Miami Marathon Course Assessment and Suggestions (From a Run Coach)


Anybody on the brink of run the Miami Marathon must learn this submit! As somebody who lived in Miami for years and raced there, plus paced visiting mates by the marathon it’s what I want I’d identified again then!

miami marathon course tips
The end is de facto enjoyable to see a number of flags flying!

Hopefully these few key items to assist make life simpler! When you begin to understand how lengthy it takes to coach for a marathon, I hope you’ve began trying on the proper plan!

And then you definitely began considering…ought to my coaching be any totally different for a flat marathon? Sure.

Is there something totally different concerning the Miami Marathon Course that I ought to put together for? Sure. Whereas this is perhaps a flat, lovely course, the climate has the potential to maintain it from being quick.

I’m so glad you’re considering forward and hope the following tips will assist you could have a fantastic race whether or not it’s your first otherwise you’re out for a Private Document. Let’s chat about some key Miami marathon suggestions!

Miami Marathon Suggestions

With any race, I’ve a couple of commonplace suggestions for our athletes:

  • Strive to not stroll round a ton earlier than the race.
  • Have your pre-race dinner and morning of meal with you or deliberate out, so you understand it’s meals you tolerate.
  • Don’t get sucked in to driving the course 🙂 it is best to have been coaching for regardless of the elevation seems to be like and that’s all you’ll be able to management. Plus in Miami, visitors is SLOW and it’ll make the course appear so lengthy.
  • General this can be a very well organized occasion, so you have to be in good arms on race day!
  • Be ready to hold round submit race as a result of this one has a fantastic ambiance in a phenomenal place!

#1 Prepare for the Flats

One factor that many runners over look is how working a race that’s so flat can really be tougher. You’ll be utilizing the identical muscular tissues all through the race. In case you’ve been coaching on rolling hills, you could discover that issues begin to ache or fatigue.

Whereas you’ll hit a couple of bridges, these usually are not like the big NYC marathon bridges. Most are nonetheless only a very small incline over waterways the place small boats transfer.

This route is even flatter than the Chicago marathon with about 185 ft of achieve and 182 ft of loss.

Your largest hill will probably be in mile 15 and 16 as you exit  over the Rickenbacker causeway. This was certainly one of my favourite locations to run for hill repeats, so it’s a exercise, however will probably be a pleasant change in your legs and it’s lovely over the water, so simply soak it in.

#2 Keep Close to the Begin

The Miami marathon begins in Downtown, so not out on famed South Seaside. It’s costlier to remain on this space, however belief me it’s not a spot you need to discover parking on race morning.

Take a look at the Folks Mover. It’s a free above floor automated rail system that loops across the whole downtown space and may also help offer you a wider vary of locations to remain. It’s going to be busy on race morning, however is an effective way to get to the beginning and not using a ton of strolling.

  • You don’t want to fret about visitors or parking with roads closed
  • A close-by resort means it’s very easy to stroll to the beginning as a heat up
  • You possibly can your use your resort rest room once more extra final minute and keep away from any potential unhealthy climate a bit longer
  • In case you can’t keep close to the beginning, checkout the shuttles offered by the race!

Don’t be afraid to ask mates to separate a room with you! You then’ve obtained somebody to share all of the nerves with.

Don’t neglect, you completely should eat on race morning! Checkout my information for what to eat earlier than a marathon >>

I do know it’s sizzling, however your physique wants the gas.

miami marathon course map

#3 Marathon Expo

This is likely one of the expos that also does a fantastic job. They actually need to make the weekend an expertise for you, so that you’ll get the famed runner wall along with your identify and plenty of different nice issues, alongside the distributors.

Simply keep in mind your job is to NOT BE ON YOUR FEET ALL DAY!!

The Expo is held out on Miami Seaside, so it isn’t close to the race begin.

Conference Middle: 1901 Conference Middle Dr, Miami Seaside, FL 33139

  • Attempt to go early should you can to keep away from lengthy visitors delays getting throughout the bridge to the seashore
  • You’ll discover a whole lot of nice meals for meals on Miami Seaside
  • Bear in mind should you’re going to the seashore, sit down, deliver hydration and sunscreen (race day is the purpose!)

#4 Plan for Race Morning

For an enormous race it has a fairly simple race begin. You received’t have to cope with safety traces or have to be there excessively early.

Bag test will probably be just for the clear baggage from the Expo and is about 3 blocks from the precise begin line. Learn your race packet effectively.

  • EARLY Begin designed to beat the warmth
  • You might want to be at your corral quarter-hour earlier than your begin time.
  • They’re checking bibs as you enter the corral, so get there effectively earlier than.
  • 6 AM is the primary corral to kick off
  • 7AM is the cutoff for anybody to start out, so should you’re working late, too unhealthy.

