The Jersey City Marathon and Half Marathon are just days away from taking over the streets of Chilltown. Runners from all over the tri-state area and beyond will compete throughout Jersey City on April 14th, 2024. When the race kicks off in Newport, athletes will run down Paulus Hook, past Liberty State Park, down to Greenville and Bergen Communities, and loop through Communipaw before crossing the finish line in Newport. For those who decided not to lace up in their fastest sneakers this year, here are some great spots to cheer the thousands of runners on to the finish line for the 2024 Jersey City Marathon and Half Marathon.
The Race Course
Before spectators decide where to cheer on runners, they should know where the race goes throughout Jersey City. Both the half marathon and full marathon start on Washington Boulevard and end on Newport Parkway in Newport. The half marathon runners will run the loop once, and full marathon runners will have to run a second loop to complete the race.
Road closures will begin at 6AM on Sunday, April 14th and all roads will reopen at 3PM. Some of the roads closing include sections of Grove Street, Marin Boulevard, Christopher Columbus Drive, Grand Street, Jersey Avenue, and more. Parking restrictions will begin at midnight on Saturday, April 13th. Alternate parking locations include City Hall, Jersey City Public Schools, and Jersey City Medical Center. Full details about road closures throughout Jersey City can be found online.
Read More: Public Water Fountains + Bathrooms for Runners in Hoboken + Jersey City
On Saturday, April 13th, NYC-bound PATH trains will skip the Grove Street Station due to construction. All other trains will operate every 40 minutes. On Sunday, April 14th, service between Journal Square and Newark stations will operate every 40 minutes. Information on PATH schedules can be found online.
Two loops mean double the chances of seeing some awesome runners in Jersey City on Sunday morning. The organizers say the best place to watch runners will be the start and finish line. For those looking to venture out further into the race course, there are a few places to check out.
Berry Lane Park | 1000 Garfield Avenue, Jersey City
The little park in Jersey City provides a great spot for spectators to see runners fly by. Local fitness clubs Grind Society and Chilltown Street Club are putting together a cheer squad at this park to watch runners fly by miles 10 and 19. They are looking for two waves of volunteers to stand by the park on Garfield Avenue at 6:30AM and 8:30AM. In addition to handing out water and yelling for the runners to keep going, volunteers are also needed to stay behind and help clean up after the last runner breezes by. Sign up to join the group by RSVP-ing on its website.
Bayside Park | 99 Bayside Park Drive, Jersey City
View this post on Instagram
Runners will need an extra push around mile 9 and mile 20 on Sunday. That’s exactly where Bayside Park is, and it’s a great place for family and friends to cheer on runners. Both half-marathon and full-marathon runners will pass the park at 99 Bayside Park Drive. The little park also has a playground to keep little ones entertained.
Refueling During + After The Race
Once loved ones cross the finish line, it’s time for recovery. Then immediately after, it’s time to celebrate.
Right on the race course is Cafe Dolma, a little restaurant with a great patio and a large breakfast menu at 270 Grand Street. Consider picking up a coffee and hanging out on the patio while watching the race go by on Grand Street.
Sam a.m. is a cafe near the race course at 112 Morris Street and a popular meeting point for group runs during the week. The owner says the cafe will be a great spot for runners and spectators to grab a coffee and a snack during and after the race. People can walk from the cafe two blocks to all the fun as athletes race by on Grand Street.
See More: A Guide to Running Clubs in Essex County
Runners can also enjoy a post-race smoothie (or a bloody mary) at LIFE Pancake Company at 426 Jersey Avenue. The pancake house will be serving a special smoothie, called the Deranged smoothie, made with almond milk, banana, cinnamon, and a shot of espresso. It’s best paired with a stack of the restaurant’s buckwheat pancakes.
As race day gets closer, follow The Hoboken Girl on Instagram and TikTok for updates on road closures and the race, and sign up for our newsletter that shares all of our top stories to your inbox here. Good luck to all the runners competing this month.
