Anybody on the brink of run the Miami Marathon must learn this publish! 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 recognized again then!

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 may have a fantastic race whether or not it’s your first otherwise you’re out for a Private Report. Let’s chat about some key Miami marathon suggestions!

Miami Marathon Suggestions

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

• Attempt 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’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, site visitors is SLOW and it’ll make the course appear so lengthy.
• General it is a very well organized occasion, so you ought to be in good fingers on race day!
• Be ready to hold round publish race as a result of this one has a fantastic ambiance in a ravishing 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 tissue all through the race. In the event 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 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 acquire and 182 ft of loss.

Your largest hill will likely be in mile 15 and 16 as you exit  over the Rickenbacker causeway. This was one among my favourite locations to run for hill repeats, so it’s a exercise, however will likely 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 Seashore. It’s dearer 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 complete downtown space and can assist 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 with out a ton of strolling.

• You don’t want to fret about site 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 may your use your resort 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 mates to separate a room with you! Then you definately’ve bought 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 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 quite a lot of different nice issues, alongside the distributors.

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

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

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

• Attempt to go early in the event you can to keep away from lengthy site visitors delays getting throughout the bridge to the seashore
• You’ll discover a whole lot of nice meals for meals on Miami Seashore
• Keep in mind in the event you’re going to the seashore, sit down, convey 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 gained’t have to take care of safety traces or have to be there excessively early.

Bag verify will likely be just for the clear luggage from the Expo and is about 3 blocks from the precise begin line. Learn your race packet nicely.

• EARLY Begin designed to beat the warmth
• You’ll 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 nicely earlier than.
• 6 AM is the primary corral to kick off
• 7AM is the cutoff for anybody to begin, so in the event 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 along with your arduous effort is a rise in HR, which makes every little thing really feel harder. So it turns into actually necessary to remain on prime 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 out there

SUN REMINDER – It’s going to really feel more and more heat because the solar comes out, so benefit from any probability 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 arduous, 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 consistently all through the complete course. You may carry a hydration pack, however you should have loads of entry alongside the best way.

Miles 1-3

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

It’s very crowded to begin.

Attempt to not waste a ton of power weaving round individuals, simply settle in and bear 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 Seashore. Soak within the cool structure, however don’t anticipate a lot when it comes to cheering. Although the bars are open till 5AM, so it’s doable 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 11th of September

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

Miles 12-14

Not probably 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 all of a sudden the course goes to really feel vast open. And from right here on spectators are typically in teams or the nice random particular person outdoors with a chair and probably a hose!

Miles 15-17

It’s a fantastic concept to be sure to soak up some gas proper now! Will probably be the added carb increase you want for the hill.

That is your second large 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 keep in mind 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 help stations. It’s going to be the purpose the place it’s a must to get in your head to recollect why you’re keen on working and why you selected to return to a ravishing (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 understand that it’s coming and the crowds actually decide again up. They will offer you recent power and pleasure to get to that final little bit.

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

Closing .2

Because of a mat once 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 in the event you’re something like me it’s a tear jerker second!

PARTY

Like I stated, the publish race social gathering and meals is without doubt one of the greatest I’ve seen at any race. So have your gear verify to wash up after which take in all that you simply’ve simply achieved.

#7 Miami Marathon Climate is Common HOT AND HUMID

I do know this looks like 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 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.

You might 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 prime of hydration and it’s a must to preserve getting down the gas even in the event you don’t really feel like taking it in.

Miami Marathon FAQS

A couple of of your widespread questions as nicely!

Do You Should Qualify for the Chicago Marathon?

No. It’s initially a registration means 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 Large is The Miami Marathon?

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

Private be aware: In 2010, I had the glory of pacing my late buddy Thomas Taulbee by 17 miles of his race. I’ll endlessly cherish this blurry photograph as a reminder of our time collectively. Could you be working ache free now, my buddy.

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