The most chaotic and rewarding 3 miles I have ever run.

The race, well stampede actually, is done each year in memory of firefighter Stephen Siller who died in the towers on 9/11/2001.

Out of 30,000 (yes 30K runners!) who participated around 11.5K finished the run, I personally saw firefighters running in full uniform through the hot 2 mile long two lane tunnel from as far away as Germany, Scotland and Sweden as well as from all around the U.S., at one point I passed a group of probably 25 NYFD in full gear each carrying a U.S. flag and running in lock step through the tunnel.

Coming up out of the tunnel with the new Freedom Tower rising in front of us and the road lined with west point cadets each holding a banner with the name and picture of one of the fallen firefighters from that day I was openly weeping.

Once again I finished solidly MOP but this one wasn’t about time.

If you have the chance to ever run this event please don’t pass it up. Not only is it an incredibly inspiring thing to do but all proceeded go to help wounded vets and other worthy charities. This year they also held runs in cities around the Nation.

On September 11th, firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn.  He was on his way to play golf with his brothers on that bright clear day when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers.  When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need.  He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center.  When Stephen drove his truck  to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic .  With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping  to meet up with his own company, Squad 1. 

He made it to the towers and went inside to help, they never found his body.

Many youtube videos, check em out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjbD-jbJFUo