The Jersey City Marathon and Half Marathon Brings Excitement from All Over the World

There’s only one time in the year for Jersey City where all of the streets are closed and the locals wake up early on a Sunday morning with excitement: the Jersey City Marathon and Half Marathon. This is the 4th Annual Marathon, on April 19th, 2026.

Instead of cars, 10,000 + runners from over 50 countries fill the streets, converging at the right bank of the Hudson River. 

This marathon route is unique because it is one of the flattest routes and it goes through the culturally diverse city of Jersey City. Executive Director Steve Lipski, a runner himself, has been working hard to achieve the goal of making this race internationally acclaimed. This race will soon be a 2027 Boston Marathon Qualifying event. 

“I’m dead,” said Jenna Carastro, a first-time half-marathon runner from Vineland in South Jersey. “I feel like I left my head and my legs and my soul in mile 8. I’m happy that it’s over!” She has been training for two and a half months for this event, making her mother very proud. “She’s a natural athlete,” said Holly Carastro, Jenna’s mother. Jenna finished with an astounding 1:29:43!

Other runners have done the marathon before and love to participate every year. Katie Rasor, from Brooklyn, New York, has run eight marathons and so many half marathons that she can’t even remember. “I feel good! I was sick and from the first mile I knew it was going to be tough, so I am proud that I struck through and almost beat my PR [personal record]!” Rasor said. Rasor finished with a 1:44:17, just one minute away from her half marathon PR which she got at a previous Jersey City Marathon. “I love running, it’s what I do for fun,” Rasor added. 

Many people also came to support the runners. One group with multiple cleverly designed posters came to support Kyle Robinson from Hoboken. “This is his first time running,” Hien, his girlfriend, said. “He’s doing great so far! He’s beat his goal and is doing a mile in 7:50!” Robinson has been training for 4 months and is about to set his new PR. “He’s doing this! Hell yes!” said Maggie, one of his close friends. 

The support also came from the volunteers, who helped out the runners along the way and made sure that the event ran smoothly. Hayley and Zoey Tung, two sisters from New Rochelle High School in upper New York, came to help with registration. “We got to help a lot in letting people know where to go. We gave out these cool t-shirts to all the participants and got one too!” Hayley said, showing off the Jersey City Marathon tee. “We’ve worked a bunch of races before, and definitely want to do this one again!” Zoey said.

It takes a city-wide effort to hold this event. Whether it is getting a new personal record,  or staying physically and mentally fit, runners from all over the world come here to enjoy the sport of running.