FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE DOMINANT AT MIAMI MARATHON
Runners from 81 countries registered for 14 th annual event
MIAMI, Fl. - The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is an annual tradition in
South Florida that challenges the area's best running talents and those who
run for recreation and exercise. But the charm of the race and the
community in which it is run has turned the event into a powerful tourist
destination for runners throughout the world.
More than 81 countries will be represented when the approximate 24,000
runners surge though the start line on BIscayne Blvd. on the morning of
January 24.
Colombia has sent nearly 1,000 runners this year. There are more than 500
Mexicans. There are also large contingents from Guatemala, Costa Rica,
Canada and Brazil.
"Our Miami Marathon has become a destination race for runners from all over
the world," Race Director Javier Sanchez said. "People have an incredible
sense of pride for their countries so we work hard to honor our
international participants and their hometown roots. Everyone comes with a
common goal and that is to run Miami. Colombia runs Miami. Mexico runs
Miami. Canada runs Miami. That is an experience we will continue to
emphasize."
About 60 percent of the runners who participate in the race through the
streets of Miami, Miami Beach and Coconut Grove will be from the United
States. But Sanchez and Director of Running Frankie Ruiz have spent a lot
of time recruiting runners on trips to South and Central America to the
race produced by Life Time - The Healthy Way of Life Company.
As a tribute to the growing international contingent of runners, the Miami
Marathon will again give each runner bibs that show the flag of the country
from which they are traveling.
The influx of runners from South and Central America and the Caribbean is a
huge boost to tourism in South Florida. The Miami Marathon and Half
Marathon had an economic impact of $45,466,820 in 2015. The event also
generated 20,369 hotel room nights. An Economic Impact Study by the Sports
Industry Research Center at Temple University also found that each
International participant spent an average of $2671 on the trip and that
more than half of the runners who came to Miami for the race planned to
return again within 12 months.
"Miami is the most global U.S. destination with more than half of all its
tourists coming from international markets," said Rolando Aedo, Executive
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Miami Convention
& Visitors Bureau."Much of this success is due to the many world-class
events that call Miami home including the Miami Marathon. Participants in
this race mirror our top feeder markets and greatly contribute to the
economic impact of the tourism industry.
"We are especially proud of how this homegrown event has evolved over the
years and how it creatively showcases the many communities that make up
this tropical, cosmopolitan paradise."
Ruiz has no doubt that the future growth of the race is going to come more
from Latin America than the United States and South Florida in particular.
"Much like Miami's business future will depend on how well it serves and
markets to Latin America, the Miami Marathon is also focused on that same
formula for its success," Ruiz said. "I am a firm believer that we will
have more than 50% of our participants coming from outside the US in the
near future. The ease of travel and the cultural familiarity of Miami make
it extremely attractive to the Latin American runner."
About the Miami Marathon
The Miami Marathon is Florida's elite distance race weekend with over
24,000 runners representing all 50 states and more than 81 countries
converging on Miami and South Beach to experience one of the most unique
courses in the world. The race has come a long way since 3,400 runners
participated in the first Miami Marathon in 2003. Participants include
elite runners, top age-group competitors, and many thousands who run for
charity and to achieve their own personal goals. Together they enjoy the
tropical views and the sounds of South Florida, with a diverse array of
entertainment blended into the experience, and generate more than $50
million in total economic impact for the city of Miami and Miami-Dade
County. Race route map can be found at:
http://www.themiamimarathon.com/course
About Life TimeSM, The Healthy Way of Life Company
Life Time is a privately held, comprehensive health and lifestyle company
that offers a personalized and scientific approach to long-term health and
wellness. Through its portfolio of distinctive resort-like destinations,
athletic events and corporate health services, the Healthy Way of Life
Company helps members achieve their goals everyday with the support of a
team of dedicated professionals and an array of proprietary health
assessments. As of January 21, 2016 the company operates 119 centers in 26
states and 35 major markets under the LIFE TIME FITNESS® and LIFE TIME
ATHLETIC® brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information is
available at www.lifetimefitness.com.
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