First off, the location is perfect for a northerner's late Winter escape. The beach is endless and peaceful. The water temperature couldn't be more perfect, and the water is crystal clear albeit very salty. I stretched the trip into 6 days and got plenty of open water swimming in while I was there. Ocean Drive has a countless string of hotel restaurants for dining and drinking - I didn't have a bad meal at any of them. Tobacco women parade up and down the drive with a good selection of cigars to top off a great meal. If you enjoy people watching, Ocean Drive is a treat!
As for the race, it was a fast and fun course. The swim was amazing; the ocean was relatively still on Sunday morning when we started just before 7 AM. As we were swimming the 1,500m length, the sun was coming up on our left which made for a breathtaking morning experience to start the race. The ocean swim left plenty of room for athletes to swim without much contact. Although my time was not great, 42 min, the experience made for a peaceful start to the race.
My bike split was the best I've yet done in a Tri - 21mph over the 25 mile course. It's Miami....and flat. The biggest hills were the causeway bridges. Good crowds were along the course cheering us on and keeping us motivated. I got to pass several cyclists on the bike leg as I caught up from my poor swim. The course was very similar to the ING Miami Marathon course I did in January although it was a lot easier on the Kestrel than it was on foot!
The run was a steamy out and back along the beach and I got through it just in time as the Miami heat and humidity was firing up as the morning progressed. My run time was good - 8:13 pace, which is borderline acceptable for the final stage of a long Tri. Overall I placed 10th in my division (out of 26), which is not awful but definitely not as good as I would have liked. I need to work more on all three sports, especially the swim.
I stayed in South Beach for a few days after the race. Took in a Yankee game at the beautiful new Marlins ballpark (after first going to the wrong stadium and missing 5 innings). Interestingly, there appeared to be more Yankee fans than Marlins fans. Hopefully the new ballpark will increase local interest and fan support for the Marlins.
With each trip to Miami, my affinity for that city increases. It's a multi-cultural city that has a unique combination of Latin and Jewish roots. Unlike LA, which dominated my racing season last year, Miami is closer and South Beach is a perfect place for open water swimming, dining and shopping. You don't need a car to have a great time as there is plenty to do within walking distance. Like LA however, if you do get into a car, be prepared to sit...and sit...and sit...in traffic.
Both winter races that I've done this year in Miami are definitely on the list for 2013.
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