2026 Miami Marathon

Going into the 2026 Miami Marathon I had zero expectations, and that made all the difference.

For the first time ever, I had my bib mailed to me. Due to board meeting conflicts I was unable to attend the pre-race expo, and wow…what an underrated service! No Ubers, no wandering a convention hall, and no buying stuff that I definitely do not need. If this is the future, I’m all in.

Training (or Lack Thereof)

As someone who once ran a 24-hour Spartan Race in the snowy mountains of Iceland, deadlifted 450 pounds, and completed multiple 100-mile ultramarathons, it is really kind of funny what finally knocked me down for the count: my sweet little 35 lb. daughter.

She got sick just after Thanksgiving, and while picking her up to care for her, I threw out my back. That led to sciatica, which put me on the shelf until the week of Christmas. When I finally could run again, I stubbornly tried to ramp up too quickly while on vacation and rewarded myself with a severe case of tendinitis in my left foot. So yeah: completely unprepared.

Add in the fact that I spent all day Thursday and Friday in Zeta Psi midwinter board meetings, followed by evenings full of socializing and perhaps a bit too much red wine, and my goal for Miami became very simple: Finish. Respectably. Preferably upright.

Race Morning

Race morning started early. A 4:00 a.m. wake-up, followed by prayer and time in the Word through my Bible Recap reading plan (Job 29–31). My journals and prayers looked a lot like Job’s at times. While I am nowhere near as righteous as he was, I could deeply relate to what he was feeling. Friendship with God requires trust and time. I want my knowledge of God and my trust in Him to keep growing so that my friendship with Him grows deeper. The more I know Him, the more I see that He is where all the joy is.

At 4:55 a.m., I ran into fraternity brothers John Nelson and Geff Vitale in the hotel lobby. Geff’s final words echoed in my mind as I dashed out to my Uber, “Run hard, run fast!”

My driver showed up five minutes early, only spoke Spanish (fitting for Miami) and was incredibly friendly. Note to self: I really need to restart those Duolingo Spanish lessons.

As we drove into the city, I had memories of running on Miami Beach in 2019 while working for my previous company. That was before I met my wife, before COVID, and long before our daughter was born. Was that really seven years ago? Time sure flies.

The Start Line Energy

Walking to the start line, a young man that was clearly still up from a night of partying yelled, “Yooooo you guys look great! I am LIT! Don Julioooo!” Ah yes. Marathon morning in Miami.

The starting line energy was electric, and I could feel nerves creeping in. To calm myself, I started reciting some of my favorite Bible verses—something I would continue throughout the race:

• “With God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26

• “He must become greater; I must become less.” — John 3:30

• “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13

The First Half

By mile 2, as we crossed the first bridge, I noticed Miami Fire and Rescue out on a boat dancing, naturally doing the running man. Well played!

As I continued along another runner commented on my 100-mile shirt and confidently told me I would beat him, asking if this was just a training run for me. I smiled and shrugged it off, informing him of my lack of training over the past few months. He acknowledged that he also had a tough training cycle so we bonded over that and pressed on together for a bit.

We ran past a strip club absolutely BLARING Eye of the Tiger around 7AM. Man, it was AWESOME! (Aside from the strip club part of course—I promise I didn’t look!) But Eye of the Tiger always makes me feel like I can run straight through a brick wall.

Not long after that, I noticed a tall building displaying 75 degrees. The sun was barely up, the air was thick, and I knew then that the heat was going to be a major player in this race. At mile 8 that reality became very clear. I watched a runner step off the course and immediately start throwing up. It was still early, but the conditions were already taking people out.

A few miles later, I saw another runner who had stepped off the course and was sitting in the shade, clearly trying to regroup and cool down. These weren’t isolated incidents—they were early warning signs of what the rest of the day was going to demand.

The course itself evolved into a mighty challenge from there. This race felt like it had 100 bridges, and they all went uphill. The heat kept building, and the sun just wouldn’t let up. Thankfully there was a volunteer handing out popsicles at the half-marathon mark, which was the perfect treat for such a hot day. I quickly finished mine and pressed on.

Mile 16: Music and Memories

Crossing the bridge around mile 16, Elevation Worship’s “Do It Again” came on, and I got very emotional. The lyrics brought comfort as I thought about the three babies we have lost in the past few years, but also God’s incredible faithfulness to me throughout my life:

That moment alone was worth the race.

The Late Miles: Survival Mode

By mile 20, the heat had fully asserted itself. As I ran past one of the medical tents, I saw a runner inside desperately asking for ice. The urgency in his voice was sobering, and it was clear that simply pushing harder was no longer an option for many people out there.

On a lighter note, I observed the funniest sign of the day somewhere over the next few miles, as a scantily clad woman held one up high that read "I like attention too!"

