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I am slowly gearing up for the ING Miami Marathon. This will be my 2nd full marathon (26.2 miles) and I am excited about the awesome scenic route of Miami. I think that this will be a great way to start the New Year and set the expectation for my 2013 race year. I have 8 weeks left until the big day Sunday, January 27, 2013. My training schedule includes 4 runs a week in which Saturday’s are my long runs consisting of 14+ miles. I am using a running plan by http://www.runnersworld.com/training-plans/marathon-training-plans.
Goals: My goals for the race is to finish in 3 hours and 30 minutes, and to drop to race weight which is about 10lbs I will need to lose in 8 weeks. Losing the additional weight will help my body last longer and relieve the stress on knees and legs during the long distance.
The Course: The race will start in downtown Miami (Biscayne Bay) and then head over the first Causeway (2 miles) unto South and Miami Beach. After running on South Beach runners will head back over the Causeway (2 miles)back into downtown Miami and then all the way down into Coconut Grove and turn around heading to the finish line.
Participants: This year (2012) there were almost 4,000 marathoners and over 16,000 half marathoners. With that being said, they are expecting an even bigger turnout for 2013 since ING NY Marathon was cancelled. Runners will be coming from all over the world to run this race and mingle with other runners.
Recommendation for 1st time marathoners: My best advice to prospective marathoners looking to run a marathon is to be consistent with training and put in the time. Nutrition is equally important and both go hand and hand. If you have a marathon training schedule you should try and follow it as much as possible but don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Also, please please please listen to your body and avoid injuring yourself.
If you are thinking about registering or want to know more about the race there is still time to sign up and I am including the link to the website: http://www.ingmiamimarathon.com/
Ill be sure to let you know how the race goes! To keep up to date with my training and day to day prep, follow me on Facebook or Twitter @ljayhealth. Both links are also found on the left side of this page!
L-Jay Health 
You are an amazing inspiration for us all; that you are taking the plunge- working hard and following your dreams. You have so much to teach us, we who are sofa seated, TV worshipers. Thank you! I know you will do well, no matter your time, because YOU TOOK THE FIRST STEP! Remember, nothing can happen to you today that you cannot handle, and handle well!!
Wow thank you Lee! Means a great deal. I will keep it up and keep on inspiring! Take care
Good luck with the 26.2! That’s a nice time goal as well. Are you aiming to qualify for Boston at some point? I’m flying up from Costa Rica to run the half, my first. My goal: finish.
Awesome! I may run into you, you never know lol. Well I would love to run Boston but qualifying time is 3:04:59 for marathon. That’s just to fast for me but I don’t know what the future holds. Have you thought about it?
Hey Jay, remember impossible is nothing 😉 At some point, I think Boston can become a dream, and dream exist to be reached, don’t you think ? I quit have the same goals as you, we should hold together 😉
Inspirational! Good luck. To have already ran one marathon is amazing. I am training for one next year. (:
Thanks Heather! All the best to you and your marathon training. Which one are you thinking about running?
Hey great post! I’m excited for you! 😀 I am racing (not marathoning) in March. My first mud race. I have signed up for Raw Challenge in Sydney…. So I will be following your running tips and will start blogging about my first race experience shortly: annablogia.wordpress.com
I appreciate your recommendations and advice man:)
WOW Anna! Thats great. You will really like the mud runs. They are very fun and of course muddy! I havent been to Sydney but Im sure it is nice. Let me know If you need any other recs and good luck to you in your training! Ill be following your progress as well. Thanks again..
Good luck!!! You have a great attitude! Nice to hear a friendly reminder to listen to your body and avoid injury!!! Tiff
Well thanks Tiffany! I am all about injury prevention. I know so many athletes who go extra hard and end up injuring themselves before the event and cant perform. Plus its not good for the body in the long run! Take care!
Looks like an awesome event. Wow, a sub-4-hour goal is amazing! I can’t wait to read all about it. 🙂
I am already looking forward to writing about it. Thanks Andrew, How is your training going?
