MIAMI – Thousands of runners and walkers took part in the 11th annual ING Miami Marathon on Sunday morning.
The race started at 6:15 a.m. in front of the American Airlines Arena and the course went through downtown Miami and Miami Beach. Marathon runners also ran through Coconut Grove.
Luis Rivero Gonzalez of Guetamala won the marathon. A Twitter account for the event posted his time as 2:26:14. The female winner was Mariska Kramer, a champion runner from the Netherlands, who estimated her finish time was about 2:46.
She told Local 10's Tamika Bickham she did not prepare for Sunday's race at all. "I was going to do the half, but I decided yesterday to do the full," Kramer said, whose fastest marathon time is two hours and 35 minutes. "I always have it in me to run a marathon. So if I run conservatively, like I did today, I will surive."
Kramer said she ate a lot of food on Saturday to prepare her body for the race. She also said she appreciated the warm weather.
"It was a great escape from my cold country. I enjoyed every minute of warmth and I'm trying to keep it in me when I go home.
THE ROUTE
Runners headed north on Biscayne Boulevard to Northeast 11th Terrace, before crossing over the Miami Beach causeway. After running down Alton Road, runners returned to downtown via the Venetian Islands.
Upon their return to Miami, half-marathon runners spilt off from the marathon runners. Half-marathon competitors weaved through downtown before finishing up their race at Bayfront Park.
Those running the full event also eventually ended up at Bayfront Park. They first had to run south through Coconut Grove and then back north through Brickell.
Police expect all roads to be back open by 1 p.m.
Last year, organizers estimated the event pumped $45 million dollars into South Florida's economy.