Event Name: New Year, New Me
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
So get this—while most people were still nursing their New Year's Eve hangovers on January 4th, hundreds of runners were already lacing up their sneakers at Tradition Square in Port St. Lucie. The New Year New Me Treasure Coast 5K has this way of turning early morning wake-up calls into something people actually get excited about.
We've shot tons of 5Ks over the years, but there's something special about this one. Maybe it's the timing—that whole "new year, new me" energy is real when you're photographing people who literally rolled out of bed before sunrise to chase their resolutions. Or maybe it's just Tradition Square itself, with that gorgeous emerald lawn and the way the morning light hits the fountain right as runners are warming up.
Here's the thing about photographing races in Port St. Lucie—the Treasure Coast running scene is no joke. Southern Timing puts together events that draw everyone from first-timers to serious competitors, and this 2026 edition brought out runners from all over Florida. We're talking folks from Vero Beach, Stuart, Palm Beach Gardens, even someone who came all the way from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Gizele Dos Santos (bib 253) was out there crushing it at 39 years old. Seriously, the determination on people's faces at the starting line never gets old. The Port St. Lucie runner brought that early morning intensity that sets the tone for everyone around her. Julia Schwarz (bib 1271) from Hollywood at 39 showed up ready to race, bringing that same early morning energy that makes the starting line electric.
This photograph below captures what makes these races special—Dakota Duffy (bib 1274) at just 13 years old and Felecia Lester (bib 495) at 35 from Vero Beach, running together. That's what makes these races worth photographing—you've got teenagers pushing their limits right next to experienced runners who've been doing this for years. The multi-generational vibe is absolutely unmatched. Alan Preston (bib 1294) at 83 years old from Port St. Lucie proving that age really is just a number when you're committed. Look, we see a lot of runners, but watching an 83-year-old out there crushing a 5K? That's the kind of inspiration that makes race morning special.
The course winds through Tradition's scenic streets, and honestly, it's one of the more photogenic routes we shoot. The master-planned community gives us these clean backgrounds—modern architecture mixed with Florida landscaping—that make every photo pop without even trying. Christopher Beukers (bib 1267) maintaining that veteran runner pace. Barb Svenson (bib 249) from Port St. Lucie at 55 showed perfect form that only comes from consistent training.
Monty Cancilla (bib 95) at 56 brought that steady, experienced pace you see from runners who know exactly what their bodies can handle. Vanessa Piekara (bib 287) at 41 was putting in serious work—we position ourselves at strategic points along the course to catch runners when they're really digging deep, and that's exactly where the best expressions happen.
Southern Timing's chip timing system is legit, by the way. Every runner got live results, a 20-second video clip of their start and finish, and individual results pages. From a photography standpoint, it makes our job easier because we can match our shots to exact timing data. Pretty cool, right?
Courtney Hollander (bib 1305) at 33 looked strong pushing through with that focused determination you only see when someone's chasing a personal goal. Pierra Catalano (bib 375) at 31 came up from Stuart for this one—the draw of Tradition Square pulls runners from all over the Treasure Coast, and you can see why. The venue's got everything.
Georgiana Carvalho (bib 245) at 46 maintaining great pace through the course. You can tell she's been running for years by the way she carries herself—no wasted motion, just efficient forward progress. Mariah Mitchell (bib 390) at just 24 came charging through from Palm Beach Gardens with the kind of speed that younger runners bring to these events.
The age range at these events is wild—we're photographing everyone from 15 to 64 years old, all sharing the same pavement and the same goal. Breona Allen (bib 1288) at 26 representing Port St. Lucie with hometown pride. Jessie Wilson (bib 1223) at 37, also from Port St. Lucie—local runners always bring extra energy because they know the course, they know the streets, and they've probably trained on these exact roads.
Race day weather? Absolutely perfect. That cool January morning breeze that makes Florida winter running tolerable. We've photographed this event before, and the weather gods seem to favor early January in Port St. Lucie—none of that brutal summer humidity, just crisp air that's ideal for pushing your pace.
Aubrey Wegner (bib 400) at 25 traveled all the way from Fredericksburg, Virginia for this race—that's dedication. Making that kind of trip shows serious commitment to starting the year right. Dawn Burley (bib 579) at 64 made the drive up from West Palm Beach just to participate. She told local news that in her 60s, the best thing to have is motivation to move. Can't argue with that mindset.