#5 Put together for Temperatures to Rise and the Solar to Come Out

As famous, the temperature goes to rise all through the race. The results of this mixed along with your onerous effort is a rise in HR, which makes all the pieces really feel harder. So it turns into actually vital to remain on high of:

  • Sipping water and electrolytes regularly
  • Proceed taking in gas even when your abdomen doesn’t need it since you’re sizzling
  • Seize any ice that’s accessible

SUN REMINDER – It’s going to really feel more and more heat because the solar comes out, so make the most of any likelihood to drop water in your head. A hat to maintain the solar off your face and carrying sun shades are actually going to be useful. Squinting tells your mind you might be doing one thing onerous, we need to keep away from that.

#6 Miami Marathon Course Technique

This isn’t a tough course in that it’s largely flat, however it’s a course that’s going to require to you to place within the psychological work to nail it. One of many nice belongings you’ll discover is there are water stations continuously all through your complete course. You possibly can carry a hydration pack, however you’ll have loads of entry alongside the best way.

Miles 1-3

At mile one you’re going to get certainly one of your hills which is the Macaurther Causeway taking you from downtown out to Miami Seaside. It’s not tremendous steep by any stretch and your legs are nonetheless tremendous contemporary, so simply reasonable your effort. You’ll be getting some nice water views right here.

It’s very crowded to start out.

Strive to not waste a ton of power weaving round folks, simply settle in and keep in mind you’re on this for the lengthy haul. You don’t need to run 26.8 miles since you couldn’t simply chill within the beginning miles.

Miles 5-8

Right here you’ll be working the streets of Well-known South Seaside. Soak within the cool structure, however don’t anticipate a lot by way of cheering. Although the bars are open till 5AM, so it’s attainable you’ll have some late night time revelers out to spice up your spirits.

I received’t lie…the course nonetheless feels fairly crowded at this level too.

Miles 11th of September

This was certainly one of my favourite locations to run. You’ll go over a couple of very small bridges right here, however largely it’s simply beautiful water views and doubtless proper about dawn.

miami marathon elevation

Miles 12-14

Not essentially the most scenic a part of the course, you’ll be proper in the principle a part of downtown. It may be slightly dirty.

That is additionally the place the half marathon will break off and out of the blue the course goes to really feel large open. And from right here on spectators are typically in teams or the nice random particular person exterior with a chair and presumably a hose!

Miles 15-17

It’s a fantastic thought to be sure you soak up some gas proper now! It is going to be the added carb enhance you want for the hill.

That is your second huge hill of the day at Rickenbacker causeway. You’ll run out and again over this bridge the place I spent a whole lot of time doing hill repeats!

It’s a little steeper, so once more do not forget that the purpose on the uphill is to keep up your effort, not your tempo. On the downhill you’ll make that point again up and never have wasted a bunch of power.

Miles 18 – 24

This a part of the course tends to be fairly quiet, however I like this space. It’s lovely and you’ll nonetheless have tons of support stations. It’s going to be the purpose the place it’s important to get in your head to recollect why you like working and why you selected to come back to a phenomenal (however sizzling) vacation spot for this race.

Mile 25-26

It’s virtually a straight shot from right here to the end. Fortunately you’ll be able to’t see that end line, so it’s not taunting you, however you understand that it’s coming and the crowds actually choose again up. They’ll give you contemporary power and pleasure to get to that final little bit.

You’ll go up a small bridge, then come zooming down the again aspect to make one last flip!

Ultimate .2

Due to a mat while you flip the nook, the announcer goes to know that you’re coming and be ready to cheer your identify. The crowds are lining the streets and should you’re something like me it’s a tear jerker second!

PARTY

Like I stated, the submit race social gathering and meals is likely one of the finest I’ve seen at any race. So have your gear test to scrub up after which absorb all that you just’ve simply completed.

#7 Miami Marathon Climate is Common HOT AND HUMID

I do know this looks as if a no brainer, however I can’t let you know the variety of mates who got here to race excited to flee winter after which wilted. In case you’ve been coaching in 30 diploma temps and race morning is 70 levels with 90% humidity, belief me it’s going to really feel very robust.

It’s possible you’ll want to regulate your tempo targets for the temperature.

Checkout this detailed article on working within the warmth and humidity for different suggestions that can assist >>

You completely MUST keep on high of hydration and it’s important to preserve getting down the gas even should you don’t really feel like taking it in.

miami marathon south beach

Miami Marathon FAQS

A couple of of your frequent questions as effectively!

Do You Need to Qualify for the Chicago Marathon?

No. It’s initially a registration strategy of first come first serve.

They then do a wait record lottery nearer to the date of the race (in October this 12 months)

Lifetime Health members will get early entry to register.

How Huge is The Miami Marathon?

The numbers I’ve seen from their very own web site to others range drastically, however not less than 20,000 runners. I’d say as much as 25,000 runners. Which is why the course can really feel crowded.

Private word: In 2010, I had the consideration of pacing my late pal Thomas Taulbee by 17 miles of his race. I’ll without end cherish this blurry photograph as a reminder of our time collectively. Could you be working ache free now, my pal.

Miami marathon review

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