{"id":705,"date":"2025-09-29T14:48:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/?p=705"},"modified":"2025-09-29T14:54:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:54:09","slug":"special-compass-at-the-2026-miami-marathon-unleashing-human-potential-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/special-compass-at-the-2026-miami-marathon-unleashing-human-potential-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Compass at the 2026 Miami Marathon: Unleashing Human Potential Together"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On <strong>Sunday, January 25, 2026<\/strong>, Special Compass will proudly celebrate its <strong>10th year<\/strong> participating in the iconic <strong>Life Time 2026 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themiamimarathon.com\/groups-charities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Miami Marathon &amp; Half<\/strong><\/a><strong> Presented by FP Movement<\/strong>. This incredible event brings together 18,500 runners from around the world to race through the vibrant streets of Miami, offering picturesque views of palm-lined avenues, turquoise waters, and famous landmarks like South Beach\u2019s Art Deco buildings and the Port of Miami.<\/p>\n<p>But for us at Special Compass, this marathon is about more than just the race\u2014it\u2019s about <strong>inclusion, empowerment, and community<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C5SARnRs4_c?si=sQmEzJi6GkncpPzn\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>A Decade of Inclusion at the Miami Marathon<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This year marks a significant milestone as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.themiamimarathon.com\/groups-charities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Special Compass<\/a> celebrates <strong>a decade of inclusion and teamwork at the Miami Marathon<\/strong>. For 10 years, we\u2019ve paired <strong>differently-abled athletes<\/strong> with volunteer pushers to compete as duo teams, demonstrating that <strong>the race is more impactful when we cross the finish line together<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This year, <strong>15 duo teams<\/strong> will take on the challenge, showcasing resilience, teamwork, and determination. Among the highlights is <strong>Michael Sayih<\/strong>, racing alongside his best friend <strong>Max Fink<\/strong>, who has completed the prestigious 6-star marathon majors. Their partnership exemplifies the theme of this year\u2019s race: <strong>\u201cUnleashing Human Potential Together.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re also celebrating the inspiring journey of <strong>James Walker<\/strong>, one of our Power Buddies, who recently achieved a personal milestone by landing a job with the Florida Panthers. Stories like these remind us that inclusion goes far beyond the racecourse\u2014it\u2019s about building opportunities for independence and success in every aspect of life.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Our Goal: Racing for a Greater Purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>While our duo teams inspire others on the course, our mission goes beyond the finish line. This year, we aim to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Build friendships<\/strong> that bridge differences.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Promote inclusion<\/strong> by showing what\u2019s possible when we work together.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inspire others<\/strong> to embrace teamwork, purpose, and fulfillment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Raise $25,000<\/strong> to support our <strong>housing project<\/strong>, which creates opportunities for independence and inclusion in sports, education, employment, and housing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By participating in the Miami Marathon, we\u2019re not just running\u2014we\u2019re raising awareness and creating a ripple effect of empowerment and inclusion in the community.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How to Get Involved<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There are many ways to join us in making this event unforgettable:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Cheer Us On<\/strong>: Line the course and show your support as our duo teams race by!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Volunteer<\/strong>: Help with logistics, encourage our athletes, or assist at the finish line.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Push Athletes<\/strong>: Sign up as a Power Buddy to support athletes with disabilities. Registration is available on the <strong>Special Compass homepage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Donate<\/strong>: Help us reach our $25,000 fundraising goal to support our housing project. Donations can be made on our website or through individual fundraising pages on <strong>TriFundit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spread the Word<\/strong>: Share our mission on social media and inspire others to get involved!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><strong>Event Details for Participants and Supporters<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Start Line<\/strong>: Located in front of the Miami Heat Arena.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Meeting Point<\/strong>: Special Compass tent at the Bayfront Fountain.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Arrival Time<\/strong>: Volunteers and supporters should arrive by <strong>5:00 AM<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special Compass Shirts<\/strong>: Wear your Special Compass gear! Shirts will be included in goody bags distributed on race morning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The History of the Miami Marathon<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themiamimarathon.com\/race-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miami Marathon<\/a>, now one of the most iconic races in the United States, began in 2002 with a vision to create a world-class running event that would showcase the vibrant culture and stunning scenery of Miami. What started as a small idea quickly grew into a global phenomenon, attracting runners from all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>The race was co-founded by Frankie Ruiz, a Florida International University graduate, who was inspired by the story of Rudy Garcia-Tolson, a Paralympic gold medalist and advocate for athletes with disabilities . From its inception, the Miami Marathon has been about more than just running\u2014it\u2019s been about celebrating resilience, diversity, and the human spirit.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, the marathon has become renowned for its breathtaking course, which winds through Miami\u2019s most iconic landmarks, including the Art Deco buildings of South Beach, the Port of Miami, and the vibrant streets of downtown. The race\u2019s tropical views, flat terrain, and festive atmosphere make it a favorite for runners of all abilities, from first-timers to elite athletes .<\/p>\n<p>Today, the Miami Marathon is a Boston-qualifying event and a celebration of Miami\u2019s multicultural community, with participants from over 80 countries coming together to experience the city\u2019s energy and beauty. For Special Compass, the marathon is a perfect platform to showcase inclusion and teamwork, aligning with the race\u2019s spirit of perseverance and unity.<\/p>\n<p>As we celebrate our 10th year participating in this incredible event, we\u2019re proud to be part of its rich history and to continue inspiring others to push beyond the finish line.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Capturing the Day: Stories and Media<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>We\u2019re thrilled to share updates and inspiration throughout race day! A photographer and videographer will be on-site to capture the smiles, triumphs, and teamwork of our athletes and volunteers. We\u2019ll also be <strong>livestreaming key moments<\/strong> and sharing stories of inclusion and resilience on our social media channels.<\/p>\n<p>One of the stories we\u2019re proud to highlight is the journey of <strong>James Walker<\/strong>, whose success off the course reflects the power of inclusion. With his new job at the Florida Panthers, James is an inspiration to everyone in our Special Compass community.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Transportation and Accessibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>All participants will meet at the <strong>Bayfront Fountain<\/strong> at Bayfront Park, where our tent, trailer, and race chairs will serve as our staging area. A <strong>Zoom meeting<\/strong> will be held one week before the marathon to review logistics, accessibility notes, and introduce paired duos.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Join Us in Unleashing Human Potential<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The 2026 Miami Marathon is more than just a race\u2014it\u2019s a celebration of inclusion, resilience, and the connections that bring us together. At Special Compass, we\u2019re proud to continue demonstrating the power of teamwork and proving that when we work together, there are no limits to what we can achieve.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s make this year\u2019s Miami Marathon our most impactful yet. Together, we\u2019ll cross the finish line and go <strong>beyond it<\/strong>, creating opportunities and inspiring others along the way.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Contact Us<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>For more information or to get involved, contact us at <strong>jim@specialcompass.org<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2019t wait to see you at the starting line!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Sunday, January 25, 2026, Special Compass will proudly celebrate its 10th year participating in the iconic Life Time 2026 Miami Marathon &amp; Half Presented by FP Movement. This incredible [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":706,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=705"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":709,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions\/709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialcompass.org\/events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}