ING Miami Half Marathon
If you have been putting on a brave face during training walks over icy roads, through frost-biting winds weighed down by 7 layers of clothing, may I recommend signing up for the ING Miami Marathon next January? To be specific, how about the ING Miami Half Marathon?
Both the half and full marathons start at the same place and the same time, continuing together until ¾ of a mile from the half finish line. The half marathon (and the first half of the marathon) definitely represent the best of Miami. The start is beside some of Miami’s most stunning architecture including the Bacardi Building and the American Airlines Center. (Special note to walkers: because of a unique U-formation to the starting corrals, we wait in corral K adjacent to Corral A during the pre-race ceremonies. Yes, we’re right beside the elites for the singing of the national anthem, the fireworks, and the music!)
After the start we head over the causeway, passing monolithic cruise ships along Biscayne Bay, to South Beach and the iconic Art Deco buildings of Ocean Avenue. Walking through Miami Beach and over the Venetian Causeway, we end up at the start/finish area at Bayside Park. Both marathons have a pace limit of 13-minute miles, so walkers need to be confident about their pacing.
Sunday we gloried in ideal Florida weather with temperatures starting at 16 and increasing to about 22 for the finish. Think shorts, 1 short, and sunblock!
If you do put it on your agenda for next year, flights and room rates in January are good. I recommend booking a room on the Miami Beach/South Beach to be near the Miami Beach Convention Center. That’s where race kit pick-up is and that’s the area for the best beach and shopping – for that all-important post-race celebration part of your marathon vacation! Travel around Miami is challenging. I’d rather book shuttles to the start and from the finish to be near the beach on marathon afternoon!
If you have any recommendations on warm-weather marathons for those of us who are sun and warmth deprived, post here!
Both the half and full marathons start at the same place and the same time, continuing together until ¾ of a mile from the half finish line. The half marathon (and the first half of the marathon) definitely represent the best of Miami. The start is beside some of Miami’s most stunning architecture including the Bacardi Building and the American Airlines Center. (Special note to walkers: because of a unique U-formation to the starting corrals, we wait in corral K adjacent to Corral A during the pre-race ceremonies. Yes, we’re right beside the elites for the singing of the national anthem, the fireworks, and the music!)
After the start we head over the causeway, passing monolithic cruise ships along Biscayne Bay, to South Beach and the iconic Art Deco buildings of Ocean Avenue. Walking through Miami Beach and over the Venetian Causeway, we end up at the start/finish area at Bayside Park. Both marathons have a pace limit of 13-minute miles, so walkers need to be confident about their pacing.
Sunday we gloried in ideal Florida weather with temperatures starting at 16 and increasing to about 22 for the finish. Think shorts, 1 short, and sunblock!
If you do put it on your agenda for next year, flights and room rates in January are good. I recommend booking a room on the Miami Beach/South Beach to be near the Miami Beach Convention Center. That’s where race kit pick-up is and that’s the area for the best beach and shopping – for that all-important post-race celebration part of your marathon vacation! Travel around Miami is challenging. I’d rather book shuttles to the start and from the finish to be near the beach on marathon afternoon!
If you have any recommendations on warm-weather marathons for those of us who are sun and warmth deprived, post here!
Labels: Race review
posted by Wow Power Walking Founder @ 9:03 AM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
The Mrytle Beach Marathon in Mrytle Beach, South Carolina is coming up on Valentines Weekend. We did the marathon last year and it was beautiful. Not exactly bathing suit weather but perfect to wear shorts for the race (it has to be really nice for me to wear shorts). The race course is flat and along the coast. It starts and finishes in an area of park, boardwalks, restaurants and shopping. What more could you ask for?
Thanks Jill.
Also, fei, I forgot to mention on the blog how awesome the Miami medal is. I'll try to upload a photo of it. AND, from now until Feb 2 2009, you can register for the 2010 Miami Marathon and Half Marathon at 50% discount!
The Disney 1/2 & full Marathon in early January is a great race for your and or your family. They have many events. The weather has been consistently 65-70 degrees at the finish. It starts at 6:00 a.m. with amazing fireworks/music and fanfare and it is chilly about 45 degrees the year I did it.
My friend did the Tampa Gaspiralla 1/2 which this year is Feb.28th. It is flat/fast and the route is along the Bay and harbour and passes many historic sites. So there is a plan, do Disney in Orlando early Jan; Miami last week January; and come back to Tampa end of Feb! Then maybe the roads and weather will look more like spring!
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