Miami Corporate Run 2022: How to get there, where to park, how to avoid traffic
“Miami’s largest office party” is guaranteed to make you sweat and groan.
And that’s just the thousands of people stuck in their cars after work in downtown Miami Thursday who didn’t get the memo that the 2022 Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run returns to downtown Miami at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 28.
The Corporate Run, now in its 37th year, first put thousands of people on the streets of Miami in 1985, as employees and their bosses bonded through some good ol’ competition, followed by socializing.
The Miami edition usually happens in April, but the 2020 and 2021 spring runs were postponed due to COVID-19.
Given the length — just 3.1 miles — and the fact you can walk the course or run it or some combination of the two, the Corporate Run is great for beginners and for experienced runners.
This Thursday’s Corporate Run, due to pent-up demand (there was a smaller version in September 2021), may see more than 10,000 participants from some 500 companies converge at Bayfront Park.
If you’re participating you’ve already registered and likely know what to expect as far as the race goes. Here’s what to expect as far as road closures and parking and getting there details.
When does the Corporate Run start?
The run starts at 6:45 p.m., at Bayfront Park at 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., Miami. But you ought to arrive by 5 p.m. as programming begins before the main event. You can meet your team in its tent location, pick up your T-shirt, and warm up between 5:45 and 6 p.m. to get your adrenaline flowing and muscles ready for some street pounding.
Transportation, getting there
Public transportation to Bayfront Park is advised. There is a lot going on in that area Thursday evening — not the least of which is a full-house for Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour concert, his supposed “farewell to Miami” date as a touring artist — at downtown’s FTX Arena at 8 p.m.
One new option this year is you can pay directly at Metrorail fare gates using contactless-enabled bank cards or digital wallets or wearable devices like watches or phone that have Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay and Samsung Pay instead of using an EASY Card or EASY Ticket. But you can also use those transit cards.
Details are on the Miami-Dade transportation home page at www8.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/home.page.
The cost for a round trip (two trips) is still $4.50 on Metrorail. You can then get on a free Metromover to get closer to the action.
Exit Metromover at the First Street Station, not the Bayfront Station. That’s because the First Street Station is closer to Corporate Run sections A, B, D, E-Class, F, H, S-Class, Q, and R. It also makes accessing the starting line easier, especially for anyone arriving late, officials suggest. Exit the station onto First Street, make a left and walk east a block and a half to Bayfront Park.
Parking at a station
Parking at the Metrorail stations is $4.50 per day. Pay at the station’s EASY Card/Ticket vending machine or through the PayByPhone app.
Miami parking garages
Here are some of the garages you can consider if you’re driving to the destination.
▪ Garage #1 – Courthouse, 40 NW Third St. The nearest Metromover station is Government Center.
▪ Garage #2 – Cultural Center, 90 SW First St. Nearest Metromover station is Miami Ave. Station.
▪ Garage #3 – College Station Garage, 190 NE Third St. Nearest Metromover station is College/Bayside or walk three blocks east and one block south to Bayfront Park.
▪ Garage #4 – Convention Center Garage, 100 SE Second Ave. Nearest Metromover station is Knight Center Station or walk four blocks east and one block north to Bayfront Park.
▪ Bayside Marketplace Garage, 401 Biscayne Blvd. This garage is adjacent to Bayfront Park. Access the garage via the Port Boulevard entrance. and walk one block south to Bayfront Park. Participants can park here by showing their bib numbers for a discounted rate of $15.
Road closures
READ MORE: In downtown Miami during Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run? Expect detours and delays
These road closures are for Thursday only.
▪ Biscayne Blvd. northbound lanes from Chopin Plaza to Northeast Fifth St. will be closed from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday.
▪ Southbound lanes of Biscayne Boulevard will offer two-way traffic and special attention will be given to entry and exit of Chopin Plaza.
▪ Biscayne Boulevard from Chopin Plaza south to Southeast Third Street will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
▪ Southeast Third Street from Biscayne Boulevard to Southeast Third Avenue will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.
▪ Southeast Third Avenue from Biscayne Boulevard to Southeast Second Street will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
▪ Southeast Second Street from Southeast Third Avenue to North River Drive will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
▪ North River Drive from Southwest Second Street to Northwest Fifth Street will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 7:50 p.m.
▪ Northwest Fifth Street from North River Drive to Northwest Third Court will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.
▪ Northwest Fifth Avenue from Northwest Fifth to Fourth streets will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.
▪ Northwest Fourth Street from Northwest Fifth to Fourth avenues will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:10 p.m.
▪ Northwest Fourth Avenue from Fourth to Fifth streets will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
▪ Northwest Third Court from Fifth to Third streets will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
▪ Northwest Third Street from Northwest Third Court to North Miami Avenue will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
▪ North Miami Avenue from Northwest Third to Second streets will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
▪ Northeast Second Street from North Miami Avenue to Northeast Second Avenue will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.
▪ Northeast Second Avenue from Second to Fourth streets will be closed from 6:45 p.m to 8:50 p.m.
▪ Northeast Fourth Street from Northeast Second Avenue to Biscayne Boulevard northbound lanes will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.
One last thing: If you are north of Northwest/Northeast Fourth Street, west of the Miami River or south of Biscayne Boulevard, these closures will not affect you.
Weather forecast
A frontal boundary could bring showers and thunderstorms to Miami just in time for the Corporate Run. The National Weather Service in Miami is forecasting a 60% rain chance Thursday and 40% into the night hours. Thursday evening looks like the wettest period, said meteorologist George Rizzuto. The wetness could linger into the weekend.
The run’s route
Now that you’re there, this is the route you will take as a participant:
The race route starts by Bayfront Park’s southern section, then heads west on Southeast Second Street and under Interstate 95 before heading north on North River Drive.
At the intersection with Northwest Fifth Street, participants will turn east before quickly heading north on Northwest Sixth Street.
At the crossing with Northwest Third Court, everyone turns south, then east on Northeast Third Street, finally south on Biscayne Boulevard. The blessed finish line is by the northern side of the park.
If you’re participating, have fun!
Miami Herald staff writer Omar Rodríguez Ortiz contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
