FAQ's

Save The Date: May 6, 2012

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Q: Race Info - Distances and Age Limits
A:

Distances:

Sunday: A full marathon (26.2 miles), a half marathon (13.1 miles), and a half marathon relay (13.1 miles broken into two stages of approximately 6.55 miles each).

Saturday: A three mile fun run/walk, a 1.2 mile "kids marathon" and various distances for children from 2-8.

Age Limits:

Sunday: There are posted minimum age limits of 18 years old for the full marathon and 14 years old for the half marathon (with up to two year exceptions for extraordinarily mature athletes - with parents/legal guardian and the child's pediatrician for approval). For the half marathon relay we rely upon the common sense of the parents/legal guardians and suggest that they consultwith the child's pediatrician for advice for anyone 17 years old and younger who is interested in participating.

Saturday: For all Saturday races we rely upon the common sense of the parents/legal guardians for anyone 17 years old or younger interested in participating. If there are any questions about the suitability of any race for a particular child, we strongly suggest that the child's pediatrician be consulted.

Age requirements are based on regulations by IMMDA. For further information and background, see:

IMMDA Advisory Statement on Children and Marathoning

Q: Race Info - Start Time, etc.
A:

For the 2012 event, we are planning the Full Marathon to start no later than 8:00am, and the Half Marathon and Half Relay to start no later than 7:00am

Please allow adequate time to arrive at the Start Line, check your Finish Line Bag, continue your pre-race hydration, go through your pre-race warm-up routine, and perhaps most importantly, relax and prepare for a wonderful and beautiful race.

Q: Is there a Time Limit?
A:

Finish Time Details

The New Jersey Marathon and Long Branch Half Marathon are open to all participants of age who wish to register; however, the course closes after 6 hours and 30 minutes for the Full Marathon, and 3 hours and 15 minutes for the Half Marathon. Participants wishing to complete their event within that time frame will need to maintain a 15-minute/mile pace. After the time limit has been reached, the streets will re-open to vehicular traffic, participants still out on the race course will be asked to move to the sidewalks, and on-course support (Aid Stations) will close.

Full Marathon Time Limit - Six hours and 30 minutes - The finish line will close at 2:30 PM. In addition, all marathon participants must be at the Brighton Ave. and Ocean Blvd. intersection (Mile 11.5) by 11:00 AM in order to continue the Full Marathon course. If arriving at that mark after 11:00 AM, participants will be asked to leave the course and directed immediately back to the Finish Line area.

Half Marathon Time Limit - Three hours and 15 minutes - All half marathon participants must complete the course (13.1 miles) in three hours and 15 minutes or less from the starting gun. If you are unable to complete the entire 13.1 miles in less than three hours and 15 minutes, please either adjust your training plan to attain that level of performance, or perhaps create / join a team for the Half Marathon Relay.

Half Marathon Relay Time Limit - Three hours and 15 minutes - All relay teams must complete the course (13.1 miles) with a combined time of three hours and 15 minutes or less from the starting gun.

Please note that participants who cross the finish line after the times listed will not be recognized as official finishers and will not receive a finishers medal.

Q: Are walkers or athletes with disabilities welcome?
A:

Welcome: Runners, Walkers and Athletes in Wheelchairs

Athletes of all abilities (runners, walkers and athletes in wheelchairs) are welcome to participate, as always!

Q: What are the course details?
A:

The course is USAT&F certified, which allows runners to use it to qualify for the following year's Boston Marathon.

Qualification is NOT required for entry into the: NJ Marathon or LB Half Marathon.

The course starts in Oceanport at Monmouth Park; the location of central parking, and the Expo, and ends on the oceanfront Promenade, just north of Pier Village and opposite the stage on The Great Lawn.

The Half Marathon is a 13.1 mile loop which travels through many of the business districts and neighborhoods of Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Oceanport.

The course for the 2012 Marathon will be a 1-loop course that includes areas of Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Deal, Allenhurst, Lock Aurbor, Asbury Park & Ocean Grove.

The course has no significant hills. Most of the course is virtually flat (with a few very gentle rolling stretches and bridge crossings). This is a relatively flat and fast course!

Q: Where can I find help in my Training?
A:

There are a number of excellent training resources including:

ActiveTrainer - Get the best in online training, with a plan for both the Marathon and Half Marathon distance. The plans include calendars, tips, nutrition, recovery plans, etc!
Other Training Tips and Sources of advice are available on our Training page

Q: Is there an official Race Expo?
A:

Yes - The Health & Fitness Expo for The New Jersey Marathon will be held on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5.

Location: The 2012 Expo will be held at Monmouth Park.

This comprehensive 2-day running related expo is free and open to the public, as well as to all participants of The New Jersey Marathon events. We are expecting all 12,000+ athletes to attend, plus many more thousands of spectators.

