Race Information

We highly encourage you to leave your belongings in your car or hotel room.  We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.  There will be a bag check option for non-valuables.  Please plan to arrive early for bag check, as this is often a bottleneck and causes runners to miss the start of the race if they wait too long to drop off their bags.  Bag Check will be closing PROMPTLY AT 6:27 AM! Why, 6:27 AM, so everyone will remember the time. 

If you are registered for 1 race and run the other race, you will be disqualified from the results, and you will NOT receive a finisher’s medal.

Need to do an Event Transfer (switch events from either the full to the half or from the half to the full)?   The last date to transfer is 04/1/25

Need to Defer or Transfer to another person? Oh no, we are bummed you can’t participate this year! Don’t worry, though, you have options! You can either defer your registration for a $25 fee and get free entry into the 2026 event, or you can transfer your registration for a $25 fee to another runner. Shirt sizes will not be changed after 3/15/2025. The last date to defer or transfer is 4/1/25

Defer Registration to 2026 Instructions (deadline is 4/1/25): Click Here

Transfer Registration to another person Instructions (deadline is 4/1/25): Click Here 

As a USATF Sanctioned and certified event, we expect all participants to follow the USATF Code of Conduct and conduct themselves appropriately, including but not limited to following all race instructions, announcements and rules.  Please follow proper racing and running etiquette as well. 

Here are ten race etiquette tips every runner should follow:

1. Corral or seed yourself according to your expected pace. There will be appropriate signs indicating where to line up.  Please do not line up at the front if you’re not a super-fast runner. You’ll either get trampled, or you’ll cause a safety hazard for others.

2.  Run one or two abreast. Don’t run 2–3 people across and block the course for others.

3. Pass other runners with respect and appropriate spacing.  Don’t push through people or practically run them over.
 
4. Don’t stop dead in your tracks. If you’re stopping to tie your shoe or take a break, hop off the course to the side and take care of your business. If you’re a run/walker, look behind you before you start walking.
 
5. Be aware when going through water stations. Don’t stop suddenly in the middle of the path if you need to get a drink of water or gel. Try to keep moving and stay to the side.
 
6. Aim your cup. Try to aim your empty cup to/towards a trash can or the side of the road, so that others don’t slip on it, and it won’t splash all over the person behind you when it hits the ground

7. Smile! Show your appreciation for the cheering spectators – after all, they’re making it a great day for you! Plus, one of our photographers will catch your smile too!
 
8. Let them have their thunder. This one is tricky because often at the finish line, we’re all in a daze. But if at all possible, try to be aware of the finish line moment that your fellow racers are trying to have. Sure, race them to the finish line, but try not to knock them over with your outstretched arms or jump in front of their finish line photo.

9. Take your banana and move on. Don’t take more than you need at the finish line food table. The race director has ordered food according to the number of participants. Take one of each item and move on. If you need more food, go buy yourself some breakfast after the race or keep a cooler with post-race food in your car.

10. Thanks to the volunteers! There are tons of volunteers needed to make a race go smoothly. Thank them, appreciate them, don’t litter and make their job harder, and consider volunteering for a race yourself.
 
It all goes back to this: Have common courtesy. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Stay safe. Keep others safe. Think of others.

If you want to pick up for yourself or for another athlete, you MUST HAVE THAT ATHLETES CONFIRMATION EMAIL TO PRESENT TO THE VOLUNTEERS.  

NO EMAIL, NO BIB, NO EXCEPTIONS.

There are 4 options to pick up your bib, with details below on each. 

1. Free – Expo on Friday and Saturday before the race
2. $30 – Mailed to you 
3. $50 – Pick up Race Morning 
4. VIP packages include bib mailing

EXPO: We will have a runner’s Expo on the Friday and Saturday before the event, where you must pick up your bib and prerace swag.  Location and times below. 

