This past weekend swim enthusiasts and triathletes alike congregated to North Beach for the 1st annual Swim Miami Beach, a one-mile open water swim, brought to you by the producers of Swim Miami. It was a beautiful, but blustery morning and it lead to interesting swim conditions. Rough water and strong currents were the theme of the swim, but it didn’t deter Ricardo Valdivia from completing the course in 24 minutes flat or top female finisher, Merle Liivand, from Estonia from completing in 29 minutes.
The swim highlighted a Special Olympic Unified division, a swim that features a special olympics athlete competing with a support in the water. Andy Miyares and Berit Amlie finished in first together in the Special Olympics field.
Swimming wasn’t the only thing going on, as Crossfit Armed of North Beach featured their Barbells for Boobs event. Barbells for Boobs is a nation wide crossfit fundraiser which raises awareness for breast cancer. Following the Amazing Grace workout of the day, the field compete in a clean jerk contest.
Family fun was had the entire morning right off of 75th street on the beach. It was an event that brought the Miami community together and is a sign of things to come in North Beach. The 2nd Annual event next fall looks to be even bigger and better and feature a weekend festival of fitness and fun.
Proceeds from the day benefited the H2O’s Foundation, dedicated to eradicating drowning and teaching children to swim in South Florida.