Event Name: Fire Hero 5K 2025
Location: Hollywood, Florida

September 7, 2025, came with something you don't see every day along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. While most people were lacing up their regular running shoes, dozens of firefighters were strapping on 70 pounds of gear, checking their helmets, and getting ready to run 3.1 miles in full turnout equipment. The Runner's Depot Fire Hero 5K wasn't just another race. It was a tribute that hit different.

We've shot tons of 5Ks across South Florida, but there's something about photographing firefighters running in full gear that gets you right in the chest. These weren't people dressed up for show. These were real first responders, carrying real equipment, honoring the 343 firefighters who climbed the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, and never came back down.

The morning started early at Charnow Park on Hollywood Beach. By the time the first rays of sunlight hit those palm trees, 831 runners had already gathered, and the energy was something else. You could feel the weight of what this race meant. This wasn't about personal records or age group awards, though those things still mattered. This was about making sure we never forget.

Here's the thing about the Fire Hero 5K that makes it stand out from every other race on the South Florida calendar. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation receives all the proceeds from this event. Every single registration fee, every donation, every dollar raised goes directly to supporting the families of firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice. When you're photographing something like that, you're not just documenting a race. You're preserving moments of living history.

Look at the determination on these firefighters' faces. Running in full turnout gear isn't like your typical 5K experience. We're talking about heavy coats designed to withstand intense heat, pants with reinforced knees, boots that weigh several pounds each, helmets, air packs, tools hanging from belts. Some of these runners were carrying American flags. Every step was intentional. Every stride was a tribute.

The course itself wound along the beautiful Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, offering that classic South Florida backdrop of ocean views and swaying palms. It's a flat and fast route when you're running in shorts and a tech shirt. When you're hauling 70 pounds of firefighting equipment? That's a completely different story. And get this – these firefighters chose to do this. They volunteered to suffer through the heat and the weight because it meant something.

We positioned ourselves at the finish line to capture these incredible moments as they unfolded. What struck us most wasn't just the physical challenge these runners were taking on. It was the way the crowd responded. Spectators weren't just clapping politely like at most races. People were on their feet, shouting encouragement, some with tears in their eyes. When a firefighter in full gear crosses that finish line carrying an American flag, it hits different than watching elite runners chase a personal best.

The symbolism wasn't lost on anyone there. September 11, 2001, changed everything for firefighters across America. Before that day, they were already heroes in their communities, responding to emergencies, saving lives, putting themselves in danger. But after 343 of their brothers and sisters climbed into those burning towers and never came back, the job took on an even deeper meaning. Every firefighter who ran this race in Hollywood understood that connection.

One of the most powerful aspects of covering this event was seeing the diversity of participants. Young firefighters just starting their careers ran alongside veterans who'd been serving for decades. Men and women. Different departments, different cities, all united by the same calling. One firefighter brought serious energy to the course with those pink sunglasses, proving that you can honor heroes and still show your personality.

Seriously, the mental toughness required to complete this challenge is no joke. We've photographed ultramarathons and obstacle course races, but there's something uniquely difficult about running in gear designed for a completely different purpose. Your body temperature rises quickly. The weight distribution is awkward. Every breath feels harder than it should. But none of these runners quit. Not one.

The younger firefighters brought incredible energy to the race. You could see it in their stride, in the way they pushed through the discomfort. These are the next generation of first responders, the ones who'll carry the torch forward, who'll tell the stories of 9/11 to people who weren't even born yet when it happened. Running this race in full gear is their way of saying "we remember" and "we're ready."

What made our job as photographers both challenging and rewarding was capturing the emotion of each finisher while also documenting the physical details. The way sweat dripped from helmets. The reflection of morning sun off the reflective stripes on turnout gear. The strain in someone's face as they approached the finish. The absolute joy when they crossed the line. Every frame told part of the story.

And then there were moments like this one. The firefighter in bib #54 crossing the finish line with a young child, both of them smiling despite the heat and the effort. This is what it's all about, right? The next generation seeing what service and sacrifice look like. Kids watching their parents or mentors push through something difficult because it honors something important. That child will remember this race for the rest of their life.

The post-race atmosphere at Charnow Park was something special. Runner's Depot always puts on a great event, but the Fire Hero 5K has its own unique vibe. The finisher medals weren't just participation trophies. They meant something. The beach towels given to the first 1,000 registered participants became keepsakes. The brunch on the beach gave runners time to recover, to share stories, to connect with other people who understood why they'd just put themselves through that challenge.