RACE MORNING: If you want to pick up your bib on race morning, you can choose that option for an extra charge.  This option is limited and once sold out, you must choose either the Expo or Mailing of your bib. This can also be done from the store. If you signed up to pick up your bib on race day, and you would now like to attend the expo, you do NOT need to notify us of the change to pick up at the expo.

If you do NOT purchase race day bib pick up, a VIP package, or the mailing of the bib package, then you MUST pick up your bib at the race expo. Please note, there is very limited bib pick up on race day. All race day bib pickups MUST be purchased in advance. 

We will accept each entrant’s declared gender at face value, and no additional supporting evidence is required.
A transgender female (male-to-female) entrant can register to compete as a female, provided they have undergone continuous, medically supervised hormone treatment for gender transition for at least one year prior to the race.
A transgender male (female-to-male) entrant can register to compete as a male. Transgender male runners cannot register to compete as a female if they have begun hormone treatment for gender transition, which includes testosterone or any other banned substance (as defined by the World Antidoting Agency).
Runners may compete in the category of their sex assigned at birth if they have not undergone hormone treatment.

Challenges of Results Involving Transgender Athletes

The Jersey City Road Runners have adopted this policy and the ability to challenge results out of a desire for inclusion and fairness. As such, we expect all parties to behave honestly, compassionately, and respectfully. We will not tolerate hateful or discriminatory behavior by any of our runners or those associated with the race, regardless of the cause.
Challenges may be made to results, which are directly related to a runner’s self-declared gender, only when a top 3 position is at stake. A challenge must be made in writing or email to the Race Director within 10 days of race completion, and must be submitted privately and with the utmost discretion and respect for all parties involved.
Neither party may publicly post nor discuss the challenge until the race has reached a decision. Challenges unrelated to a runner’s gender status, such as course cutting or other rule violations, will be handled in the normal process.
In case of a challenge or as deemed necessary, Jersey City Road Runners may request supporting documentation from a medical professional. All information about the runner’s gender identity and medical information, including any information provided pursuant to this policy, will be kept strictly confidential. The Race Director, with input from the Medical Director(s), will review the relevant facts and make a final decision.
If the runner is not in compliance with this policy, they will forfeit any place positions but will retain their official finish. Any announcements made by the race will simply state whether a runner was or was not in compliance with our policy and the associated action taken by the race. We will not disclose, unless requested or allowed by the nonbinary/transgender runner, any medical information related to the decision.

A transgender male (female-to-male) entrant can register to compete as a male. Transgender male runners cannot register to compete as a female if they have begun hormone treatment for gender transition, that includes testosterone or any other banned substance (as defined by the World Antidoting Agency).
Runners may compete in the category of their sex assigned at birth if they have not undergone hormone treatment.

Participant Referral Rewards: Run with your friends and get paid for it!

Want to earn back up to $75 off your registration fee? Well, now you can with our Participant Referral Rewards program. Just register for either the Jersey City Marathon or Half Marathon and then share your referral tracking code with your friends and family.  Once they use your code to register for the Jersey City Marathon or Half Marathon, it will count towards your referral rewards.  Your referral code can be found in your registration confirmation email.

How much do I get back?

If you refer five (5) people to register, you will get a $25 refund. 

If you refer ten (10) total people to register, you will get a $50 refund. 

If you refer fifteen (15) total people to register, you will get a $75 refund. 

**All refunds will be awarded once you reach 5, 10, and 15, respectively. No partial credit refunds are allowed. All refunds will go to the credit card used to sign up for the race in your RunSignUp Profile.

Refunds are not allowed for this event. We do offer deferrals and transfers before March 15, 2024, with an admin fee. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using the Contact page form if you need more information.

Due to the nature of the course and the safety of all participants, volunteers, residents and race personnel, there will be a strictly enforced 15 min/mile pace maximum.  There will be a vehicle trailing the last runners and picking up anyone who is slower than the 15 min/mile pace.  This pace is for both the half and full marathon.