Sandy Mckeithen (bib 283) at 41 powering through the course with that mid-race determination etched on her face. Carrie Brown (bib 255) from Port St. Lucie at 38 showing solid form. This is the kind of moment that shows exactly why runners love this event—clean course, organized timing, and a finish line that feels like an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Jackie Hines (bib 262) came all the way from New Hyde Park, New York at 63 years old. The geographic diversity is insane for a local 5K—we're talking runners from Texas, South Dakota, Virginia, and New York, all converging on this one Treasure Coast race. Nicole Lambert (bib 87) at 38 representing Port St. Lucie with hometown pride.
Kurien Kattoor (bib 98) at 35 from Fort Pierce brought that steady pace that earns medals. Erin Parise (bib 593) came from Amherst, South Dakota—yes, South Dakota—to run this race at 23 years old. The commitment level is real when you're traveling from out of state just to participate.
Every finisher walked away with a performance t-shirt, finisher medal, and swag bag loaded with goodies from sponsors. But here's what really matters—the top three overall male and female finishers scored cash prizes on top of their medals. Diego Cabezas from Puerto Rico, who was visiting family in Tradition for the holidays, took first place overall with a time just under 17 minutes. That's smoking fast for a 5K. The first female finisher was Kay Traeger, a mom of two from Port St. Lucie who absolutely crushed it.
Beth Merritt (bib 1265) from Stuart keeping strong form at 54. Isabelle Fleurant (bib 300) at 24 looking fresh even this deep into the race. The flat and fast course definitely helps—no brutal hills to grind through, just smooth pavement and gentle turns that let runners focus on their pace instead of fighting elevation.
Maria Canales (bib 1255) traveled from Houston, Texas for this event at 45 years old. That's crossing multiple state lines just to participate in a Treasure Coast 5K. Kevin Portillo (bib 296) at 31 representing the local Port St. Lucie crowd with strong finishing form.
We're always watching for the moment when runners spot our cameras—some flash a smile, others are too locked in to notice, but every expression tells a story. Beth Ann Cancilla (bib 96) at 54 showing exactly how it's done. Vanessa Elan (bib 1298) at 42 from Port St. Lucie bringing that veteran runner energy. The 40-to-60 age group brought serious numbers to this race, proving that running culture on the Treasure Coast isn't just for twenty-somethings.
Tradition Square is basically Port St. Lucie's downtown at this point. The master-planned community has that town square vibe with the old-fashioned town hall, the interactive fountain overlooking the lake, and enough space to host major events like this without feeling cramped. Packet pickup happened the day before at Fleet Feet Port St. Lucie, but race morning pickup started at 6:30 AM for anyone who couldn't make it.
Lisa Jacquier (bib 223) at 44 pushing through strong with that late-race focus. And here's a group that really captures the spirit—Karinee Lopez (bib 331) at 38, Nathalia Farias (bib 334) at 33, and Michell Farias (bib 336) at 34, all running together. These group finishes are gold for photography because you get that raw emotion of shared accomplishment.
The Southern Timing Foundation puts this together as a 501(c)(3) organization, which means every registration helps support future running events on the Treasure Coast. Since 2019, over 4,000 athletes have used this race to jumpstart their New Year's resolutions. That's a pretty solid track record.
Awards went deep into the age groups too—top three male and female finishers in categories from 10 and under all the way to 80+. Whether you're chasing podium spots or just trying to beat your personal record, there's something to race for. And get this—the age range at this event went from 13-year-old Dakota Duffy all the way to 83-year-old Alan Preston. Wild, right?
From a photographer's perspective, the 7:30 AM start time gives us perfect natural light—not too harsh, not too dim, just that golden hour glow that makes everyone look like they're starring in their own sports documentary. We set up at multiple points along the route to catch the energy at different stages—fresh legs at the start, determination at the midpoint, and pure relief at the finish line.
This race has become a Treasure Coast tradition for good reason. It's organized, it's scenic, and it delivers exactly what runners want on the first weekend of January—a chance to prove that this year's resolutions are different. Whether you're a local from Port St. Lucie, drove up from Hollywood like Julia Schwarz, or flew in from Puerto Rico like Diego Cabezas, the New Year New Me 5K gives you that perfect start-of-year momentum.
And honestly? Watching hundreds of people choose to spend their Sunday morning running instead of sleeping in—that's the kind of energy we love capturing. Same time next January, we'll be right back at Tradition Square, ready to photograph whatever stories unfold on that flat, fast course.
Find the complete set of race results and photos at Southern Timing.
