About the Event

This year marked the 5th year for Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County's Bridge the Gap 5K. This 5K race takes runners on a challenging course starting from the Ocean Mall, over the Blue Heron Bridge to the other side, and then loops back to the Ocean Mall. The event starts with participants picking up their bib numbers and shirts, meeting some great sponsors and vendors at their booths, and doing a pre-race warm up with the amazing Wil Romelus from Digital Vibez. If you are interested in participating next year, please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/FL/RivieraBeach/BridgetheGap

Collage of outdoor community event photos showing various activities and gatherings.

The Course


Over 1,000 runners participated in Bridge the Gap this year! Wow! The runners included families, corporate teams, running groups, sports teams, mentors and mentees, friends, and individual runners. They also had some hardcore rucksack runners who carried VERY heavy rucksacks throughout the race. Participants were all ages and all running levels.....with some all-out running, some speed walking, and some just walking. The Blue Heron Bridge is 1975.8 feet high, so it's a challenging uphill run in both directions. Runners get a beautiful view of the water and all the boats on their journey, but that run up the bridge is TOUGH. They close the outside lanes of traffic to keep runners safe and the runners get the outside lanes so they get a great view. Big thanks to Riviera Beach Police for help with traffic! There was a fun high school drum corps at the top of the bridge and a water station to keep everyone hydrated.

It's always challenging for me to photograph the race start and then get out onto the course to get the runners. Just when I think I have a good plan, a monkey wrench is thrown my way to make it more challenging. This year I thought I would park out on the road so I could quickly drive to the bridge, but then I got stopped by a volunteer and a police officer, despite me trying to explain what I needed to do. I really do need a golf court to avoid these kinds of situations. I can write it off as a business expense right? LOL

For this event, I bring an extra photographer so we can catch as much content as possible, but to be honest, I really probably need a 3rd one because it's gotten to be such a big event.

Marathon runners on a bridge path marked by orange cones with palm trees and city views.
Athletes running along a palm-lined street during a daytime racing event.
Race participants walking and running along a street course marked with blue cones.
Two runners participating in outdoor race with one wearing green and another in bright blue t-shirt.
Group of participants gathering at outdoor community fitness event near street sign.
Spectators line waterfront barrier while runners pass during athletic event.
Event staff member in high visibility vest gestures enthusiastically at outdoor venue with palm trees.
Three participants in matching race shirts smiling and gesturing during outdoor event.
Five runners competing in a race on a sunny street with palm trees in the background.
Runner in athletic wear jogging along waterfront path near marina and boats.
Groups of runners on bridge during urban running event with city skyline in background.
Two participants running together during waterfront marathon with marina views.
Group of runners exercising along waterfront path during sunny day.
Marathon participant gestures enthusiastically while running on waterfront course.
Large group of marathon participants running along waterfront path with high-rise buildings in background.
Diverse group of runners participating in waterfront marathon with city skyline visible.
Runners participating in a street race with palm trees and urban buildings in the background.
Participants celebrating and stretching near flowering bushes during outdoor fitness event.
Runners spread out along a palm tree-lined street during a daytime race.
Runners in bright orange and blue athletic gear participating in a community race event.
Runners and walkers participating in community event along waterfront road with palm trees.
Runners passing Lagoon street sign during community race event on a sunny day.
Participants running together in matching light blue t-shirts at a community race event.
Police officer in reflective safety vest monitoring community event outdoors.
Runners competing in waterfront marathon with orange safety cones marking the course.
Runner celebrating near a Publix store with arms raised in victory pose.
People running along coastal path with tall city buildings and lamp posts in background.
Runner gives thumbs up while participating in waterfront race with city skyline in background.
Participants running and walking through an outdoor course during a community race event.
Runners spread out along waterfront course with urban skyline in background.
Runners spread out along coastal race route with orange safety cones and palm trees.
Athletes running through a parking lot during a daytime community racing event.
Group of race participants walking together along urban street during community event.
Runners exercising along waterfront path during morning workout.
Runners making peace signs while participating in waterfront race event.
Athletic participant running along coastal pathway during event.
Group of runners participating in a daytime race along a palm-lined street.
Two runners give thumbs up while participating in waterfront race with marina in background.
Group of runners and spectators gathered along waterfront path during sporting event.

The finish line


After a long, hot run, race participants crossed the finish line and got a gorgeous medal. These medals are STUNNING! Every year it's something beautiful that will surely be a keepsake for the runners. Runners got a quick post-race stretch and adjustment, had the chance to meet some partner nonprofits (including girl scouts....cookies were available!), and they got a great breakfast from Castaways. The winners in each category received a beautiful etched pint glass and got some fun photos.

Runners jumping and celebrating as they cross the K2 Road Sports finish line.
Outdoor event setup with white tents and palm trees against coastal high-rise buildings.
A row of clear glass tumblers lined up on display.
Large group of race participants lined up in matching blue shirts for a team photo.
Candid black and white shots of race participants enjoying the outdoor event.
Athletes jumping joyfully under a blue FINISH banner at a sports event.
Black and white photo of enthusiastic runners celebrating at a finish line.
Runners approaching the bright blue finish line arch at an outdoor race.
Interior view of a sports venue with wooden ceiling and gathering crowd.
Cheerful race participants celebrate with refreshing drinks at an outdoor running event.
Athletes crossing the finish line at an outdoor running event.
Group of runners posing together under the finish line banner at a race event.
Group of race participants leaping and celebrating together at the finish line.
Young participant in blue race shirt showing bib number at outdoor sporting event.
Families wearing matching blue race shirts gather at the starting line of a community event.
Closeup of teal and blue Bridge the Gap 5K race medals.
Athletes displaying their medals at finish line with palm trees in background.
Students working together at desks while studying and taking notes in a classroom setting.
K2 Road Sports race finish line banner with blue and white design.
Participants in blue and white shirts enjoying an outdoor charity walk event in a sunny urban setting.
Enthusiastic participants walking and cheering during a community event with high-rise buildings in background.
Multiple participants crossing under the blue finish line arch during a race.
Palm tree-lined outdoor event space with blue tents and exercise equipment set up.

The photobooth


This year they added my Coastal Click Booth as a fun thing for participants to use before, during, and after the race. It was a HIT! My assistant, Maria, was there to set it up and help keep it going smoothly. Every time I went near it, there was a line of people waiting and they were having so much fun! Guests got their photos instantly via text message and the client got all the photos too!

Group activity participants posing against branded photo backdrop at outdoor community event.

My team!

Big thanks to my team, Maria and Luis, for helping with this event. It's a LOT to capture and it's VERY fast-paced. The fastest runners will often finish the race in just over 20 minutes, so we have to move very fast to get out to the bridge and get as many runners as we can. I often feel like I ran the 5K myself!

People striking fun poses in front of event backdrop with charity branding.

Book us for your 5K


If you have a 5K race coming up, let's chat about photography! Some organizations want all the runners crossing the finish line, some just want overall coverage to document the day, and some have very specific lists of things they want photographed. No matter the size or the scope, we can come up with a game plan that works best. Email me at coastlaclickphotography@gmail.com to book your date!