Why the Fire Department of New York will be joining other runners from around the world at the 2025 Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race
When he was 12, Denis Sweeney’s mother decided it was time for a change and moved the family from New York City to Henniker, New Hampshire. At first, Denis balked, assuming his city life was the better option. But the beauty of his surroundings and the friendships he forged changed his mind. In high school at Bishop Brady, he relaunched the dormant cross-country team with a friend and ran all four years. In summers, his mother instilled a work ethic by securing work for him picking blueberries at a local farm and then house painting. It was these special New Hampshire life experiences that eventually paved the way for his career with the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY).
Armed with a degree in economics from Fordham University, he pursued a career for a few years as a high yield bonds analyst on Wall Street. While he enjoyed his colleagues, he missed the camaraderie he had experienced when working and studying in New Hampshire. One day a fire truck passed and he thought “I bet those men are tight. ” Later that year he took the test, passed and the rest was history.
Once again, he founded a running club with the general goals of: promoting the sport of running among active and retired FDNY members; coordinating competition against the NYPD and promoting awareness of FDNY memorial races.
Races against the NYPD include the Fifth Avenue Mile and the New York City Marathon. Their memorial races are typically staged by firehouses who have lost a member in the line-of-duty; for example, the 4 for Fahy. They have also hit the road for events like the Boston Fire Department 10K, the Penn Relays Corporate Distance Medley Relay, and other adventures.
The running group brings together all levels of runners, from a lightning-fast dispatcher to a 66-year-old paramedic to a colleague with a 29-year NYC Marathon running streak (beating Denis’ own record of 21!). When a former FDNY colleague and running club member, now retired in New Hampshire, invited him to participate in the Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race, he didn’t hesitate to agree. He and 13 of his FDNY running mates will tackle the 7.6-mile uphill race on June 14, 2025.
There are many reasons that draw racers from around the globe to this course. It could be bragging rights — the race ends at the top of the highest mountain in the northeastern United States and the summit is the “home of the world’s worst weather” as recorded by the Mt. Washington Observatory. Or perhaps it’s that the sport of mountain racing, is, in many ways, egalitarian, with everyday joggers lining up next to world class runners. No other sport attracts such a wide range of ages, providing an amazing outlet for health and wellness for our youth, seniors and everyone in between.
For Denis, one reason is clear. I’m happy and proud to say that it is his affection for our amazing state. To Denis and all the runners, best of luck. We are proud to sponsor this race for more than 20 years. To those considering the race for next year, remember “There’s only one hill!”
