The Life Time Miami Marathon is set to kick off this Sunday, with more than 18,000 runners from over 70 countries participating. The event, in its 23rd iteration, will see participants starting at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami at 6 a.m., before embarking on a course that will take them through the picturesque sprawl of Miami Beach, then back to downtown's Bayfront Park. According to CBS News Miami, the runners will traverse iconic locales such as Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue, "This is their time to shine. This is the time for everyone to enjoy the Downtown Miami cuisine, nightlife, the electricity that our city has that no other city really has," as Kim Hills of the Miami Downtown Development Authority remarked.
However, those planning on driving through Miami this weekend should expect significant disruptions. Starting today, Biscayne Boulevard will unveil road closures between SE 3 Street and NE 2 Street, affecting traffic patterns and undoubtedly causing bumper-to-bumper traffic in Downtown Miami and Brickell, as well as hot spots in Miami Beach like Ocean Drive and Alton Road. Furthermore, drivers are advised to use the Julia Tuttle Causeway from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to access Miami Beach. NBC Miami has outlined that motorists seeking to navigate the vicinity during the weekend should consider alternate routes, as road closures are expected city wide on Sunday, beginning at 5:00 a.m. and projected to last until around 2:00 p.m.
Despite the temporary inconvenience to traffic flow, the marathon is a boon for the local economy, particularly benefiting businesses in proximity to the event. Frankie Ruiz, who co-founded the marathon in 2003, indicated the growth of the marathon to CBS News Miami, noting the rise from 3,400 runners to its current attendance, serving as evidence of its ascension within the running community as a spectator event.
Brightline is contributing to easing accessibility for the event by offering early morning train services on race day. These special schedules allow runners to arrive at MiamiCentral Station, conveniently located mere steps from the starting line at 5:08 a.m. A range of departure points, which include West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Aventura, has been organized, ensuring participants across the region can readily partake in this event.