Then, at mile 24, I saw a poor guy seated on the roadside who looked like he was about to pass out. Police were already with him, dousing him with bottles of water, so I chose not to stop, but I still felt really bad. Seeing that so late in the race drove home just how unforgiving the conditions were and how important it was to stay patient and smart. Miami didn’t care about your goals—the heat was deciding who kept moving and who didn’t.

The Final Miles

The volunteers were absolutely phenomenal—hoses, cold sponge baths, Biofreeze zones, encouragement everywhere. There is no way to finish this race without them. It’s just too hot.

I recited Psalm 23 again at mile 23 (same as I did at the NYC Marathon) and thought about how much Abby would have loved the bubbles and glitter cannons in Coconut Grove and elsewhere. I couldn’t wait to get home and see her.

At mile 25, I thanked all the volunteers and told them how awesome they are, to which one replied, “No, YOU’RE AWESOME! You’re an elite athlete! Finish strong!” YES!!!

Letting go of the sub-4 goal made this such an incredible race for me. I was running an easy pace toward the end, smiling, joking with a police officer who waved a car across the course, and genuinely having fun. At that point I was shuffling along at about an 11-minute pace, so when I said, “What, you didn’t think my blazing speed would catch him?” we both laughed.

To get through the final mile, I was singing “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” and got another good laugh thinking about the reception at our Most Worthy Phi Alpha's brand new place the other night where I accidentally broke a few bottles on the floor. My apologies again, James! At least we got a funny story out of it. Thanks again for being such a gracious host.

Finish Line & Reflections

I crossed the finish line in 4:11:56, my slowest marathon to date—and you know what? I am perfectly happy. With the heat, injuries, lack of preparation, and everything leading into this race, I actually feel really good about it. It was also a great feeling to have energy after the race instead of being completely gassed so that I could enjoy the post-race festival.

A few post-race reflections:

• The chocolate-filled crepes after finishing were amaaaaaazing

• My nutrition and hydration strategy worked perfectly: a gel before the race, another at 10K, one at 12 miles, and another with caffeine at 20 miles, supplemented with Gatorade, salt tablets, water at nearly every aid station, and my handheld water bottle

• My old Spotify motivation playlist came through clutch—an eclectic mix of artists like Rage Against the Machine, Nelly, Eminem, Rise Against, Imagine Dragons, Dropkick Murphys, Guns N’ Roses, TobyMac, Micah Tyler, Elevation Worship, and Rend Collective. “My Lighthouse” really fired me up early, and Nelly’s “#1” hit perfectly toward the end.“

• Someday” by The Strokes took me back to fun times in the Zeta Psi basement as an undergrad, and I also thought about a trip to Miami in 2003 with several Alpha Pi Zetes—speeding around the city in an M3 with the top down. That feels like a lifetime ago.

What’s Next

My left foot is now hurting so bad I am limping around my hotel, so I will be resting for a while. After that, it’s time to resume training—slowly this time—in preparation for my next race, the Denver Colfax Marathon in May. I am still aiming to BQ, but I have a LOT of work to do. For now, though, I am grateful. Grateful to finish. Grateful for strength. Grateful for joy. And grateful for a race that reminded me that sometimes the best runs come when you let go and trust the Shepherd.

Lessons Learned

• Letting go of expectations can be incredibly freeing. Releasing the sub-4 goal before the race even started allowed me to actually enjoy the experience. I ran relaxed, smiled, joked with volunteers and police officers, and finished feeling strong instead of shattered.

• Heat changes everything—respect it early. Miami’s heat showed up fast and stayed all day. Adjusting my pace early, hydrating consistently, and using every cooling opportunity made the difference between surviving and suffering.

• Consistency beats stubbornness. Trying to ramp back up too quickly after injury only delayed real progress. This race reinforced the importance of patience, humility, and slow, intentional rebuilding (especially as we get older).

• Faith is an anchor when the body struggles. Reciting Scripture and worship music throughout the race brought calm, perspective, and strength when my legs didn’t have much to offer. Being reminded that my identity isn’t tied to pace or finish time changed everything.

• Volunteers are the real heroes. From hoses and sponges to encouragement and popsicles, there is absolutely no way to finish this race without them. Be sure and say thanks!

• Fuel early, fuel often, and keep it simple. My nutrition and hydration plan worked great. It was nothing fancy: just consistent calories, fluids, and electrolytes, adjusted for the heat.

• Joy is a performance enhancer. Singing ridiculous songs, laughing at signs, reminiscing about old memories, and engaging with the crowd kept my spirits high late in the race. Joy doesn’t just make running more fun, it makes it easier.

• Slow is not weak. This was my slowest marathon, yet one of my most satisfying. Finishing strong, present, and grateful beat chasing a number that my body wasn’t ready to give.

• There’s still more road ahead.This race wasn’t the peak for me, but it was definitely a checkpoint. With smart recovery and patient training, the work continues toward Denver, a BQ attempt, and whatever God has planned next. Stay tuned!