Posted: January 25, 2005

Athletics: South Florida’s Largest Marathon Has Big Plans For Tourism And Community

Race Aims To Boost Community And Youth Awareness, Make Miami An International Running Destination

MIAMI, FL (January 23, 2005) – On January 29-30, 2005, more than 8,000 runners will lace up their shoes and race in the Toyota Prius Miami Tropical Marathon and Half Marathon while another 1,700 people will run or walk in the Inaugural Great Florida Bank Tropical 5K benefiting Community Partnership for Homeless. The third annual race will mark the largest marathon and half marathon in South Florida history as runners will dash through Downtown, South Beach, Coconut Grove and Brickell neighborhoods. Less than two years ago, Miami-Dade County was limited to 5K’s and triathlons among a handful of participant sports events. A limited number of South Florida runners had fond - yet receding- memories of a marathon that ran through the City of Miami. Through the mid 1990’s the peak field for a South Florida marathon was a little more than 3,000 runners.

South Florida’s premier race has set itself on a path toward becoming one of the next major marathons with this year’s race poised to break the top 20 national races in terms of combined runners. “When this project started, we questioned why Miami was the only major American city without a world-class marathon,” Race Director Robert Pozo said. “Our mission was to establish a race that could bring 30,000-40,000 runners to Miami and Miami Beach, similar to the New York and Chicago marathons.” Race organizers predict that within the next ten years the marathon and half marathon will reach more than 20,000 runners, gaining from the redevelopment of downtown Miami into a major cultural and residential neighborhood. The future influx of more than 20,000 residents into Downtown and Brickell is one of the variables that will compliment the race over the next ten years including community awareness programs and partnerships with local and international organizations interested in advancing the sport and fitness as a whole.

Focusing on 2005, PR Racing is implementing a growth plan by adding a 5K race to attract beginning runners and walkers, teenagers and casual joggers. The new 3.1 mile race on the MacArthur Causeway will raise approximately $150,000 for Community Partnership for Homeless and will help motivate new runners to set a goal toward running a marathon. “We expect all the beginners and casual runners who run the 5K to take the next step and train for next year’s half marathon followed by the 2007 marathon,” Course Director Frankie Ruiz said. As the population grows along the course, organizers envision a community that will gradually connect with the race by running the events or waking up on Sunday morning to root for runners along the course. “Picture it, 15,000 new residents in downtown and on the beach, lining up on streets and balconies, cafe con leche in one hand and a Run Daddy sign in the other,” Ruiz said of the future. “This race will bring the entire community together like few events in Miami can.”

The scenic course, which takes runners by most of Miami’s notable sights and attractions, is hailed as a perfect tour of Miami and Miami Beach. This concept has led event organizers to market the race as a destination marathon, inviting runners and familes to enjoy the best Miami and the beaches have to offer. With 67 percent of participants coming from outside Miami-Dade County, PR Racing has been marketing the cities as destination vacations to attract runners with families. In 2005, a two-hour guided tour of the course will be held on Saturday so runners can learn about the sites and history of the neighborhoods before they run past them. In addition to the tours, events have been planned at some of the most popular nightspots, including Bongo’s Cuban Cafe, the Clevelander Hotel and Nikki Beach. “If we give the runners a memorable vacation, then we are confident they will come back next year with all of their freinds,” Pozo said. For this year’s race, the marathon has sold out almost every hotel in Downtown and plans to attract more hotel nights in the future.

Marathon Weekend includes the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Health & Fitness Expo, which is free and open to the public, on Friday and Saturday January 28-29, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown. Registration for the marathon, half marathon, and 5K will be available at the expo on Friday from Noon until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call (305) 278-8668 or visit www.runmiami.com.

Source: www.runmiami.com.