The Miami Marathon 2013 was a race I’ll never forget—not just for the heat but for everything leading up to it. I had just started dating Kim, and he was supposed to run this marathon with me. Long story short, things didn’t work out, and he couldn’t fly to Florida. That left me running this one solo.
Training for this race was no tropical breeze—it was a grind in the bitter cold winter up in the hills of Norfolk. I remember those endless loops during my long run with Kim, doing whatever it took to get in 18 miles.
Reggie, my running partner and neighbor, opted out of those below-zero mornings, leaving me to face most of my training alone.
When race weekend arrived, I flew to Miami with Jackie, who was running the half marathon. The warm weather felt worlds away from my icy training runs, and I knew the heat would be a factor. Jackie, always full of good advice, asked, “Are you taking salt?” My clueless response? “I didn’t know I was supposed to.” Thankfully, I listened to her—it turned out to be a lifesaver.

The race started out beautiful but warmed up quickly. By mile 22, the heat was oppressive, especially on the exposed causeway where there was no shade and no relief. This was the first race where I truly had to dig deep and rely on mental toughness to push through.
Jackie jumped in and ran the last mile with me. Having her there for support was exactly what I needed to get across the finish line.
Will I run this race again? Only if Kim is next to me for then next race.
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