This week I had my second business trip of the year, this time to our Miami office. While the views out the window are gorgeous, much of downtown Miami is not. It feels like a decaying concrete jungle, and walking from my hotel to the office I encounter more homeless people than others on their way to work–probably because most locals don’t live in that part of the city and just drive in.
That lovely park attracts a lot of homeless people ….
I don’t want to be unfair to Miami, I’m just explaining why I don’t get excited about running when I’ve got a business trip to downtown Miami.
Running In Downtown Miami
Because I haven’t found a good place to run in downtown Miami, I planned to hit the hotel gym. On previous trips I’ve had the small but functional room to myself, but this week it was busy.
This official hotel photo (source) makes it looks so nice!
Tuesday morning I hopped on an open treadmill and started walking, but it was so warm I felt like I was enduring a never-ending hot flash. I knew I would never get through a treadmill workout under those conditions, so I decided to go for a short run outside. It was only then that I realized it was raining, but it felt so good in contrast to the stuffy gym there was no turning back.
I was still wary of my surroundings, so I ran along the main road (Biscayne Boulevard) and stayed close to the street lights. The rain cycled from drizzle to tropical downpour and once in a while the wind was ridiculous, but I enjoyed being outside, running pain free, and not being cold!
On the way back to my room I grabbed a free newspaper
from the front desk to dry out my shoes.
I’m heading back to Miami today, and might try running in downtown Miami again–hopefully in drier weather.
Weekly Run Down
My business trip interrupted my usual workout schedule, but I managed to keep up with my routine pretty well.
Monday: Strength Workout
I had an 8:00 am flight, but squeezed in a short strength workout before heading to the airport.
Tuesday: 4 mile run in downtown Miami
Wednesday: Strength workout
I braved the warm hotel gym and figured out how to turn on the air conditioner. It’s a floor unit in the corner in the weights area, so I planted myself there and did a full strength workout.
Thursday: Rest Day
Wednesday I had a late flight home that got in just after midnight so Thursday I took a true rest day and chose sleep over a workout. It wasn’t an easy choice after a long day sitting in meetings and several hours sitting on a plane, with a day of sitting at a conference ahead of me, but it was the right one.
Friday: Orange Theory Fitness
After a day off, I was really looking forward to OTF and it did not disappoint. I even got splat points during the rowing block!
For the treadmill workout we did three 4-minute blocks with a 1 minute walking recovery in between:
0.2 miles at Push Pace / 30 seconds walking recovery
0.15 miles at Push Pace / 30 seconds walking recovery
remaining time at Base Pace
Saturday: 8.3 Scooby Miles + 20 biking miles
Since I had a mid-day flight on Sunday, I wanted to do my long run and go for a bike ride on Saturday. Luckily I was able to squeeze both in.
The calendar said spring, but at 7 am the Weather Channel App said it was 36F with 24 mph winds, so I bundled up for this long run with Scooby.
After I had stretched, enjoyed my coffee, eaten breakfast, and packed for my trip, it was warm enough for a bike ride (mid 40s). We thought the Capital Crescent Trail would be sheltered, but it was more like a wind tunnel.
Thursday’s heavy rain made the river brown and the current fast.
This route has a gentle, steady climb for about 6 miles
that’s really nice on the way home!
Sunday: 60 minute Cyclebar class
Most Cyclebar classes I do are 45 minutes, so this class was tough–especially after my run + ride Saturday, but Francina’s energy and motivation always get more out of my legs than I think they have to give.
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up for recapping our workouts and staying accountable and motivated. 
Would you rather run in a stuffy hotel gym or tropical rain storm?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I’d be wary as well in a place how you’ve described downtown. I ran once near a Paris hotel I was staying at- it was quite close to gare du nord which isn’t the best neighborhood ever. I did a very quick 5k and stuck to main streets. Nothing happened but o think my heart rate was higher than normal ! Very clever planting yourself in front of the a/c ! Glad you had a good OT, cyclebar and biking session too!
I’d probably pick the rainstorm to run in…
My blog is being moved – bummed I’m missing the linkup this week!
I hope the blog transition goes smoothly!
way to stay active with all of your travel. I always have grand plans of running while traveling and it never seems to go as well as I imagine. The humidity kills me down there! thanks for linking up
Yeah, when I was here in August it was too gross to run outside. It’s actually nice early morning and late evening now.
Busy week, especially with all your traveling! I”m not a gum gal, so I’d be opting outside over a stuffy gym 😉 Thanks for linking with us!!
