Coming off the 2017 Miami Marathon, race director Frankie Ruiz, told many of us to get ready for 2018 because there were many new things coming. Frankie and his team delivered everything and so much more. The pre-race communication was excellent. Emails got runners hyped, and our local news affiliates began running stories weeks before the race. Fitbit signed on as the main sponsor which excited all of us and the addition of Athlinks as a partner was perfect.

The expo - held at Mana Wynwood - was awesome. Everything in one place, packet pick-up was seamless, and it set the tone for the weekend. This was the first chance for Frankie to deliver on his promise and he nailed it. Live fitness classes from local trainers drew crowds. Plenty of running swag. The vibe was set.

The race itself was awesome. The course changed a little from years' past but it was a welcome change. The first half of the course around Miami Beach had great crowd support, amazing volunteers working hard to keep us hydrated, and was fun. The second half was a test of will power. It was a humid and windy day. Many runners struggled the second half but in true Miami fashion we helped each other out. This is one of the cool things about Miami. An international race we all may not speak the same language, but we all speak running. A hand on the shoulder, a pat on the back, runners were picking each other up and motivating each other to the finish line. The local crowd knew the weather was tough. There were kids running to and from their garages to hand us cold bottles of water. Dos o tres Abuelitas with hoses spraying us down to refresh us. Once at Mile 25 groups of runners started cheering each other as we pushed to the finish line. As we got to the finishing chute, the plethora of international flags and cacophony pushed us to the end.

This finisher's medal is always a favorite because it spins, but the star this year was the medal's ribbon that defines Miami perfectly.

Frankie Ruiz and his team put on an awesome experience this year. And with the new partnerships formed, its going to continue to get better.