Miami Marathon changes course to accommodate Venetian Causeway construction, expected to sell out for first time in two years

Miami Marathon and Half Marathon officials announced Monday that the event’s course for both races will be changed to utilize both directions of the MacArthur Causeway because of construction taking place on the nearby Venetian Causeway.

Officials also announced that the marathon’s health and fitness expo Jan. 22-23 in 2016 will move from the Miami Beach Convention Center to the Mana Event Hall in the Wynwood neighborhood of downtown Miami.

The Miami Marathon, owned and produced by Life Time, takes off at 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, and will still start at AmericanAirlines Arena on Biscayne Boulevard and finish down the street at Bayfront Park.

The route will still go through the streets of Miami, Miami Beach and Coconut Grove.

“The remainder of the course will remain relatively the same,’’ said race director Javier Sanchez. “It might just alter a slight block or two to ensure that the course distance is accurate to compensate for the earlier-half changes on the MacArthur.

“Our goal is to keep it as close to the original course as possible.’’

Race registration is trending “significantly higher’’ than in 2015, Sanchez confirmed, in large part to the registration growth in Latin America.

“We’re very excited to see that the race will sell out at 25,000 in January,’’ Sanchez said.

The last time the event sold out was two years ago.

To register, go to themiamimarathon.com.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Miami Marathon changes course to accommodate Venetian Causeway construction, expected to sell out for first time in two years."