Cafecito 5K Race Experience
It almost feels like we have entered 5K season here in Miami. I finished the month of October with 3 shorter distance races and am beginning the month of November with the inaugural Cafecito 5K. I didn’t sign up for this race until three days before the race because I didn’t want to wake up early on a Sunday for a race. I will, however, admit that I signed up purely because my running friends were going to be there. I truly am a sucker for sharing miles and smiles with friends. For the full Cafecito experience, keep on reading. Special thank you to Cafecito 305 for making me feel so special on race day.
Note: there are links below that I am sharing in support of the businesses I personally interacted with; I do not receive any commission or perks from those businesses.
Accommodations
This race took place in Haulover Beach and was a 40-minute drive for me, making the Cafecito 5K a local race. I love me some local races!
Expo
Bib pickup occurred on the morning of the race and featured a few local sponsors and vendors.
Pre-Race
The race coordinators were great at communicating directions to the race location before the race via email; I still got a little lost as there were no signs directing traffic. Yes, there was a security guard near the start area, but he didn’t direct me until I looped back to ask him for directions. There was also an issue with the bathrooms and the Marina didn’t open the bathrooms until after they were supposed to open them. I still had time to use the bathroom, but I will admit there was a moment of panic when I realized how much of a ritual using the bathroom before a race has become for me.
Aside from that, I had plenty of time to catch up with friends, walk to the beach, and take lots of pictures.
Post-Race
For a 5K race the post-race celebration was plentiful. The Cafecito theme was on full display with espresso from La Llave and a coffee-inspired amber beery by Tank Brewing. The DJ playing music made sure we all knew that finish lines were for celebrating.
On the Course
The race started soon after 7am and the looped course took you alongside a segment of Haulover Beach. There was one water station on the course that was located at the 1-mile and 2-mile marks. I personally love races where I can see the leaders running past on the opposite side of the course and this race delivered on that.
Race Experience
Sundays are supposed to be my rest day, but like I said in the intro of this post, I signed up mostly so I could see my runner friends. My goal was to take it incredibly easy as I knew I was between strong runs (long run Saturday/speed work Monday). Mission accomplished and I kept the pace truly enjoyable. The weather was wonderful, and the course was pretty with its beach vibes. I also really appreciated how detailed they were when it came to the Cafecito theme: coffee was well represented! My watch logged 3.05 miles, making this another “Is the course off or is it my watch?” race.
Overall Impression
I had such a fun time at this race because it felt like such a true homegrown Miami race. There are so many 5K races, but I felt like this race captured an essence of Miami that is sometimes missed in other local races. Even though it was on a Sunday, I enjoyed spending time with my friends, running a new path, and spending time by the water. The race was also very affordable ($25 + fees) and approachable (the cheering as the last person crossed the finish line was the best!). The Cafecito theme was felt in every aspect of the race.
Pros
Local race in terms of destination and representation.
Race day pickup was quick and easy.
7:00am start time with a rolling start for the participants.
Small race field; great race for a PR.
Well-supported course.
Once open, there were plenty of bathrooms.
Great weather made this a great experience.
Free parking near the race area (there is a fee to park after 9am).
Fun coffee-inspired medal.
Beer and coffee in the finisher’s area.
Cons
No signage for parking (there was a security guard though).
Bathrooms were closed prior to 6:30am.
No coverage on the course, so weather can play a big role in one’s experience of this race.
No spectators aside from fellow runners on the course.
If you have a watch like mine, race was short.
For those of you who like the numbers, my official time for the Cafecito 5K was 34:19. Next races are the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and a relay for the Palm Beaches Marathon.
BIG NEWS! I’m running the London Marathon in April 2023 on behalf of Rays of Sunshine UK and you can support me by making a donation to my fundraiser here.
