Community Corner

2013 New Jersey Marathon Will Run Today

New start time for half marathon, course has some changes

The 2013 New Jersey Marathon is set for Sunday, May, and will feature thousands of participants who have trained for months in anticipation of the state's largest run.

The marathon will have some small changes this year, including a new start time for the half marathon and a slight change to the full marathon course.

The half marathon and half marathon relays wheelchair will will now start at Monmouth Park in Oceanport at 6:45 a.m.; five minutes earlier than last year.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The full marathon will still begin at 8 a.m.

The half marathon travels through Oceanport, Monmouth Beach and Long Branch. Once the participants reach Brighton Avenue in Long Branch, they will turn around and head to the finish line on the Promenade.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The full marathon travels through Oceanport, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch and then moves south to Ocean Grove. The participants will turn around in Ocean Grove and make their way back to the finish line in Long Branch.

The main change in the full marathon is that runners will no longer be running on the Asbury Park boardwalk, as it sustained damage from Hurricane Sandy and is not completely open to the public.

Race Director Joe Gigas said people loved running on the boardwalk, but that the new route will take them down Ocean Avenue and allow them to be closer to landmarks such as the Wonder Bar and the Stone Pony.

To view the full course map, click here.

The marathon and half marathon may be the main highlights of this year's event, but there are also events leading up to the races.

One of those events is the Novo Nordisk Health and Fitness Expo at Monmouth Park on May 3 and 4.

The expo, which is free and open to the public, will feature guest speakers, exercise classes and discussions on health and fitness.

For more information about the expo, click here.

There will also be a race a number of family events the day before the race which will feature a 5K Fun Run/Walk and 1.2-mile marathon for children. These family-friendly events will take place at the Great Lawn in Long Branch from 8:30 a.m. to noon on May 4.

For more information on these events, click here.

For more information on the New Jersey Marathon Festival or to register visit www.njmarathon.org.


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