With a police escort and plenty of hydration, runners completed the 46th annual Lighthouse Run as another demonstration of foot power and tolerance for heat on a steamy Veteran’s Day.
One in five participants in the races were under the age of 18, a trend of strong youth participation that’s held steady in recent years, said race chair Marco Gomez.
The temperature stood at 81 F when the starter’s cannon sounded, sending about 200 competitors onto Village streets — a few minutes later, the remainder would join them.
| Race Results |
|---|
| 5K – Top finishers and age groups |
| 10K – Top finishers and age groups |
| Key Biscayne resident results |
| Searchable Results |
Justin Haber, 24, had the fastest performance in the 10K race, finishing with a time of 39:04. He was not available for an interview.
Maggie Berry, 24, from Brickell, was the speediest female 10K runner, crossing the line three minutes later, with a time of 43:39. “It was very hot. It was beautiful. And that’s what I was telling myself,” she said.
Berry, a teacher at Ransom Everglades, coaches the girl’s cross country team. “I love seeing all the young girls and boys out here running, she said.”
Gomez said the event has shifted over the years with more participation from families. Just over half of the runners were from Key Biscayne, Gomez said.
“You see lots of little kids on the starting line. It’s great,” he said “It’s positive motivation to go out and exercise and be even better next year.” A leader in that regard was St. Agnes Academy, which won an award for the greatest group participation with more than 100 runners.
The post-race scene featured healthy and not-so healthy snacks, ranging from orange slices to beer (which perhaps not surprisingly had run out by 9 a.m.).
The run starts and finishes near the base of the historical Cape Florida Lighthouse in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Fire-Rescue officials reported no incidents. Gomez said a miscommunication led police officials to close the entrance to Bill Baggs too early, requiring some to enter the park on foot.
Invest in Local News for Your Town. Your Gift is tax-deductible
Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.