Sunday, March 27, 2016 • North Miami Beach, FL • Course Map
One of a series of trail races that takes runners through the winding, twisting turns of North Miami Beach’s Oleta River State Park from January through December each year, the March running of the Down 2 Earth Oleta Trail Races marks the series’ second half marathon out of a total of 12 events through this park throughout the year.
The setting for the race of course is Oleta River State Park, which is something of an island of nature in the midst of urban surroundings.
Set between the waters of Biscayne Bay to its east and the densely populated city blocks of the North Miami and North Miami Beach areas to the west, this 1,033-acre park offers 15 miles of mountain biking trails in addition to beaches and a mangrove forest preserve near the northern end of the park, which overlooks the banks of the Oleta River flowing by.
The race course will take runners over the mountain biking trails inside the park for all three races, and runners will encounter a variety of terrain along these trails — the easier trails, designed for beginning bikers, are flatter and featured some paved surfaces, while the 10 miles or so of intermediate to advanced trails are definitely more challenging.
Runners should expect plenty of twists and turns along these hard-packed dirt sections of the trails, organizers note, as well as rocks, sticks, roots, potentially muddy spots and some sharp banked turns along the route.
The starting time for the race is 7:30 AM, and due to both the time of year the race is held (late March) and its location (out on the trails), runners are encouraged to dress for a variety of weather conditions and to bring their own water bottles with them out on the course.
These races usually bring out between 150 to 200 runners and sometimes more, with a few dozen runners taking part in the 13.1-mile race.
Race Weather & Climate
Located along the South Florida coast just over 12 miles north of Miami, the North Miami Beach area typically sees mild weather in March, a month that has seen record temperatures here as low as 32 degrees (in 1980) and as high as 92 degrees (in 1977).
On race day (March 27), the average low is 64ºF and the average high is 80ºF.
Past Results
- 2015 Down2Earth Oleta Trail March Half Marathon Results
- 2014 Down2Earth Oleta Trail March Half Marathon Results
- 2013 Down2Earth Oleta Trail March Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Down 2 Earth Oleta Trail Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
7:30 AM
Fees
See race website
Registration
To reserve your spot in the March 2016 running of North Miami Beach’s Down 2 Earth Oleta Trail Half Marathon, 10K or 5K race, register online at the event website here.
Official Race Website
Facebook Conversations
Ever run in the Down 2 Earth races? Share your impressions here, or post your review in the Comments below.
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