4 fantastic places to train long distances in Coral Gables and Downtown Miami.   

If you are training for a half marathon or a full marathon, or even if you just enjoy doing long distance (more than 6 miles) training, you have to know about these places:

1) Granada Golf Course 

This is our most loved route. It is very close to No Boundaries Sports and it's therefore the favorite route of our running club Gables Runners. We start to run in front of the store and go around the golf course. It's very versatile because we can run as many miles as we want to. So we run 3,4,5 or 6 miles and we continue watching each other. Your pace never matters and you are never going to be alone.

Another great thing about this route is that since it's a golf course, the landscape is very green and a little bit fresher than other routes. We also love this place because you can find water in at least 3 points along the course which you will recognize when you see a little olive house on the golf course. 

2) Rickenbacker Causeway Alice Wainwright Park to the Miami Seaquarium, 440 Rickenbacker Causeway.

This route is one of the most popular for runners in Miami. You can park in the Alice Wainwright park and start to run around the path. You will see the sea, sand, palms and you will also be running part of the route from one of the biggest running events in Florida, Miami Marathon. So if you are thinking of training for it, do not miss this route.

You can find a few water fountains next to the restrooms but it probably won't be as cold as Miami runners like it. As many people know, in summer the weather is hot and humid but that's one option in case you do not carry any hydration accessory with you. Be prepared to run over hills and as always don't forget to wear sunscreen protection. 

3) Around Country Club Prado 

You can start at 57 Av and 8th street. Going along this route is a great chance to separate yourself a little bit from the big buildings and honking horns for a while. You can connect with the beautiful outdoors and maybe concentrate more because there is less traffic in this area.

4) From Cocoplum Circle at Southwest 42nd Avenue to Alice Alice Wainwright Park

This route is about 5.2 miles. It seems "flat" but isn't, and that makes the route kind of fun. We love this route because when you are running it, you have the opportunity to enjoy the iconic gables tree canopies while getting some very appreciated shadow. 

On weekends you will see many runners doing the same thing as you so you'll never be alone in this fun challenge. In case you are going to do your long run early, when there is no sunlight, remember to take a light to see and be seen by cars and bicycles. 

Choose any of them, but don't forget to "run safe," prepare your hydration, gels, sunscreen protection, lights and your best attitude and go for it.