The Central NY Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk begins at 9:11 a.m. from the Utica 9/11 Memorial at Sherman Drive and Memorial Parkway. This annual 5K is for runners and walkers across Central New York, drawing participants from Utica, Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, and nearby communities. Registration is tiered for adults, first responders and military, teenagers, and children, accommodating families, service members, and local runners.
The event is part of the Tunnel to Towers Run/Walk & Climb Series, established to honor Stephen Siller, the New York City firefighter who died on September 11 after running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward the Twin Towers. The Central New York event convenes at a 9/11 memorial, raising support for fallen and injured first responders, military members, and their families. It also commemorates those lost in the attacks and individuals who later died from 9/11-related illnesses. Merchandise pickup occurs at the finish-line area, providing a straightforward local-race structure around a significant historical event.