We will be accepting last-minute race applications this year during the expo (no registration on race day).
The prices are as follows:

Full Marathon: $140.00
Half Marathon: $120.00

The Expo hours are scheduled for: Friday, from 1PM to 8PM; and Saturday, from 9AM to 6PM.

Official New Jersey Marathon merchandise will be available for purchase at The Expo and also on Race Day.

Q: How do I register?
A:

Registration for the races opened in May, 2011, and will close on May 2nd, 2012. We have sold out the event the last 2 years, and we expect to sell out the 2012 event as well - so REGISTER EARLY to guarantee your spot and save money!

Please note: We WILL have registration open at the Expo for both the Marathon and Half Marathon, but NOT for the Half Marathon Relay (no registrations on race day). Changes to existing Relay Teams will still be possible at the Expo, but no new Relay Teams may be created after the close of on-line registration (05/02/12).

You may register online at any time prior to the close of registration on May 2nd, although our race limit may be reached earlier.

We do not provide either registration refunds or transfers.

We are proud to offer our Race Deferral Program. The program is a one year deferral, and may be requested, via email to: Registration@NJMarathon.org, at any time prior to April 15th.

Q: Race Packet Pick-up Information - How do I receive my Bib / Timing Chip / T-shirt / Goodie Bag?
A:

These items WILL NOT be mailed to you, under any circumstances.

Normal Race Packet Pick-up:

You may either pick them up at the Expo at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ during the Expo following Expo hours:

Friday, May 4th: 1PM - 8PM
Saturday, May 5th: 9AM - 6PM

Please Note: While race packets must be picked up during the Expo hours, they may also be picked up by another person.

For those participants not arriving until Sunday morning, two charities: The New Jersey Road Runners Youth Foundation (NJRR-YF) and Kick Cancer Overboard (KCO) are proud to present a Marathon Morning Race Packet Pick-Up Service.

Special Race Day Packet Pick-Up Service:

For a nominal donation directly to the charities, volunteers will have your Race Packet ready for you on Sunday morning, near the bag drop area. The details are below:

Please Note:

Only advanced reservations will guarantee that packets will be available to you on race day.
A tax deductible registration fee is required to register for this service.
Sign up for this reservation service will close on April 28th at 11:59PM EST.
The application for race day packet pickup service can be found here.

Q: How are the Events timed?
A:

The NJM and LBH events will be timed using a B-tag timing strip which is attached to your race bib. There is no need to return it to us after finishing your event.

The Half Marathon Relay will be timed using a timing strip which attaches via a velcro strap around the runners waist (to allow transfer of the timing strip between the relay team members).

Q: Where should I park on Race Day?
A:

The Main Parking Area for the Sunday races will be at Monmouth Park Racetrack, at 175 Oceanport Ave., in Oceanport, also the location of the Start Line. There will be plenty of free parking and a free shuttle service from the Finish Area back to central parking at the conclusion of the races.

Access to Monmouth Park Racetrack is vis Rt. 36 (the main access route from either Exit 105 of The Garden State Parkway, Exit 13B of Rt. 18 or Rt. 35).

The schedule for the shuttles that will bring runners and spectactors back to the start line from the finish area is still to be decided.

Please help us keep cars away from our course, for both safety and convenience, by taking advantage of the free and unlimited parking at our Main Parking Area (see above).

Q: Do you have a Gear Check / Bag Drop?
A:

There will be a bag drop off area near the Start Line, and a bag pickup area near the Finish Line. Please watch for signs for the "Bag Drop" and "Bag Pickup".

Since the Start and Finish Lines are located in two different areas this year, bags will be transported to the finish area so runners can have their bags available after finishing.

Please note that bags can be no larger than a bagpack. We will not accept luggage.

Please DO NOT leave valuables in your bag as we cannot be responsible for the contents of your bag.

Please DO NOT leave your bag around the Start or Finish Areas, outside the official bag drop area. Bags left outside and unattended may be confiscated due to Homeland Security requirements.

Q: Do you have Pacing Teams?
A:

The Official Pacers will be wearing bright pacing bibs on their front and back and carrying pennants with the group time.

At the Start Area, look for the signs that show the various pace times. Your pacer(s) will meet you at the appropriate sign.

For additional information about our pacing teams, click here.

Q: How does the Marathon Relay work?
A:

The new Half Marathon Relay will start on Sunday morning (time TBD), at the same location as the Marathon and Half Marathon. It will be a 2-person team relay, with legs of approximately 6.7 miles and 6.4 miles.

Each team will be issued one Timing strip. This should be attached by a Velcro strap (supplied with timing strip) around the current runner's/walker's waist. In the transition area this timing strip/Velcro strap will serve as your baton - simply release it from the current runner/walker and strap it around the next runner's/walker's waist. This is the hand-off.

