. A map with available parking will be emailed to all registered participants and posted to our Facebook page. Please follow all instructions given by our parking volunteers as they are looking out for your safety. 

Do I have to wear my bib number? 
Yes, please display your bib on the front of your outermost garment. Those who run without a bib will be asked to leave the course and will not be allowed to finish. Please try to keep your smartphone away from your race bib as it could deactivate the timing chip. 

I am a fast runner. Can I get a front line position? 
Runners predicting a pace faster than 6 minute/mile will be seeded in the front corral (arrive early).

Will there be awards for running? 
Yes, we keep them very simple since our mission is to honor first responders. Most of our awards are based on firefighters, police or military running in gear in the same fashion that Stephen Siller did on 9/11. This event is intended to be an experience and much more than a run. We will have overall and age group awards as well as team prizes. We encourage competition between different first responder personnel and military branches. 

Do you have a map of the event location? 
Yes, click here for the map.

Will water be available? 
Yes, water stations will be available along the route around miles 1 and 2 and there will be water available at the finish line.

What can you bring to the event? Can I run with a stroller, backpack, wheelchair, roller blades, bicycle, etc? 
Weighted rucksacks, strollers and wheelchairs are permitted. Backpacks, bicycles and roller blades are not. Firefighter turnout gear and military backpacks are encouraged. Please leave all personal items and valuables in your vehicle. All items should be stored securely at the owner's risk. Tunnel to Towers Foundation will not be responsible for the loss of any items.

Does my registration fee count towards my fundraising goal? 
Your registration fee does not count toward the fundraising goal.

Can someone else pick up my packet for me? 
Yes, they can. They must present a copy of your registration receipt. And don't forget to thank them!

Can I still donate to a team and/or individual after the start of the race? 
Yes. Donations will be accepted for 6 weeks after the event.

How can my company/organization sponsor this event? 
Please send all sponsorship correspondence to clearwater@t2t.org with your contact information and someone will be in touch with you within 24 hours.

I would like to donate goods or services to this event. How do I do that? 
You can contact us at clearwater@t2t.org. We make every effort to keep costs down to allow us to give the most to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Stephen Siller's name. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.

As a participant, can I fundraise/encourage others to donate? 
Yes! Once you are registered, you will be given directions to start your own fundraising page and you will be able to accept donations online. Do you want to donate cash/money? We can help you with that. Contact us at clearwater@t2t.org  and we can walk you through the process or you can send donations directly to Tunnel to Towers Foundation/T2TClearwater -  ATTN: Matt B.- 2361 Hylan Boulevard., Staten Island, NY 10306 - please email us your information so we can add it to your fundraising page.

Where can I mail an OFFLINE donation (check made payable to Tunnel to Towers Foundation)?
Please mail any offline donations to:

Tunnel to Towers Foundation
ATTN: T2T/Clearwater5K/Matt Bocchino
2361 Hylan Blvd.
Staten Island, NY 10306

Can I transfer my registration to another participant? 
Yes. Please contact us at clearwater@t2t.org and we will manually change it in our system. Transfers must be received before Thursday, June 29th. 

Running with someone else’s bib without notifying the race directors or timing company is a safety issue and is not permitted. Should something happen to you out on the race course, we need to ensure you receive the appropriate care and the appropriate emergency contact is reached. If you are caught running with someone else’s bib, you will be disqualified. 

Can I get a refund? 
We do not provide refunds for the event if you cannot make the date or if the Foundation needs to cancel the event for extenuating circumstances. Registration may be transferred to another person. This is a rain or shine event but we will cancel if weather conditions become unsafe.

How can I volunteer? 
It's simple! Email us at clearwater@t2t.org and we will reply within 24 hours. Volunteers are always needed for the day of festivities as well as on the prep days prior to the event. Thank you!

Do registrants get receipts? 
When you register online you will automatically receive a receipt by email. 

Is there a medical staff available on-site? 
Yes, there will be an Emergency Medical Service team available on site. There is also volunteer radio communication on the course to help communicate with the EMS.

What safety measures are you taking in regards to COVID-19?
We will be abiding by all local and state guidelines in regards to masks and social distancing. 

Why is it required to answer YES or NO to the Covid-19 vaccination question?
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has followed all protocols and guidelines implemented since COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic. Each city and state currently has their own regulations in place, and Tunnel to Towers must be prepared and collect all data for whatever new guidelines may be implemented.   

Being vaccinated is not a requirement for this race. Your medical information is private and the Foundation does not share that or any other personal information.   

Does Tunnel to Towers offer fundraising incentives? 
Yes, we offer fundraising incentives each year. Check out our latest in our Fundraising Guide.