South Florida’s running and triathlon/duathlon community continues to grow as more and more people want to improve their health, compete and take advantage of our 12 months of beautiful weather. We have countless 5k races, many of which are fundraisers for nonprofits, but we also have elite races such as marathons, half marathons and Olympic-distance triathlons.

Running

The ING Miami Marathon, including its half marathon and 5k races, is my favorite local running event. US Road Sports & Entertainment Group (RunMiami.com), which produces the event in January each year, has done an extraordinary job by creating a top-notch course that attracts a great group of runners. It’s a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and has a $19,000 purse, but it’s also great for people just wanting to keep in shape and compete with themselves, if not with others.

US Road Sports has recently added half marathons that are great alone or as stepping stones for full marathons elsewhere in the country. The 13.1 Marathon Fort Lauderdale in November was a great run over the 17th Street Causeway and along the beach and downtown. The 13.1 Marathon Miami on March 1 started at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown and crossed over the causeway to the beach then returned to the performing arts center.

US Road Sports also hosts the BlueCross BlueShield of Florida Running Series, which has nine races (5k and 10k) throughout Greater Miami from September to March each year.

The recently renamed Palm Beaches Marathon Festival (MarathonPB.com) takes place in December each year and its marathon course is one of the most picturesque in the world. Runners can enjoy either the 26.2- or 13.1-mile race along the waterfront, which has spectacular views of yachts and mansions. This is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

The Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon is organized each February by Exclusive Sports Marketing (ExclusiveSports.com). The full and half-distance marathons offer athletes another great coastal course and a unique seashell-inspired medal for finishers. This is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Duathlons & Triathlons

Multirace’s duathlon and triathlon series (Multirace.com) continues to meet every athlete’s sports needs. The 2009 series featured a season opener on Feb. 8 at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek and was followed by the Chilly Willy du and tri at CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines on March 1. The 2009 race schedule has a total of 13 events and all races feature a duathlon in addition to the triathlon. Distances vary from sprint and Olympic to half Iron. All races are USAT-sanctioned and officiated and a $500 purse is offered.

Multirace’s signature event is the Miami Man half Iron race. This race usually reaches full capacity months before race day. A highlight is running through the Miami Metrozoo, past elephants and tigers.

The Multirace duathlon and triathlon series has become the “must do” event for South Florida’s multisport athletes.

Another excellent event is the Publix Escape to Miami Triathlon (RunMiami.com). Athletes come from all over the country to take the challenge to escape from an otherwise deserted island in Biscayne Bay and swim to the mainland where they then cycle and run. Year after year, triathletes keep coming back. They look forward to race day, knowing they will have take a ferry to the deserted island, jump in the water and, still in the darkness, swim 200 yards to shore, and then wait for the 7:30 a.m. start. The bike and run courses are as attractive as the swimming portions, including majestic views from the MacArthur Causeway.

If you are ready to accept this mission, register early. You have the option to escape from the island by doing the Olympic or sprint distance.

Celebrity Events

Another premier event brought to South Florida was the Nautica South Beach Triathlon on April 5. The race offered a half mile swim in the ocean, a 25-mile bike ride along the Intracoastal and a four-mile run along the beach. A surprising number of celebrities have competed solo or as part of a relay, such as Anna Kournikova and Dara Torres. Proceeds benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The annual Celebrity 5K took place on March 30 at Miami Children’s Museum. Over the year its runners have included singers Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, artist Romero Britto and Channel 7 anchor Belkys Nerey.

Family Racing

For many South Florida athletes, Exclusive Sports Marketing is where the triathlon was born more than 20 years ago. Today race organizers offer a wide range of events for the whole family, from sprint distances for children and 5k races for the family to sprint-distance triathlons for adults. Local venues are in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Deerfield Beach. The series championship in Cypress Gardens is a fun getaway for the entire family.

Whether your goal is to walk or run your first 5k, be part of a triathlon relay or take part in your first Ironman challenge, you are fortunate to have race companies whose goal is to help you take that first step.

The 2007 ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon generated $15.8 million in economic impact on the local community.
Source: Sport Tourism Event Research Network, as provided by ING Miami Marathon

The 2006 A1A Marathon generated $2.2 Million in economic impact on Broward County.
Source: University of Miami, as provided by A1A Marathon

The 2007 Marathon of the Palm Beaches estimated $701,560 in economic impact on Palm Beach County.
Source: Palm Beach County Sports Commission