Any substitutions / changes in Relay Category, from original registration, must be made in writing before April 15, and may require an additional $10 fee.

In the past, we used a timing chip that would attach around the runners ankle. This presented a health concern when the runner would bend over to release the strap, forcing a rush of blood to the runners brain, and in rare cases, cause black-outs. The new waist strap should elimate that potential problem completely.

Relay Categories:

Open - All Male Team (under 40)
Open - All Female Team (under 40)
Open - Mixed Team (one male/one female both under 40)
Masters - All Male Team (40 to 59)
Masters - All Female Team (40 to 59)
Masters - Mixed Team (one male/one female both 40 to 59)
Seniors - All Male Team (60+)
Seniors - All Female Team (60+)
Seniors - Mixed Team (one male/one female both 60+)

Q: Info about the Start Line procedures:
A:

Things to check - Be sure that: your race bib is on the front of your shirt / singlet and visible (so that you will receive your "official" marathon photo), and the timing strip is securely fastened.

Amenities at the Start Area - Water, Gatorade, Vaseline, sunscreen and Port-a-Johns. Greeters and a Help / Info Desk will be available to provide direction and last minute answers to questions.

Lining Up - Please line up relative to your expected finish time, with the faster finishers closer to the start line. Signs with predicted finishing times will be on display at the Start. Using the times on the pacing team pennants is often a good way to judge where to line up. If you don't have an idea of your finishing time, it is usually best to line up near, or at the back. Your cooperation will ensure a smooth and timely start.

Official Pacers - The Official NJM Pacers will be wearing bright placing time bibs on their front and back and carrying pennants. Look for the signs that show the pace times. Your pacer will meet you at the appropriate sign.

Timing Mats - Please avoid the timing mats while waiting for the start of the race.

Switching Races - There are NO CHANGE OF EVENTS at the start. Your timing chip will time you for the event length for which you registered. Changes of event must take place prior to race day.

Q: Information for On The Course - During The Race:
A:

Clothing - Please Note: All discarded clothing will be donated to charities. We cannot return clothing discarded either at the start or along the course.

Animals / Children in strollers, bikes, etc. - For safety and insurance reasons, animals of any kind, regular or jogging strollers, bikes, and in-line skates are NOT permitted on the course.

Headphones - For safety reasons, the New Jersey Marathon organizers STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you DO NOT use your headphones during the races. We all need to be aware of our surroundings, which include fellow runners and the possibility of errant traffic or emergency personnel traffic on the course. We believe that there will be many 'distractions' along the course including: spectators, bands and the beautiful scenery.

Fluid Stations - The Official on-course fluid stations are located approximately 2 miles, or less, apart. Each station will have Gatorade Endurance Formula first, and water second. Bananas and GU will also be available at 3 locations between miles 13 and 22.

GU Energy Gels - Vanilla and chocolate will be available at 3 location on the marathon course, between miles 13 and 22. If you've been training with other Energy Gels please be prepared to carry your own favorite gel packs, and only take the GU if necessary. We will have approximately 6,000 GU gel packs on the marathon course.

Medical Aid - EMT ambulances will be stationed at strategic locations along the course in addition to the volunteer medical personnel from Monmouth Medical Center who will staff our Med Tent and large medical facility (central part of the course).

If you become sick, extremely fatigued, or injured, each fluid station will have communications to race officials. It is best if you DO NOT leave the course. However, if you do, you must notify an official and hand in your number! In addition, bicyclists will be patrolling the course to both assist, and seek assistance, as needed! A "sweep van" will pick up anyone needing medical aid.

Port-a-Johns - There are an abundance of toilet facilities at the Start / Finish Areas, as well as on the course, near each Fluid Station.

Kettle bells - For safety reasons, kettle bells are not permitted on the course.

Q: Information for the Finish Area and Post-Event:
A:

The Finish Area is on the Long Branch Ocean Promenade.

After crossing the finish line, keep moving forward through the chute. At the end of the chute you will be awarded your Finisher's Medal and then proceed to the: ReHydration Area, food tent, baggage area, changing area, free massage area and finally to the Reunion Area to meet your supporters.

Awards - Age Group Awards will be mailed to winners once all results have been certified by the official timing and scoring company. Awards will be based upon Gun Time, not Chip Time. Chip Time is acceptable for Boston Marathon Qualification.

Race Photos & Finisher's Certificates - Official Race Photos and Finisher's Certificates will be available from our Official Photographer, Brightroom at: www.brightroom.com sometime within the week after the end of the event.

Shuttle to Central Parking - Shuttles will be used for the return trip to Monmouth Park Racetrack. The shuttle times are still to be decided. The return shuttles will be located on Ocean Blvd, in front of the Ocean Place Resort.

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