Oceanport Mulls Proposal to Stretch New Jersey Marathon Over Two Days

The Oceanport Borough Council is considering a proposal by New Jersey Marathon organizers to stretch the annual event over two days, with the half-marathon on one morning and the marathon on the other.

Some council members expressed concerns at their meeting Thursday night about the disruption such a change might cause. The council plans to discuss the idea further at its meeting June 16.

The U.S. Road Sports and Entertainment Group, which organizes the event, believes splitting the two races over two days -- on the weekend of May 4 and 5 -- will get more runners to participate, said Oceanport Police Capt. Dan Barcus, who relayed the proposal to the
council. The police have no objection to this idea, but whether to allow it is up to the governing body, Barcus said.

"They're asking for an answer by the end of June," he said. "They have to do 
feasibility studies."

More participation means more money raised by the race, Councilman William Johnson said. That presumably would mean bigger donations to volunteer groups in the borough by race organizers, he said.

Residents have learned to live with street closings for one day in the spring, said Councilman Ellynn M. Kahle. They might feel differently about having two weekend days disrupted, she said.

Race organizers believe starting the races at 7 a.m. instead of 8 will lessen the inconvenience, since runners will be out of the borough before many residents are up, Barcus said.

About 10,000 runners participated in the races this year.