During the race, it was more important to hydrate than to win. The second couldn’t be achieved without the first.
Either way, the passion for running took 20,000 athletes from 85 countries and the 50 states of the union to the streets on Sunday at the 23rd edition of the Miami Life Time Marathon.
The 38-year-old Kenyan, Paul Eyanae, claimed the 25.2 miles of the marathon, with two hours and 20 minutes nailed. He was followed by Zimbabwe’s Bradley Makuvire, 26, with 2:22.42, and third came Abraham Kipkemei, 46, from Kenya, with a time of 2:24.25.
For her part, the 38-year-old American, Naples resident Beth Marzigliano, a married and mother of three, won the marathon with 3:03.42, followed by Canadian Laura Dickinson with 3:34.05.
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The first three of the marathon were awarded 4,500; $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. The half marathon was won for the second consecutive time by 36-year-old Kenyan Salomon Kagimbi, this time with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 27 seconds. In second place was Paxton Smith (1:07.33), Miami; and third was the Brazilian Flavio Andrade (1:09.50).
While in ladies he triumphed Nell Rojas, 37, a native of Boulder, Colorado, with 1 hour 13 minutes and 53 seconds. Second came Ecuadorian Roca Chacha (1:15.38), who comes from participating in four Olympic Games and prepares for the World Cup in Tokyo next September. And third was Englishwoman Tracy Barlow (1:16.37).
Those who occupied the podium in the half marathon took in prizes 1,500; $800 and 450, respectively. In the open category, Colombian Sergio Martinez Sierra won the marathon with 2:49.16, followed by Peter Borowsky of Miami (2:50.20) and Jorge Doblas of NuevaYork (2:53.10).
In the middle marathon was also imposed Colombian Felipe Pelaez Valderrama with 1:12.56, second was Jean Duno of Miami Beach with 1:14.10 and third was Juan Tarraga of Guatemala with 1:14.55.
The runners said that at the start of the race, the temperature of about 68 degrees F was ideal, but as they arrived at the beach the humidity became unbearable.
“It was brutal,” confessed an exhausted Marzigliano, a native of New Jersey. Even though I live in Naples now, with a climate similar to that of Miami, my goal in the race was to reach the hydration points, pour water, and drink water. I didn’t dream of winning.
Marzigliano, who first ran in Miami and won the first marathon in her life, said her husband and three children encouraged her during the race.
“To my two eldest sons [6 and 5 years] have run with me to learn that you have to have energy to face the hardness of life,” the athlete said. The youngest is three years old and has not yet made his debut in the races.
For Marzigliano, victory was a huge personal stimulus as he has overcome a food disorder and can dedicate himself to the sport that he is passionate it. For his part, Eyanae said the heat was incredible.
“That was the first time he ran in Miami and the United States and it was very hard because of the weather,” said the Kenyan athlete. I led the whole race. Eyanae has three children, aged 13, 8 and 4.
Meanwhile, Makuvire confessed to running for the domestic violence case. He graduated as a social worker from the University of South Carolina. He currently serves as an assistant athletics coach at El Paso Community College.
Miami’s was his first marathon and he had only trained for two weeks. Kagimbi, for his part, achieved his second triumph in the Miami half marathon.
Coming from a family of farmers who grow tea and have cows, Kagimbi chose to run and hasn’t fared badly. He now lives in South Carolina and athletics is his profession.
Rojas is from Boulder, Colorado, but her origin is Mexican. Her father works for Nike and she has always been a dip in the sport. Even now he also practices the triathlon.
Humidity was a decisive factor in this race, Rojas said after his victory. The half-marathon tour is very nice. I also dedicate myself to training and running for Nike.
Chacha, born in Quito, achieved a valuable second place and the Miami test served as the start of the season for longer tests for the rest of the year.
More results
Miami Kids Mile: Joaquin Cogo, Miami, 5:29; Anhelo Mars, 6:05; and Maximiliano Barrera, Key Vizcayne, 6:14.
Wheelchair Marathon: Leanne Taylor, Canada, 1:31.14; Rafael Marcatto, Miami Beach, 1:32.36; and Emy Perry, Colorado, 2:04.36.
Half a marathon in a wheelchair: Joey Gibbs, Ocala, Fl., 1:16.46; Mary Kate Callaghan, Chicago, 1:26.28; and Zacharey Holman, Babson Park, Fl., 1:31.28.
