We know Jersey City is many things to many people, and starting in 2023, it will be the site of a USA Track and Field sanctioned marathon and half marathon event. In fact, the marathon will be a Boston marathon qualifier and the course will be designed to show off the best of all of JC’s neighborhoods for both local runners and out-of-town participants. The Jersey City Road Runners organization is working with the City to host the event, and they have a lot to do to prepare for the big day on April 23rd, 2023. Registration officially opens for both the marathon and the half marathon tomorrow, September 1st — and those who register quickly will get discounts. Read on to see what we know so far about the upcoming 2023 Jersey City marathon and half marathon — as well as how to register.
Creating the Marathon
Jersey City Road Runners got its start when three local women decided to form a community for local JC runners. According to the website, “Yraida Aponte-Lipski, Shelley Smith, and Julia Ulloa got together and formed Jersey City Rad Runners with the hope of enhancing running opportunities in Jersey City.”
The group has surely lived up to its goals. When some local runners got to talking about how Jersey City is deserving of its own marathon, a local resident decided to run with this idea (pun intended). Executive Director of Jersey City Road Runners Steve Lipski — who also happens to be co-founder Yraida’s husband — brought the idea to Mayor Steven Fulop. The mayor was excited to make the idea a reality, according to a press release.
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One of the reasons Mayor Fulop was so eager to pursue this race is because he himself ran the New York City marathon back in 2017, as seen on NJ.com. He also recently ran the New York Road Runners (NYRR) Newport 5k in Jersey City on May 1st where he achieved his personal best mile time, 6:43, according to his Instagram. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, it certainly isn’t out of the question that runners could find themselves running alongside the mayor at next year’s race.
NYRR Newport 5k Participants
(Photo credits: @jerseycityrunners)
The Race Itself — And How to Register
The upcoming marathon and half marathon, which will run on the same day, are a collaboration between Jersey City Road Runners and CompuScore, according to the website.
“The marathon and half marathon will be a USA Track & Field New Jersey sanctioned event on a certified course, one of the fastest and flattest in all of America,” the website reads. It also promises wonderful views and exposure to the rich culture Jersey City has to offer — a culture that inspired the whole idea of the marathon in the first place.
The official Jersey City Instagram page posted that registration for both the marathon and half marathon opens tomorrow, September 1st at 9AM.
View this post on Instagram
(Photo credits: @jerseycitynj)
The post also included the marathon’s course, which had previously not been available. The entirety of the race will remain within Jersey City, and anyone who runs it will automatically get a chance to qualify for the following Boston marathon, according to NJ.com. Since Jersey City itself is not big enough for a straight-shot course, the marathon will involve loops.
“Travel through Jersey City’s picturesque waterfront, Powerhouse Art District, Historic Paulus Hook District, iconic Liberty State Park with view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, down Caven Point Road through the Bergen & Greenville communities, and back to the Newport where the half marathon will come to a finish and the full marathon will continue looping around a similar course but in reverse,” the post reads. It also said that everyone who registers will get a quality dry-fit running shirt, a medal for those who finish, and more.
Interested runners can register here. The price for the half marathon race fee is $80 plus a $5.55 sign-up fee, which will increase to $90 after the first 100 people register. The price will increase to $100 after September 1st. As for the marathon, the race fee is $100 plus a $6.75 sign-up fee. This will increase to $110 after the first 100 people register, and will go up to $120 after September 1st.
“Hopefully, it will spark some people’s running careers and will contribute to others and it will give people a sense of accomplishment and a sense of hope that 26.2 miles does for a person,” Steve told NJ.com.
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This marathon’s official announcement came right on the heels of the aforementioned New York Road Runners (NYRR) Newport 5k, which was held on May 1st after a 3-year hiatus, according to its website. Both adults and children came out to run — there were even special shorter races in which the children could compete. While there appears to be no relationship yet between this 5k and the upcoming Jersey City marathon, participants have yet another Jersey City race to look forward to and now have nearly a year to train if they decide to run in April’s marathon next year.
View this post on Instagram
(Photo credits: @nyrr)
Neighbors, participants, and supporters can sign up to receive marathon updates through the Jersey City Road Runners website.
Be sure to stay in-the-know with @thehobokengirl on Instagram here and TikTok here. 
