One of the coolest aspects of road racing is getting to run freely on roads that are often teeming with traffic. In Boston, there is perhaps no better example of this type of race than the Boston Firefighters Memorial 10K, which will run again this fall on October 8th.

Starting at Florian Hall in Dorchester, the race takes runners onto the typically busy Gallivan Boulevard, where they travel through an underpass to reach Morrissey Boulevard. Runners are then treated to a beautiful out-and-back stretch alongside the ocean, which is arguably the race’s highlight. From there, the course transitions onto Dorchester back roads, which leads to the final few miles in Dorchester’s riverside parks.

If the unique thrill of running on the usually inaccessible Morrissey Blvd wasn’t enough, the 10K race takes runners across the exact location of this famous scene from “The Departed”. And running through Pope John Paul II Park is always a treat. The park’s rolling hills are sandwiched between visible traffic on 93 North and the Neponset River, providing unique views that feel movie-like in their own right.

The Firefighters 10K commemorates members of the Boston Fire Department and Local 718 who lost their lives while serving for the department. It serves a fundraiser for the Boston Firefighters Relief Fund.