Miami Half Marathon | Weekend in Miami, FL

Welcome to Miami

If you’re looking for an escape in the dark of winter, running a race in the Miami Marathon series is absolutely something to consider. Held in February, the series includes a marathon, half marathon, and 5k. We ran the half marathon in 2016 and have been raving about it ever since. When people ask about my favorite half marathon, this one usually pops into my head first; the course is awesome, the weather is beautiful, the food is delicious, and as it turns out there are fun things to do in Miami that don’t revolve around its well-known night scene.

Where to Stay

At the recommendation of some friends from Miami, we stayed in the Brickell neighborhood near The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, just south of downtown Miami. This was about a 30 min walk to the starting line and was a beautiful neighborhood with lots of nearby restaurants. We’d definitely stay in the neighborhood again.

About the Race

This is a hugely popular race, with over 20,000 runners between the half and full marathon. The course traverses a beautiful route through Miami which begins by taking you over the bridge to Miami Beach. On the way, you pass a row of docked cruise ships with amazing neon lights that glow against the still-dark night sky. The race starts early, which means you have a great view of the sunrise as you make your way over the bridge. There are then several beautiful miles along Miami Beach, until you then make your way back over a different bridge towards downtown Miami. The race is flat and the morning is cool. My one critique of the race was that the starting line was a complete zoo, so be sure to arrive early to get organized. It absolutely deserves to be on the list of best races in Florida. (Course map)

**Day 1. Arrive and Visit the Wynwood Walls at Night**

Friday

Arrive, get settled, and head to the Wynwood neighborhood for the famous street art museum.

5:00 - Arrive at the Miami airport and head to the Airbnb (A) by either taking the Miami-Dade Transit train to the Brickell stop or by taking a ride share (~20-30 min). Check into the Airbnb and drop off bags.

6:00 - Grab a ride share and head north to the Wynwood neighborhood. The first stop is Mana Wynwood Convention Center (B) to pick up your race bib (open Fri 12-7pm).

7:00 - From there, grab a gourmet burger and cocktail for dinner at Le Chick Miami (C) (open daily 12-10:30, till 11:30 on Fri and Sat.) Make a reservation.

8:30 - After dinner, walk around Wynwood Walls, an outdoor street art museum that is free and open to the public. The murals are beautiful lit up at night.

9:30 - Take a ride share home. If you need to stretch your legs a bit more, stroll out to Brickell Point (E) along the water for a night-time view of Miami.

**Day 2. Explore the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens**

Saturday

Stretch your legs with a walk south to the stunning Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

10:00 - Start with brunch at B Bistro + Bakery (A) (open Sat-Sun 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm, no reservations.)

11:30 - Walk across the water to the Miami River Walk up to Bayfront Park (B) for some nice views of the waterfront and the fancy apartment buildings along it.

12:00 - Then walk (~45 min) south to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (C) (open Wed-Mon 9:30am-4:30pm, $22 plus $5 for an audio tour). The museum is the former estate of a wealthy businessman. The grounds of the museum are particularly beautiful to walk around. If you need sustenance, grab a quick snack at the museum cafe.

2:30 - Head back towards the Brickell neighborhood. On the way, stop by the Alice Wainwright Park (D) and rest your legs with a nice view from a park bench.

3:30 - Stop in at the Publix at Mary Brickell Village (E) to shop for pre-race dinner ingredients (for us, pasta, red sauce, and garlic bread). Head back to the Airbnb.

5:00 - Cook an early dinner and head to bed early because the race start is bright and early.

**Day 3. Race and Recover on Miami Beach**

Sunday

Race day! Enjoy the course as it winds around Miami and then spend the afternoon resting on the beach.

4:30 - Wake up EARLY. Head to the starting line at the American Airlines Arena at 601 Biscayne Blvd (A). Be prepared for a cold morning at the starting line—bring layers. Aim to get to the starting line early because there are a lot of runners and many corrals.

6:00 - Race!

8:30 - Celebrate your finish at the post-race festival. Grab a snack and re-hydrate.

9:00 - Head back to the Airbnb (B) to get cleaned up. Check out and bring your luggage with you.

10:00 - Take a ride share to Miami Beach. Have brunch at The Local House (C) (open Sun-Thu 8:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 8:30am-12am). Make a reservation in advance.

12:00 - After breakfast, spend your remaining time sitting on the beach near South Pointe Park (D). Then head to the airport and fly home.