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Miami artist Laelanie Larach built her reputation in South Florida through her unique abstract oil paintings that became known as “coastal art.”
Vibrant and colorful and hand-painted to brighten up the room, Larach’s works are eye-catching and the South Florida art community has started taking notice in recent years.
So when the Life Time Miami Marathon & Half presented by FP Movement went on a search for the artist to design its medal ribbon for the February 2, 2025 race, staffers came across an article that showcased Larach as a rising Miami artist.
They loved the style of her paintings and reached out to ask if she would like the honor of designing the medal ribbon that every runner who finishes the Marathon or Half Marathon will take home with their medal at the finish line on race day.
“What an honor that they chose me to create a painting that represents the Marathon and the vibe of Miami, everything that is Tropical,” Larach said. “I’ve been part of Art Basel and many art fairs here in Miami. But I have never had 18,000 people wearing my art. I’m planning to go to the race. Its surreal, super exciting.”
The 2025 medal that will be attached to the ribbon reflects the interconnectedness of the race, combining runners joining together for one day in Miami, and who have touched the race in some way through the years to make The Life Time Miami Marathon & Half what it is today.
“Her work emulates the geometric style of the medal this year,” Miami Marathon Senior Marketing Manager Samantha Bailey said. “The use of her brush strokes had a shape to them that was in line with the intricacies featured in the design of the medal. Our theme for this year is highlighting the interconnection of the mind and body, of the running community,, and how each participant has contributed a piece to the whole that is the Miami Marathon today. Laelanie’s work represents that.”
The Life Time Miami Marathon & Half has become known throughout the worldwide running community for its unique finisher medals and ribbons that display them. Larach joins a line of elite local artists who have made their individual interpretations of the city and the race to design the neck ornament for the marathon, including:
-
25 Marathon Medal Peter Tunney
- Rigo Leon
- Bernard Zyscovich
- Jenny Perez
- Romero Britto
- Luis Valle
- Nicolas Vasquez
Larach was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, growing up painting from the time she was eight years old. Her mother was a teacher and Laelanie would help her create cartoons for her students. She found inspiration in the beautiful combination of mountains, tropical forests, and sandy beaches of Honduras. In her earliest work she used pastels, watercolors, and charcoal. After winning some small art contests in school, she was inspired to expand her work into the medium of oil on canvas.
“I saw that I had a gift,” Larach said. “I still have many of the paintings from when I was a little girl.
Imaginary landscapes, waterfalls, jungles. I like the ocean a lot. Palm Trees.
“I went through different periods and tried different techniques. I got into combining photographs with oils, creating a three-dimensional effect in the artwork. My art style changed completely through the years. Now it is more coastal and modern. I like to paint palm trees and sunsets with a lot of colors, bright and bold. It’s a Miami Beach vibe combined with memories of being a kid back in Honduras which is trapped in my memory.”
The Miami Marathon ribbon was pulled from an original 36 X 36 oil painting titled Tropical Sunsets and Palm Trees.
“The entire concept is tropical,” she said. “You can see sunsets and palm trees and it has a lot of movement. The palm trees have movement. They follow the sun and the ocean waves under a blue sky. It’s a tropical vibe. It’s three worlds that merge into one piece of art.”
Participants representing 50 states and more than 70 countries will take on Miami’s USTAF-certified, Boston-qualifying course in the race that showcases the best views of Miami’s cityscape and waterways.
Weekend Details and Distances
- Miami Famous Expo: an industry-leading gathering of vendors, live entertainment and experiential activations from top lifestyle, health and wellness brands at Miami Beach Convention Center: January 31 – February 1, 2025.
- Life Time Tropical 5K (3.1 miles): Saturday, February 1, 2025
- Life Time Miami Marathon (26.2 miles) & Half Marathon (13.1 miles): Sunday, February 2, 2025
- In 2024, the Event generated $16.1M in local economic impact and hosted nearly as many international runners (34%) as it did runners from Dade County (35%).
For event updates, follow along on social media:
- Facebook: Miami Marathon
- Instagram: @TheMiamiMarathon
- Twitter: @RunMiami
The Miami Marathon & Half is supported by the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority and owned and produced by Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand. It is among more than 30 premier athletic events operated by Life Time , including the Chicago Half Marathon, UNBOUND Gravel, and the Leadville Race Series. To learn more, visit: lifetime.life/athletic-events.
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