Jersey Shore Half Marathon
Highlands, NJ
- Half Marathon, 2 Miler
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Jersey Shore Half Marathon has a history that places it as one of the oldest distance events held in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. The first Jersey Shore Marathon was held in 1972. Enjoy a National Recreation Park while challenging yourself to run a Half Marathon! Shore Athletic … MORE
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Great local race, not a big production
The Jersey Shore marathon is a great local race for New Jersey runners. It's a moderate size, and it's got a fast and flat course. The production value isn't high, … MORE
The Jersey Shore marathon is a great local race for New Jersey runners. It’s a moderate size, and it’s got a fast and flat course. The production value isn’t high, and it has the flavor of a small local race. Perfect for locals, but not great for a destination race.
The course is a double loop at Sandy Hook – a beach on the coast of central New Jersey. The course is on the road that goes up and down the beach, so you don’t actually see the ocean or the water that much. The turn around point is at an old army fort, which is pretty cool. It’s pancake flat, so it’s great for running a good time.
The race starts with little fanfare, but the local running club does have a bugler that adds a little pizazz. Usually, local college kids man the aid stations and add some energy along the course. It’s a lot of fun, just don’t expect amazing awards or a party afterwards.
The race is relatively cheap for a half, if you register early. Early October is usually a good time, weather wise. It’s a great place to notch a PR or check in on your fitness while you train for a late fall marathon (like Philly or NYC).
I also appreciate that the race is at 9:00am. You can’t stay within walking distance of the race, so you’re going to end up driving from somewhere. I drove from home (around 45 minutes), and the late start time was really convenient.