I am just getting back into training after being sidelined by injury since September. I was cycling until October but then injured my sacroiliac joint just after my shin splints healed. Today was my first day back on the bike in about 7 weeks and I won’t start running again for two weeks when I next see my physiotherapist who is going to work with me to change my running technique to make it more efficient and less strenuous on my body. We’re going to be working with a chi running guy who just completed 50 marathons in 50 days and who is a really cool down-to-earth bloke.
Good luck training and running the marathon, L-Jay! My friend ran the Miami half last year, and the heat hit her pretty hard. Make sure you keep the high temps in mind, and drink plenty of fluids.
Hey Anne! THanks for the advice. I heard the humidity and temps get pretty high. Will probably have to stop and every other water stand and hydrate up! Do you run at all?
Yes, I have done a marathon and several half-marathons. I’ll probably do a local half in March and a 10-miler in April. I truly enjoy the halfs… the marathon training is more than I have time for right now. ; ) I wish you the best of luck with yours.
Thanks alot Anne! Keep up your training as well! I agree with you that halfs are alot of fun. Do you have a marathon in mind that you want to run in the future?
Good luck with the marathon, and I look forward to reading your post-race report. My friend has told me the route is beautiful. All the best with the tapering meanwhile!
I am trying to keep the tapering up to par over the next 8 weeks. Tonight 5 miler felt good and long runs will be on Saturday. Ill try and take pics along the way so I can post for you. How are things in your world?
It is too cold in Canada to have big races. Smaller ones, yes. There is a Boxing Day 10-miler in Hamilton Ontario Chilly Half Marathon first week of March. Our winter training is targeted at the Cleveland Marathon or Half.
I could only imagine Opalla! I would not be able to train that much in the heavy winters. Will you be running the Chilly Half? I would love to travel to Canada to run a race.
Good luck! Miami should have great weather and beautiful scenery. Sounds like a good time!
Yes! It should be fun and I am looking forward to all the post race festivities. Thanks alot, Ill be sure to keep you posted.
Great job! Can’t wait to hear about Miami. You’ll make all your readers jealous, I’m sure.
HAHAHA. Ill be sure to let you know how it goes. How is your training going?
So far so good! 🙂
Starting the new year with a marathon…way to go!
WOW what a challenge. Good Luck.
Thanks you much! I am looking forward to the challenge. How have you been? Havent heard from you in a while.
Thanks L-Jay I’m doing good. Feeling much better and stronger. I’m in good shape but not as good as you are. WOW good luck!!!! Just attempting to enter it must be one big challenge.
I am running this race also! My 40th is in January and this will be my first full marathon. Thank you for the tips. 🙂
WOW thats great! BDAY run. I will do my best to look for you out there. Ill have on a LJAY HEALTH t shirt. Feel free to stop me if you see me. Should be fun! Train well.
Awesome!
Gahh I ran my second marathon recently and got pwned by the wind and rain. Hope yours has lovely weather!
And I even GAINED 10 pounds because I was eating whatever I wanted while not running because of injuries. Good luck breaking 3:30!
L-Jay, three things, 1) and more important, good luck! 2) I know I’m getting old when I remember when you never had to pay for a marathon training program. In fact, there are still many good free ones on the web at http://www.coolrunning.com/ and http://www.marathon-training-program.com/training-program.html and 3) any new marathoner can ready Marathon Training for the Rest of Us at http://rite2run.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/marathon-training-for-the-rest-of-us/ There is also a link to practicle marathon training articles at http://rite2run.wordpress.com/category/marathon-2/
Thanks Jim for sharing the free training plan websites! How have things been by the way?
I’m so jealous! Thanks for the marathon info. I just signed up for my first 1/2 and am now in training. I love reading your posts that’s why I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award.
Thanks for the nomination!! Which 1/2 are you training for?
Asheville Citizen Times 1/2 in September. Runs through downtown. Mad hills.
Marathon #2! Very nice! You can do it!
Thanks you! It should be a fun run. If I dont think about the mileage Ill be fun haha.
Wow, what an incredible pic! And good luck on your marathon! Thanks for following my blog. 🙂
That looks like a great race, good luck! I hope to break 4 hours one day – you are speedy!