Running The 2026 Miami Marathon? Here Is Everything You Need To Know

The Miami Marathon is one of the most incredible and popular marathons in the United States and it is clear to see why. The tropical scenery and climate of the stunning city are both in full view as runners pass through the palm tree-lined streets and white sand beach fronts that the city is famous for and the whole race has colourful, entertaining Miami vibes throughout.

The very first Lifetime Miami Marathon took place on February 2nd 2003 and had just over 3,400 participants. Now, over two decades later, the event is consistently selling out with over 25,000 runners taking to the streets of Miami each year. 

If you have come across this post, you are likely one of the 25,000 different runners who have been lucky enough to gain entry into the event.  We have put together this detailed guide to offer you all of the information you need to know about the Lifetime Miami Marathon. 

2025 Lifetime Miami Marathon Event Overview

What Is The Date Of The 2065 Lifetime Miami Marathon?

The 2026 Life Time Miami Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 1st. 

While the event will take place at the very start of the year, you can expect the temperatures to still be between 17​​°C and 25°C or between 63°F and 77°F. While many Miami locals will probably think that this is a very pleasant temperature, runners from areas with colder climates may find these temperatures slightly daunting. 

What Time Does The 2026 Miami Marathon Start?

Every year the official start time for the Miami Marathon is 06:00 am, and for 2026 it is no different. 

However, it is incredibly important to understand that this will most likely not be your starting time. This is because it can take between 45 minutes to 1 hour to start the race, depending on which corral you are in. Because of this, it is really important to remember to stay as warm as possible while waiting to cross the start line. 

The Miami Marathon 2026 Course Overview

The most important part of any marathon event is the course. That is why we have put together the following guide that details everything that you need to know about the 2026 Miami Marathon course. 

Where Does The Miami Marathon Route Take You

All 25,000 runners will line up at 6:00 a.m. on 601 Biscayne Blvd directly in front of the famous Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat. Runners will then begin running north to Watson Island and past the incredible Port of Miami towards the tropical paradise of Miami Beach. 

Once you arrive at the stunning island of Miami Beach at the 4-mile mark, you pass through some of the area's most iconic streets, such as Alton Road, South Pointe Drive, and Ocean Drive. 

The Miami Beach portion of the route will end at Dade Blvd where you will begin your trip back to mainland Miami. On the journey back you will pass through the tropical islands of Belle Isle, Rivo Alto, Di Lido, San Marino, and Discyane. 

Once you step foot back on mainland Miami you will head up towards S Miami Avenue where you will pass the halfway mark. The second half of the course will take you through downtown Miami and out towards the vibrant Coconut Grove which is known for its natural beauty and artsy community. 

You will then loop back around past David T. Kennedy Parks and Grove Isle Marina on your way to the Rickenbacker Causeway portion of the route which marks the final stretch. The final few kilometres will take you through Point View and Brickell Point before crossing the finish line at Bayfront Park. 

Is The Miami Marathon Course Easy?

If you are choosing to run the Miami Marathon course under the illusion that it is an easy course, we can assure you it is not. No marathon course is ever easy. 

However, the Miami Marathon course is relatively flat throughout and is therefore considered easier than some other, more elevated, marathon courses. The only real areas of elevation along the course come on the course bridges MacArthur Causeway and Venetian Causeway. 

The mostly flat terrain means that the course can be very fast. This is why the event has been chosen as one of the Boston Marathon qualifier races by the Abbott World Marathon Majors. 

Training Advice For The Miami Marathon

With the 2026 Miami Marathon only a few months away, we have put together some tips to help to make sure that your 2026 Miami Marathon goes as smoothly as possible. 

Heat Training 

The most difficult part of the Miami marathon is not the route, the elevation, or even the distance, it is the climate. Miami has an incredibly tropical, hot and humid climate which is not the ideal climate for long-distance running. Because of this, runners from much cooler climates can struggle to adapt on race day. 

If you are a runner that is used to colder climates then it could be super important to incorporate heat training into your routine. Without helping your body to adapt to the extreme heat and humidity of Miami, your body will struggle hugely with hydration and energy levels. This could therefore significantly impact your performance on race day. 

So adding heated runs into your training regime can be extremely beneficial. You can heat up your runs by adding extra layers of clothes or using treadmills in hot gyms or spaces. You can even partake in regular sauna sessions to give your body the heat adaptation it will need come race day. 

Timezone Training 

Another common problem for international runners at the Miami Marathon is the time zone. The timezone of Miami can cause problems for international runners who are from countries with vastly different time zones.

One very effective way of combating this is by time zone training. Time zone training is where you do some of your runs leading up to the event as if you were in the same time zone as Miami. While this may be difficult initially, it helps your body to get used to running at the time when you will be running the marathon in Miami. 

Run The 2026 Life Time Miami Marathon With realbuzz

Are you looking to run the 2026 Miami Marathon? 

Here at realbuzz, we are proud to work directly with the Miami Marathon as an international charity programme partner. Because of this, we are able to offer keen runners like yourself guaranteed entry into the event. All you have to do is raise money for an incredible cause. We work closely with hundreds of different charity partners, so we can help to match you up with the perfect charity to help make your miles mean more.