Here's something that doesn't always come through in race photography but was crucial to document at this event – the community support. Hollywood Beach residents came out to cheer. Tourists stopped their morning walks to applaud. Other runners who'd already finished lined the final stretch to encourage those still on the course. The whole event felt less like a competition and more like a collective act of remembrance.

The Fire Hero 5K also served as a reminder of how running can be about so much more than personal achievement. Sure, there were competitive runners chasing fast times. But the heart of this event was about honoring those who can't run anymore. About supporting families who lost loved ones. About ensuring that a new generation understands what happened on September 11, 2001, and why it still matters today.

We've been photographing races throughout South Florida for years, and what continues to impress us about events like this is how they bring communities together. Running is often seen as an individual sport, but races like the Fire Hero 5K prove that's not the whole story. When 831 people gather on a Saturday morning to honor fallen heroes, that's community. When firefighters voluntarily add 70 pounds to their bodies to remember brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice, that's connection.

The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk provided the perfect setting. The flat course meant runners could focus on endurance rather than terrain challenges. The ocean breeze helped cool things down, at least a little bit. The local community embraced the event, with businesses supporting participants and spectators creating an atmosphere of celebration mixed with solemn remembrance.

What also impressed us was the organization. Runner's Depot has been putting on the Fire Hero 5K for years, and it shows. Registration ran smoothly. The course was clearly marked. Volunteers knew their roles. Timing was accurate. All the logistics that can make or break a race experience were handled professionally, which allowed participants to focus on what really mattered – honoring heroes and supporting a worthy cause.

From our position at the finish line, we watched runners of all abilities complete this challenge. Some were clearly experienced athletes who made running in gear look almost easy. Others struggled visibly with every step but refused to quit. The beauty of an event like this is that both approaches are equally valid. Speed doesn't determine the value of your tribute. Showing up and finishing does.

The significance of holding this race just days before the actual September 11 anniversary added extra weight to the morning. It gave participants time to reflect on what that day meant, on the courage of those first responders, on the resilience of our nation. It connected the past to the present in a tangible way. Running 3.1 miles in gear is nothing compared to what those 343 firefighters faced, but it's a way of saying "we haven't forgotten."

As the morning progressed and runners continued to cross the finish line, the emotional impact of the event became more and more apparent. You could see it in the way firefighters embraced each other after finishing. In the quiet moments where someone would stand alone, looking at their medal. In the tears mixed with sweat. Photography at an event like this requires sensitivity. You're not just capturing action shots. You're documenting grief, pride, determination, and hope all mixed together.

The Fire Hero 5K represents something bigger than just one morning on Hollywood Beach. It's part of a nationwide movement to ensure that September 11, 2001, remains part of our collective memory. That the sacrifices made that day aren't forgotten as years pass. That new generations understand what happened and why it changed everything. Running races, climbing stairs in full gear, hosting memorial services – these are all ways we keep that promise to never forget.

For us at JP Pedicino Photography, covering this event was both a privilege and a responsibility. Our job is to document these moments so that people who couldn't be there can still experience the emotion and significance of the day. So that participants can look back years from now and remember why they ran. So that the families of fallen firefighters can see how their loved ones continue to be honored.

The 831 runners who participated in the 2025 Runner's Depot Fire Hero 5K came from all walks of life. But for those few hours on Hollywood Beach, they were united in purpose. Some ran fast. Some walked. Some pushed strollers. Some carried flags. All of them contributed to keeping the memory alive. All of them supported the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. All of them showed up when it mattered.

As the event wound down and runners headed home with their medals and memories, the impact of the morning lingered. The Fire Hero 5K isn't just another item on the South Florida racing calendar. It's an annual reminder of courage, sacrifice, and community. It's proof that even 24 years after that terrible day, people still care, still remember, still want to honor those who gave everything.

If you've never experienced a memorial race like this, it's hard to fully understand the atmosphere. It's simultaneously celebratory and solemn. Competitive and commemorative. Individual and collective. Watching firefighters push themselves through physical discomfort because it means honoring fallen brothers and sisters – that's powerful stuff. Being trusted to capture those moments through photography is something we never take for granted.

The Runner's Depot Fire Hero 5K on September 7, 2025, reminded everyone present why these events matter. Why we run. Why we remember. Why we honor. The 831 participants, the countless volunteers, the supportive spectators, and the organizers who made it all possible – everyone played a part in ensuring that the legacy of those 343 firefighters continues to inspire future generations.

Find the complete set of race results at Victory Sports Management.