Jersey Shore Half Marathon

The Jersey Shore Half Marathon is an annual road race held each October at Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area in Highlands, New Jersey, organized by the Shore Athletic Club. First run in 1972, the 2026 edition marks its 53rd year, making it one of the oldest continuously held distance races in New Jersey. The flat, two-loop course runs along paved park roads on the Sandy Hook peninsula, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Sandy Hook Bay on the other. The half marathon starts at 8:00 AM, followed five minutes later by a companion 2-mile race over the same roads; pacers are provided for 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, and 2:30 half marathon finish times. Field size is capped at 800 combined entrants across both distances, and the popular event's in-person field is already full as of race-week registration, though a virtual option remains open for runners who register late. Finishers receive a long-sleeve race shirt and completion medal, and the club hosts a post-race spread with refreshments, including a partnership with the nearby restaurant Off the Hook. Packet pickup is held the Saturday before the race at The Outpost Running & Walking Co. in Little Silver, New Jersey.