Politics & Government

Oceanport Mulls Proposal to Stretch New Jersey Marathon Over Two Days

Race organizers want the half-marathon on one day and the marathon on the other.

The Oceanport Borough Council is considering a proposal by New Jersey Marathon organizers to stretch the annual event over two days, with the half-marathon on one morning and the marathon on the other.

Some council members expressed concerns at their meeting Thursday night about the disruption such a change might cause. The council plans to discuss the idea further at its meeting June 16.

The U.S. Road Sports and Entertainment Group, which organizes the event, believes splitting the two races over two days -- on the weekend of May 4 and 5 -- will get more runners to participate, said Oceanport Police Capt. Dan Barcus, who relayed the proposal to the
council. The police have no objection to this idea, but whether to allow it is up to the governing body, Barcus said.

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"They're asking for an answer by the end of June," he said. "They have to do 
feasibility studies."

More participation means more money raised by the race, Councilman William Johnson said. That presumably would mean bigger donations to volunteer groups in the borough by race organizers, he said.

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Residents have learned to live with street closings for one day in the spring, said Councilman Ellynn M. Kahle. They might feel differently about having two weekend days disrupted, she said.

Race organizers believe starting the races at 7 a.m. instead of 8 will lessen the inconvenience, since runners will be out of the borough before many residents are up, Barcus said.

The race begins at the Long Branch Promenade and travels through Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach. The race then heads back south toward Long Branch.

The marathon used to be a double loop through Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Oceanport, until the decision was made this year to add more towns to its route.

Another change to this year's event was that it featured two starting times. The full marathon began on May 1, at 8 a.m. and the half marathon began at 8:30 a.m. 

Just over 11,000 people participated in the marathon this year. Race Director Art Castellano said that was a record amount of participants for the race which seems to be growing in popularity every year. 


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