Jersey Shore Half Marathon and 2 Mile Run

JERSEY SHORE HALF MARATHON AND 2 MILE RUN
Sunday, October 5, 2025

** New start time: 8:00 A.M. **

Registration for this year's race has now reached capacity.

Virtual Race Option is still available.

SANDY HOOK - GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

The Jersey Shore Half Marathon, hosted by the Shore Athletic Club, has a rich history that makes it one of the oldest distance events held in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. The first Jersey Shore Marathon was held in 1972. In fact, 2023 was the 50th Running of the Jersey Shore Half Marathon!

This USATF-certified course is a very flat and fast 2-loop course!

Sandy Hook is a scenic and historic 6-mile strip of land tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and Sandy Hook Bay. Racing on Sandy Hook is a great place for a fast 13.1; a friendly place for first-time half-marathoners; and a great way to prepare for your fall marathon!  Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Sandy Hook and the area when you are done! All entrants will receive a complimentary long-sleeve race shirt, discounts and giveaways from our sponsors, and a customized race completion medal. Complimentary food and drinks will be available to all runners after the race.

Plenty of free parking is available within the park in LOT D, close to the start/finish area—spectator parking in LOT C. 
No shuttle needed. The races start and finish on the main park road located very close to the entrance of parking LOT E. All parking will be available this year in LOT D. Lot C will be available if needed for overflow parking. Please plan to arrive early, carpool if possible, and park in Lot D.

*- Please use the boardwalk or blacktop multi-use path to make your way to/from Lot D and the start/finish area. Please do NOT walk on the roadway at all. 

HALF MARATHON REGISTRATION
$75 early bird "throwback price" discount to the first 100 entrants starting from February 2-14, 2025.

$75 by February 14, 2025
$90 by June 30, 2025
$100 by October 3, 2025*
$125 on October 4 and Event Day*
(credit card or Venmo only on race day)

* - This year's race is limited to 800 participants. Registration is now FULL!  


2 MILE REGISTRATION
$24 early registration discount by March 31 for the 2 Mile Run

$30 by October 4, 2025

$35 on Event Day
(credit card or Venmo only) 

Race to begin 5 minutes after the half start - flat and fast out and back course.

REGISTRATION + PERSONALIZED TRAINING PLAN 
$150 by February 14, 2025
$165 by June 30, 2025
$175 by October 4, 2025

VIRTUAL RACE OPTION

$40 per person. 

Send us a screenshot of your results by 10/5, and we will include you in the results.

A race shirt and other giveaways will be mailed to you. 

PRE-RACE BIB/SHIRT PICK-UP

The Outpost Running and Walking Co.
Saturday, October 4, 2025
11:15 AM to 2:00 PM

 THE OUTPOST RUNNING & WALKING CO. 
32 Church Street in Little Silver

Participants are strongly encouraged to pick up bibs and shirts on Saturday if at all possible to save time on race day. During Saturday packet pick-up, random giveaways will be held throughout the day. Join us at THE OUTPOST to get race-ready with discounts and free items. The first 80 USATFNJ club members to register (using the code USATFNJCLUB at check-out) get an $8 discount. 

EVENT DAY SCHEDULE
October 5, 2025
6:30 AM to 11:30 PM 

Sandy Hook, Lifesaving Station Between Lots D and E
(New spot in 2024 and back again for 2025!)

6:30 AM to 7:30 AM - Pre-registration bib + shirt pick up at the Lifesaving Station
8:00 AM - Half Marathon Start
8:05 AM - 2 Mile Start
9:30 AM to 11:45 AM - Enjoy complimentary refreshments at the Lifesaving Station!
11:00 AM - Awards Ceremony & Giveaways at the Lifesaving Station 

11:00 AM - The course will be closed (3-hour time limit for all participants

 
AWARDS

CASH PRIZES (minimum of $200, $150 and $125) to the Top 3 Overall Male and Female Finishers.
Custom Age Group Awards to the Top 3 finishers in each 5-year age group.
All runners (13.1 and 2 Mile events) will get a special long sleeve event tee and other giveaways from our sponsors.  
All 13.1 finishers will receive a custom Jersey Shore Half Marathon 2025 finisher medal.

COOL NEW HIGHLIGHTS IN 2025

- We will have pacers running at 1:30, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, and 2:30 paces. Look for signs and join their group at the start!
Long-sleeve Jersey Shore Half Marathon & 2 Mile race tees to all registrants.

- Special discounts with local merchants on race weekend. Post-Race Party at Off The Hook in Highlands, right over the bridge in Highlands, starting at noon.  
-Running photos are available for purchase.

- LODGING PARTNER: Our preferred hotel partner is the Sonesta Select of Eatontown, located on Hope Road near Parkway Exit 105.    Ask for the Shore Athletic Club rate when making your reservation. Call 1-800-766-3782. Limited space available.

HOTEL PARTNER

Sonesta Select in Tinton Falls

The rate is the Shore Athletic Club rate. When guests call the front desk, they can mention that.
The Shore A.C. Rate Code is used to book online.  Or, you can just go to the Sonesta website, enter the dates of stay, and enter the rate code into the Corporate/Promo drop-down section.
The booking link!  Which takes you directly to where manually entering the code goes

CHARITY PARTNER

This year, we are again partnering with the Sandy Hook Foundation, the official nonprofit friends' group, to the National Park Service at Sandy Hook, NJ, a Gateway National Recreation Area unit. Established in 1989, the Foundation has funded cultural, educational, environmental, and conservation programs. It has helped restore and preserve historic structures of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock — both National Historic Landmarks. During registration, participants can make a tax-deductible donation to The Sandy Hook Foundation through, to support the Foundation's work within the park. Last year, we raised $3,000 thanks to the contributions of race participants and friends.

The Sandy Hook Foundation staff will also be at the Lifesaving Station and their gift shop will be open on race day.

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND LODGING

-Participants can enjoy discounts throughout the weekend, compliments of local merchants (www.highlandsnj.com).

-Post-Race Party at Off The Hook, Highlands - One free domestic draft beer or soda with your race bib and other specials.

Look for more information coming soon!

RACE PHOTOS

Jack McCoy Photography - Stay tuned for event day photos!

* RACE DAY REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR.*
The race is now closed as we have reached our capacity of pre-registered runners

Race Day Bib and Short Pick-Up - Sunday, October 5, 2025
7:00 - 7:45 AM - Lifesaving Station (follow the boardwalk from Lot D)

*- Race day registration is not available. Race day bib pick-up is at the Lifesaving Station between Lots D and E. Park in Lot D and follow the Boardwalk to the Lifesaving Station. Please be aware that this year, our pre-entry cap was reached on August 26, and the race is now FULL. Any race day gear purchases must be made by Venmo or credit card only (no cash or checks).
Race day bib pick-up closes at 7:45 AM.

SAFETY NOTES

1) NO HEADPHONES ON THE COURSE, PLEASE!! The course is 2 loops with runners going in both directions, and we want to keep it safe for all)!

2) We do have a strict 3-hour time limit on the Half Marathon course. No finishers will be allowed after this time. Thank you.

Course Records:
2022 Champions - Evan Bush (1:10:28) and Jessica Francis (1:27:35). 

2023 Champions: Jack Shea (1:09:45) of the Shore A.C. and Mackenzie Greenfield (1:22:06).

2024 Champions: Michael Bond (1:12:40) of the Shore A.C. and Rachel Rodriguez (1:17:48).

FOLLOW US
@theshoreac on Instagram and X, 
and at The Shore Athletic Club on Facebook and LinkedIn
For updates and photos at www.shoreac.org