Sometimes the gym is the best option but it’s not usually my first choice.
Way to keep the workouts going despite your work trip. When I was last in Miami we stayed on Biscayne Bay and I ran across the bridge leading to lincoln Road and South Beach. It was nice. I know what you mean about those seedy parts of Miami though.
I’m going to have to figure out if I can do that. I’m at the south end of downtown and I can’t tell which bridges have sidewalks!
I’m trying to remember where we were a few years back when we were in Miami. Near South Beach, I think, so more touristy. It was also the time I almost got struck by ligtning n the run . . . well, one of the times . . . so rather memorable.
The wind sat was insane! I was glad that we really didn’t have to do too much.
There are a lot of homeless, for obvious reasons, in the south. And there are also those that pose as homeless.
I think I’m really in a business district that has no normal pedestrian traffic. Yikes on the lightning – glad it was an “almost”! Pretty sure the man passed out in the bushes behind my hotel isn’t faking it. 🙁
Well, Miami is a big partying town, but yeah, that would definitely be off putting.
The lightning was definitely really scary. It was my anniversary, too! Unfortunately not the only time it’s happened. It’s hard when you’re out there & away from shelter (although I could’ve & should’ve found some that day).
Hands down in a tropical rain storm! I can’t stand stuffy gyms so combining that with a treadmill just makes me want to poke my eyes out. Great week of workouts!
LOL, it’s not a good combination!
You know I’d take the outside tropical rain anytime. Did you see other people running? It’s a shame that Miami’s downtown is kind of decrepit.
No, I didn’t see anyone else out there voluntarily — just construction workers and homeless! Today I discovered a slightly nicer business/hotel area a few blocks in the other direction. I hope to check it out this week.
Tropical rain!
Yay pain free runs, and good workouts when home. Travel safe!
Thanks! It’s the little things, right?
Oh wow I didn’t know that about Miami – that’s so sad about the large homeless population. I noticed something similar in Philly when I was there last Fall.
I’m glad that you’ve had pain free runs this week!
I think people think of Miami Beach, which is completely different! It goes to show what happens when the only thing in the area is 9-5 businesses. The only shopping is CVS and Whole Foods and many of the restaurants focus on breakfast and lunch.
Good job getting your workouts done despite the travel. I know what you mean about downtown Miami – we passed through it on our way to the cruise ship – I’d be a little wary too. I’d definitely take the tropical rain storm to stuffy gym any day!
Yes, that’s about where we are — and I ran over the bridge to the port area and then the sidewalk on my side of the highway ended!
Definitely would run in a storm than in a stuffy hotel gym.
Good for you getting out there. it’s tough when you travel.
I’ll be away 3 days this week and hope to find a place to run.
I am also looking forward to running in short sleeves!!!
Gosh, you seem to do a great job running on your business trips too!
I try.
Sounds like that was the right decision to try a run outside after the gym was so stuffy! Glad it worked out well and the rain felt good 🙂
It’s crazy how good that crazy rain felt!
I would always try running outside over a hotel gym. I find it’s a great way to explore a new place. Would love to go to Miami! Great to see that you used the gym for strength training though.
Hah! Yes, you should appreciate that!
Running in a warm rain sounds so good right about now. I am so tired of the winter weather we keep having here in NH. Love that you got in a long run and a bike ride. Way to go!
Like the wicked witch, I melt in rain, so I probably would have stuck with the gym LOL.
Miami is an…. interesting city. The downtown area, especially by the Port is just … eh. Brickell makes a gorgeous run, as would South Beach and the Coral Gables areas. But those are so far away from where you are, even though they are, technically, Miami. I didn’t run much when I lived there, but I think I wouldn’t be as excited about booking races down there just because the scenery doesn’t wow me.
Oh, it looks like I am just a few blocks from the bridge to Brickell, so I was going to check it out. Let me know if you have a suggested route.
I wouldn’t mind either but realistically I would have ran a the gym. I get nervous running in places I don’t know.
I do too, and I do think you should go with your gut. If you don’t feel good about it, don’t do it.
I thought Miami would be full of runners! I guess I just compare it to running along the lakefront here in Chicago.
Once I was in Tampa and went out with a friend for a walk and it suddenly it started to rain a lot. It was still fun!
Miami is an interesting city! I am def more of the beach girl when I am there!
I wouldn’t be as brave to run downtown, but way to get it done!
Workouts while traveling can always be a challenge, but you crushed it!