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

Hopefully these few key items to assist make life simpler! When you begin to notice how lengthy it takes to coach for a marathon, I hope you’ve began wanting 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 may be 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 pointers will assist you may have an excellent race whether or not it’s your first otherwise you’re out for a Private File. Let’s chat about some key Miami marathon ideas!

Miami Marathon Ideas

With any race, I’ve just a few normal 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 recognize it’s meals you tolerate.
• Don’t get sucked in to driving the course 🙂 it’s best to have been coaching for regardless of the elevation appears 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.
• Total this can be a rather well organized occasion, so try to be in good fingers on race day!
• Be ready to hold round submit race as a result of this one has an excellent 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 more durable. You’ll be utilizing the identical muscle groups all through the race. In the event you’ve been coaching on rolling hills, chances are you’ll discover that issues begin to ache or fatigue.

Whereas you’ll hit just a few bridges, these will not be like the massive 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 might 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 might be a pleasant change on 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 dearer to remain on this space, however belief me it’s not a spot you wish to discover parking on race morning.

Try the Individuals Mover. It’s a free above floor automated rail system that loops across the total downtown space and may help provide you with 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 with out a ton of strolling.

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

Don’t be afraid to ask buddies to separate a room with you! You then’ve received 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.

#3 Marathon Expo

This is without doubt one of the expos that also does an excellent job. They actually wish to make the weekend an expertise for you, so that you’ll get the famed runner wall together with your title and numerous 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’s not 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 seaside
• You’ll discover lots of nice meals for meals on Miami Seaside
• Keep in mind should you’re going to the seaside, sit down, convey hydration and sunscreen (race day is the objective!)

#4 Plan for Race Morning

For a giant race it has a fairly straightforward race begin. You gained’t must take care of safety traces or should be there excessively early.

Bag test might be just for the clear luggage 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 should 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 begin, so should you’re working late, too dangerous.

#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 together with your laborious effort is a rise in HR, which makes all the pieces really feel harder. So it turns into actually essential to remain on high of:

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

SUN REMINDER – It’s going to really feel more and more heat because the solar comes out, so reap the benefits 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 laborious, we wish 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 continually all through the whole course. You’ll be able to 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 average your effort. You’ll be getting some nice water views right here.

It’s very crowded to begin.

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 wish 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 gained’t lie…the course nonetheless feels fairly crowded at this level too.

Miles September 11

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

Miles 12-14

Not probably the most scenic a part of the course, you’ll be proper in the primary a part of downtown. It may be somewhat dirty.

That is additionally the place the half marathon will break off and all of a sudden the course goes to really feel extensive open. And from right here on spectators are typically in teams or the nice random individual outdoors with a chair and presumably a hose!

Miles 15-17

It’s an excellent thought to be sure you absorb 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 lots of time doing hill repeats!

It’s a little steeper, so once more keep in mind that the objective on the uphill is to take care of 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 really like this space. It’s lovely and you’ll nonetheless have tons of assist stations. It’s going to be the purpose the place you need to get in your head to recollect why you like working and why you selected to return to a phenomenal (however sizzling) vacation spot for this race.

Mile 25-26

It’s nearly 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 recognize that it’s coming and the crowds actually decide again up. They’re going to offer 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 closing flip!

Last .2

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

PARTY

Like I mentioned, the submit race celebration and meals is without doubt one of the greatest I’ve seen at any race. So have your gear test to scrub up after which absorb all that you just’ve simply achieved.

#7 Miami Marathon Climate is Basic HOT AND HUMID

I do know this looks like a no brainer, however I can’t let you know the variety of buddies who got here to race excited to flee winter after which wilted. In the event 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 powerful.

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 ideas that can assist >>

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

Miami Marathon FAQS

A number of of your widespread questions as effectively!

Do You Should Qualify for the Chicago Marathon?

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

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

Lifetime Health members will get early entry to register.

How Massive is The Miami Marathon?

The numbers I’ve seen from their very own web site to others range significantly, however at the very least 20,000 runners. I’d say as much as 25,000 runners. Which is why the course can really feel crowded.

Private notice: In 2010, I had the respect of pacing my late good friend Thomas Taulbee by 17 miles of his race. I’ll perpetually cherish this blurry picture as a reminder of our time collectively. Could you be working ache free now, my good friend.

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