2011 ING MIAMI HALF MARATHON

Rambling through the streets of downtown Miami and South Miami Beach while participating in the ninth annual ING Miami Half Marathon went quite well this year. Extremely well, for the matter!     

The weather was perfect for running, the crowd was massive yet friendly, the scenery was awe inspiring, and we completed our 13.1 mile journey without so much as a blister, cramp or fatigue.      

Wanting to better last years’ time of 3:03, I found it necessary to pick up my pace somewhere between mile marker 7 and 8. Having had only two hours of sleep the night before the demanding event, Jan chose to maintain the pace that we had set during the first seven miles. She was wise in doing so.     

My choice to run more and walk less the last 5 miles resulted in a finishing time of 2:46. Jan came in shortly afterwards in a respectable time of 3:01.     

Uninjured and unscathed, we eventually wiggled our way through the hordes of finishers and spectators, having our picture taken by the marathon people just before exiting the runner’s area in beautiful Bayfront Park.   

 Breakfast with our friends at IHOP afterwards rounded out another fantastic day in sunny South Florida. We are now waiting for the 10th annual signup blitz promising cut-rate registration costs.   

 Next year will be our tenth year in a row running the ING Miami half marathon, an event that has become an annual postscript to January’s Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon.