The Miami Marathon has always emphasized inclusion as part of its mission. It’s one of the most multicultural races in the world — with runners flocking from all over Latin America, in particular, to run in Miami — and competitors with disabilities dotting the field.
It was a logical step, then, to add a new category to the marathon and half marathon this year for nonbinary runners, who don’t identify as male or female.
“It’s a Life Time initiative within our company to tackle inclusion,” said Frankie Ruiz, the chief running officer for Life Time Fitness and co-founder of the Miami Marathon. “Running is one of the most inclusive activities, so why not bring the idea to our events?
“The nature of our sport itself lends a good ear to those things that unite, not divide.”
Life Time actually debuted the initiative at the Miami Marathon last year when the event was strictly virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was the first time runners raced in the nonbinary categories in person in Miami. Three nonbinary runners entered into the marathon and Kenneth Leonard, a 28-year-old from Seminole, won the division.
“We are committed to inspiring healthy, happy lives for everyone in our communities. We embrace our responsibility to create healthy environments and workspaces that honor and champion all by upholding an unwavering commitment to inclusion, equity, and diversity,” Life Time said in a statement. “Our goal is to have this option included in Life Time’s entire portfolio of events in 2022 and beyond.”
Martin Langesfeld and his father, Pablo, completed their heart-wrenching mission Sunday, completing the Miami Marathon (Martin) and Half Marathon (Pablo) in honor of their sister and daughter Nicole, who died with her husband Luis in the Surfside collapse.
Martin, who did not start training for the full, 26.2-mile race until two weeks ago, finished in 5:23:36.
Pablo finished the half in 2:52:15.
Each got their own medal, and Life Time provided a third medal to the Doral-based family to put in Nicole’s room, which is exactly the way it was before she died at age 26.
“It was so emotional to go through it,’’ said Martin, 24. “As every mile got harder, I would rethink the reason I started it all. As each mile went by, I thought about what my sister was like at that age.’’
Martin said he didn’t at the finish, “but my mother broke down.’’
“She’s so proud that we’re doing so many things to keep my sister’s name alive.’’
LIGNON WINS WHEELCHAIR MARATHON
Marcel Lignon wasn’t much of a runner before a car accident 40 years ago paralyzed him from the waist down, but there was something about the handcycles he noticed one year during the New York City Marathon that caught his eye.
This was back in 2005 and he has been competing ever since. On Sunday, the 68-year-old from St. Barthelemy won the race chairs marathon at the Miami Marathon, finished the 26.2-mile course in 1:38:17.
Lignon, who now lives in Longboat Key, edged out second place-finisher Jessica Minton, a 39-year-old from Georgia, by 32:31.
In the race chairs half marathon, Juan Ignacio Maggi, a 59-year-old from Hollywood, won with a time of 1:05:45, making him the first person to cross either finish line Sunday in Miami.
DIPLO PLAYS E11EVEN, THEN RUNS
Diplo, the Grammy Award-winning DJ and record producer, is no stranger to endurance-straining endeavors, so the 13.1-mile course of the Miami Half Marathon was nothing too challenging for the 43-year-old UCF alumnus.
He’s not just talking about the Spartan Races and Tough Muders he has done, either.
“I DJed E11even the other night, so that was my training,” said Diplo, who spent part of his childhood in South Florida and attended South Plantation High School.
Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Pentz, ran the half marathon in 1:50:11, which, he noted, was quicker than the two-hour set he played Friday at the Miami nightclub, “so E11even’s probably harder,” he said.
He wants to ramp up quickly, too. This was his first half marathon and now he has his sights set on a full, 26.2-mile run in March at the Los Angeles Marathon.
“I want to try to do a full one next month,” Diplo said.
First on the docket, though, was one more trip to the club. After the race was done, Diplo headed to Space in Miami.
RUNNING WITH CP TO INSPIRE
Alex Roca, a 30-year-old Spaniard with cerebral palsy, began running “one kilometer at a time,” he said through a sign language interpreter. On Sunday, he ran his third half marathon, and his first outside of Spain, at the Miami Marathon.
Roca, who said he has “76-percent disability” and is nonverbal, finished the 13.1-mile run in 2:30:58.
“This is my first time competing out of Spain and I’m really happy to be here,” Roca said. “The event has welcomed me with open arms.”
Roca, who is from Barcelona, began running four years ago and gradually built his way up to the half-marathon distance. He crossed the finish line with a group of supporters, then posed a poster featuring a drawing of himself and the message, “EL LIMITE TE LO PONES TU,” which translates to, “YOU SET THE LIMIT.”
HE’S 91 AND RAN 13.1 MILES
He’s 91 years young and just finished another Miami Half Marathon.
Lewis Ress, a retired prominent South Florida trial attorney who plays golf and tennis weekly and splits his time between Aventura and Vero Beach, completed the Miami half Sunday in 4:53:39.
“It was wonderful,’’ Ress said at the finish. “It was very well done, extremely well organized, nobody misbehaved and everybody was kind to one another. The weather was great the the route was terrific.
Ress’s favorite part of the course? “Ocean Drive,’’ he said. “Brings back memories. My dad was there in 1935.’’
After the race, Ress said when he entered a restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel, “the whole restaurant stood up and applauded for me. And then they made a fuss over my wife and took pictures. It was a wild time.’’
