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 through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers. Honor all of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and support our first responders and military who make extraordinary sacrifices in the line of duty! For more information on the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation please visit www.t2t.org . This is the first year Tunnel to Towers is coming to Athens and we are excited to show our support for doing good with the foundation. How far is a Tunnel to Towers Run & Walk? This is a 5K (3.1 miles) to walk or run this event. Anyone can run, walk, or experience this event. Where can I pick up my packet? Sunday, October 4th 9:30-11:30 AM Start/Finish Area West Washington Street adjacent to Athens City Hall 301 College Ave Athens, GA 30601 Can I register the day of the run? Yes. Registration will be open until the start of the run. If you wait to register we may not have a shirt for you and we do not guarantee sizes for late registrants. When does online registration close? Registration will be open until the start of the run. Is there parking available? Yes. Public parking is available throughout downtown Athens, including nearby parking decks, surface lots, and on-street parking. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to allow time for parking and walking to the start/finish area. 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. 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. The event is currently not timed. This may change as plans develop and sponsors sign up. Will water be available? Yes, a water station will be available along the route and there will be water available at the finish area. What can you bring to the event? Can I run with a stroller, backpack, wheelchair, roller blades, bicycle, etc? Strollers and wheelchairs are permitted. Firefighter turnout gear and military backpacks are also permitted. 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 athensrun@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 athensrun@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 athensrun@t2t.org and we can walk you through the process or you can send donations directly to ATTN: Adam Santamaria 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 - please give 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 Athens 5K 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 Can I transfer my registration to another participant? Yes. See information above OR contact us at athensrun@t2t.org and we will manually change it in our system. Can I get a refund? We do not provide refunds for the event regardless if you cannot make the date or the foundation needs to cancel the event for extenuating circumstances. Registration may be transferred to another person. How can I volunteer? It's simple! Email us at athensrun@t2t.org and we will reply w
Course & Travel Notes
The Tunnel to Towers 5K in Athens kicks off at noon on October 4th, 2026, so you'll have plenty of morning to get settled and grab breakfast before heading to the start. You're looking at pleasant fall weather with highs around 75°F and lows in the low 50s, though there's about a 1-in-5 chance of rain that day, so pack an umbrella just in case. The venue sits at 774 feet elevation, which is pretty manageable for most runners and walkers. If you're flying in, Athens Ben Epps Airport is just 3 miles away, making it super convenient to get to the race without much hassle.
⛰️ 774 ft elevation☀️ Typically 75°F / 52°F · 21% chance of rain✈️ Athens Ben Epps Airport (AHN) — 3 mi
Hotels Near This Race
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Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Athens, GA 2026 — Athens, GA
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Race Travel Insurance
Don't forget travel insurance for October 4.
You've trained for months and booked a trip to Athens, GA.
A pre-race injury, a delayed flight, or a family emergency can derail the whole thing.
Travel insurance can help cover your race entry fee, hotel, and flights if you can't make it,
and may cover medical costs if something goes wrong on the course. Plans typically only run
5-7% of your total trip cost — and running events are covered under standard plans with no
additional coverage needed.
Trip cancellation up to 100% of prepaid costs
Running events covered under standard plans — no add-ons needed
Trip interruption up to 150% of non-refundable costs
When is Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Athens, GA 2026 — Athens, GA?
Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Athens, GA 2026 — Athens, GA takes place on October 4, 2026. The race is held in Athens, Georgia.
Where is Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Athens, GA 2026 — Athens, GA held?
Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Athens, GA 2026 — Athens, GA is held at 301 College Avenue in Athens, Georgia.
Where can I find hotels near Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk – Athens, GA 2026 — Athens, GA?
RaceHotelFinder shows hotels sorted by distance from the race venue in Athens. Use the map or list view on this page to compare options and book race weekend accommodation.