WHY I RUN

Frankie Ruiz, better known as Miami’s Chief Running Officer, explores the rhythm between running and giving, and how every stride can move a community forward

By Yulia Strokova

Photo courtesy of Frankie Ruitz

As co-founder of the Life Time Miami Marathon, Frankie Ruitz has spent two decades transforming Miami’s streets into a living, breathing symbol of community. Even after years of running and leading citywide sporting events, he still laces up his sneakers with purpose every day. His motivation is simple, yet powerful:

“What keeps me motivated is knowing that running can dramatically influence a city such as Miami in such a positive direction,” he says.

“Just seeing where it’s been to where it is now keeps me thinking: how much further can we connect people, initiate more health, fitness, and mental wellness?”

That vision is now taking shape through the first-ever Give Miami 5K and Festival, hosted by the Miami Foundation on Sunday, November 16 at Maurice A. Ferré Park. The event is a celebration of generosity, movement, and community impact.

Every year, the Miami Foundation’s Give Miami Day mobilizes locals to support more than 1,000 nonprofits.

This November, that spirit of giving will go even further: participants in the Give Miami 5K can run, walk, skip, or dance, and every registration dollar goes directly to the issue area or nonprofit of their choice.

For Frankie, who is producing the event, from permits and logistics to coordinating with the city and police, the Give Miami 5K embodies the same spirit that built the marathon: community first.

One of the biggest misconceptions, he says, is that running is a solitary act.

“People think of it as something individual when each person is just trying to look better or feel better,” he explains. “But in reality, it’s the cornerstone of getting people to fall in love with their city. And when people fall in love with their city, they defend it, protect it, and make it better.”

That civic love, he believes, keeps people rooted. 

“One of the main reasons someone moves away from a city isn’t cost,” he says. “It’s because they feel alone, disconnected, apathetic. But something like a run club or skate club gets you out of your house, onto the streets and sidewalks — you start to see your city.”

In a place blessed with year-round sunshine, that connection becomes a lifestyle. Running, Frankie says, is “so democratic, so open, so accessible.” It’s not about chasing speed or performance — it’s about belonging and feeling part of something larger than yourself.

“If you keep running for yourself and just that, you’re not going to get the most out of it. You probably won’t even stick with it that long,” he says. “But when you realize running is bigger than just you, you bring a friend or a spouse or a colleague, and you get more out of it.”

The same, he explains, applies to generosity: 

“If you’re the only one giving, you might even give less, and you won’t be as satisfied. But bring three, four, five friends into the cause, and it multiplies your impact," Frankie says.

"It’s like when one of my athletes told me, ‘By encouraging you, I took the focus off my pain.’ That’s giving. When you focus on helping someone else, you stop thinking about your own struggles, and you grow stronger.”

Photo courtesy of Frankie Ruitz

If Frankie were running the race himself, he knows exactly what cause he’d choose. “The Everglades,” he says without hesitation. 

“We have this great resource, but we're not paying attention to this backyard that we have. It needs a constant voice. If we can’t protect that river of grass, we might not survive here in Miami. Water is life, and it’s worth more than gold, more than oil.”

That passion for purpose is exactly what the Give Miami 5K celebrates. Every step, stride, and donation goes toward something that matters.

Frankie’s connection to the Miami Foundation runs deep. A Miami Fellows Class VII graduate, he credits the organization’s former CEO, Javier Soto, an accomplished runner who has completed marathons in both the Chicago and Boston with helping launch the Miami race. 

“I’ve always been a friend of the Foundation, whether it’s Give Miami Day or anything else, I’ve always answered the call,” he says.

And Frankie believes anyone who joins will feel the same spark. The finish line is never the end — it’s just the beginning of something greater.

“You’ll be caught off guard by how many groups need your help. And then you’ll be inspired by how much help is already being given. You start to see those fundraising numbers flowing in and think, ‘I want to be part of this party. I want to feel connected to my community and a bigger cause.’”