NJ Marathon will bring 12,000 runners to town
Race winds through Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park and Ocean Grove
Sunday’s New Jersey Marathon could cause minor traffic delays in the Asbury Park area while its 12,000 runners cruise up and down Monmouth County’s coast.
The 26.2-mile race will start in Oceanport before winding through Monmouth Beach and Long Branch. Runners will then head south through Elberon, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park and Ocean Grove. Participants will then run back north toward the finish line in Pier Village, Long Branch.
The race could take some runners up to six hours to complete, according to event organizers.
Runners will pass through Allenhurst and Loch Arbour on Ocean Avenue heading south, then again heading north as they make their way to the Long Branch finish line.
Heading south on Ocean Avenue, runners will enter Asbury Park and circle Deal Lake before making a left onto Park Avenue. They will then turn right on Sunset Avenue; left on Grand Avenue and left on Fifth Avenue. On Fifth Avenue, they will head east toward the boardwalk.
“I don’t expect any problems at all,” Asbury Park Police Chief Mark Kinmon said. “By the time everyone gets into the city, the runners will be scattered anyway.”
There will be a police officer posted at every intersection on the race course in town to direct traffic, Kinmon said.
In Ocean Grove, some minor delays are expected.
Runners will arrive in Ocean Grove by coming south on the boardwalk, according to Neptune Police Department Traffic Supervisor Sgt. Anthony Gualario. They will then turn right on Ocean Pathway, left on Central Avenue, left again on Ocean Pathway and then back to Ocean Avenue to head north.
“[Drivers] may have to wait a couple minutes, but there’s not going to be any road closures,” Gualario said. “They’re saying a small percentage of runners make it this far anyway, so it isn’t a heavy congestion.”
The police will be directing traffic at some intersections throughout the course of the event. Organizers said the race will take place from 8:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m., although Gualario said it will likely begin later and end earlier than those times.
Click here to visit the event website.
Photo at top of last year’s event courtesy of New Jersey Marathon.
