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Miami Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Miami Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.5 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.2 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.5 
 
 
Number of comments: 312 [displaying comments 231 to 241]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 22 23 24 25 26 .. 32 > ]

 

C. L. from Philadelphia, PA, USA (1/31/2006)
"Beautiful course, lots of support, mostly flat!" (about: 2006)

2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I ran the half marathon. The expo was very well organized, no problem with parking or picking stuff up. The course was very scenic and there was a lot of support from the residents, especially considering the early start time (it was dark for almost the first hour). I will be back next year!

 

L. K. from Miami, Fl (1/30/2006)
"ING made a good marathon even better" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Miami Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


The race continues to get better every year. This year the miles were marked more clearly with large orange signs. The water stops were better - easier to get to, and organized with water at the front, Gatorade at the back. The volunteers did an outstanding job! Traffic control was excellent and not easy for the officers who were stopping traffic to Key Biscayne on a Sunday morning. There was much more spectator support this year than any other. Your name was on your race bib and as a result you had an instant fan base on the roads. The only downside to this race was the heat and lack of shade due to hurricanes Katrina and Wilma last year. Miami is my home town and I'll definitely be home for this one again next year!

 

T. P. from New York, USA (1/30/2006)
"Beautiful course. Don't stay at the Hyatt." (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Miami Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 4


Highlights of the race are the palm trees, the spectators (not many of them, but very warm), name on your bib, the expo, and an awesome finisher's medal.

The challenging aspects were the early but essential 6 a.m. start time, the lack of t.p. in the port-a-johns, the heat and humidity (70 degrees at the start), the bridges, and worst of all, for those staying at the host hotel (Hyatt Regency), inflexible check-out times.

 

d. h. from south miami (1/30/2006)
"Awesome. Add wheelchair lights." (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Miami Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 2


Please, for the safety of the wheelchairs, race officials should require strobe lights for the wheel chairs. In the dark they caused several trips and falls. A simple strobe light would make it safer for all. Also, at the start they should have an overhead stage above the starting line so everybody pays attention. The flute was awesome but had to strain to hear and see it. Overall, as a 13-time marathoner it was great.

 

David Shreeve from across the state, Naples FL. (1/29/2006)
"Everybody's not in it for the prize money" (about: 2006)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 Miami Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 3


Three years running the Miami Marathon or Half Marathon and this was the worst organized race yet. Every year I come back (early), visit the expo so I can get my pin to add to my collection. Again this year they were gone by the first day of the expo. Two boxes of 500 for thousands of runners? Where were the water stations for the first miles? Only counted one. What happened to the bands? The volunteers are the best part of this year's race. Great job volunteers. The cheering zone after 10 miles was GREAT!!!! It made us average runners feel like the elite. Thanks to the countless police and deputies manning the route for the vehicle crossings; not one this year. I'll have to think long and hard about next year.

 

Carlos Raurell from Miami, Florida (1/29/2006)
"2006 a big success" (about: 2006)

2 previous marathons | 1 Miami Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I finished a little while ago and I'm beat. It was absolutely worth it, though, as the race was a blast. The conditions were good, but a little warm. Hey, it's Miami. The organizers did a great job. Thanks PR and ING!

 

k. c. from Miami, Florida (9/10/2005)
"Mile markers were picked up too early" (about: 2005)

1 previous marathon | 1 Miami Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 4


This was my first time walking the half marathon. Two things that stuck out in my mind. There was no water on the MacArthur Causeway Bridge until mile 3, even though all your literature says water at every mile. Had I known that I would have worn my fuel belt. My group was doing a 14-minute mile and the truck with Alabama tags was spewing fumes in our faces after about mile 5; it was picking up the mile markers and timing digital signs too soon, as we were within the timeframe at the 14-minute mile. I am sure they were in a hurry to get done, but they blocked us several times, especially at the Venetian Causeway Bridge, where we had to walk behind the truck. It even stopped and there was nowhere for us to go but to stand behind it until it cleared the toll booths. Several times we had to compete with it for space to walk on the road. All this added plenty of minutes to our time. It was annoying, not to mention the fumes which made us gag and the drivers several times almost ran us over. They ignored our pleas to stop and abide by the rules. We asked the police several times to stop them along the way, which they did but then they sped up and started all over again. This year be more considerate, please. We finished in about 3 hours so it was not because we were coming in hours late, everyone was upset, screaming, annoyed and just plain disgusted. Also need more music especially in the beginning when you are going on the bridge by Fischer Island, etc.; please have a variety of music and more locations. Otherwise it was awesome, plan to do it again this year.

 

Josh Liebman from Florida (4/5/2005)
"3 Times A Charm, Miami on your Marathon Calendar" (about: 2005)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 Miami Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Out of the 23 marathons I have run, my 3 favorites were Miami (05), Miami (04), and Miami (03). The course is flat, fast, fun, and scenic. The marathon takes place either the last Sunday of January, or the first Sunday of February when the weather is always nice and cool in South Florida, especially if you live in a cold climate. As a head coach for Team in Training, and an avid marathoner, running a dozen marathons in the last 24 months, I travel regularly to marathon destinations. The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon has something for every particpant and family or guest. Whether you are an elite marathoner or walking your first half marathon, you cannot ask for a better course and organization. For your guest or family there is a celebrity 5K on Saturday and Miami is a fantastic vacation destination. Ways the Miami Marathon differentiates itself from other marathons are:

1. A 2-piece heavy medal that spins
2. A marathon course bus tour and tour of Miami
3. A Thursday night event at Bongos Restaurant on the water in the American Airlines Arena, offering visitors some Latin Flavor
4. A Friday night even at the Clevelander on Ocean Drive on South Beach
5. Renown artist Romero Brito did the artwork for the marathon and is featured on the shirts and posters

In addition, the expo, pasta party, and post-race celebration are all great events.

Hope to see you next year.

 

C. Y. from Davie, Florida (2/25/2005)
"Third time around and counting..." (about: 2005)

6-10 previous marathons | 2 Miami Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


After running in the first two Miami Marathons with my wife, I was on my own this year due to her being pregnant, so I decided to have some fun,not train, enjoy the sights, and do the half with a couple of friends. I succeeded in running my PW (personal worst), saw sights I never saw the first 2 times around, and realized what a marvelous job the organizers did this year.

Tons of water and Gatorade, another medal to add to the collection, and no matter what they say, I enjoyed the rice and beans and low-calorie beer at the end... only in Miami. I'll be back at the full next year trying to beat my 2003 Miami PR, which I couldn't beat last year in Buffalo, the year before in New York, or before that in Chicago... fast and flat we are.

 

J. E. from Miami, FL (2/23/2005)
"Good, but certainly NOT great" (about: 2005)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Miami Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 3


Come on folks, the scenery is nice yes, but the organization is not good. I have ran several marathons before... I won't be running this one again.

CONS:
Had to pick up the packet; they would not mail it. (6,000 or so runners converging on one place over 2 1/2 days... eeesh!)

No finisher T-Shirt. (what's up with that?)

Poor directions to packet pick up and start of race.

No military or group discount.

PROS:
Nice scenery for most of course (some is in Miami's red light district though).

Excellent water stations every mile.

Nice use of electronic chip to get accurate time (more courses are using these now).

Nice finisher medal, but a T-shirt would be better.

 

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