The OCNJ Half is the shore race worth building a weekend around: dead flat, ocean air, and a boardwalk finish. Our house sits at 12th and Haven, an easy walk from the start, so race morning is coffee on the deck and a stroll up the boards instead of a parking hunt.
Race day logistics
The half and 10-miler start Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. from the Music Pier (Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk); the 5K follows at 8:40. The course is flat, running the boardwalk and downtown. Online registration closes September 30, and packet pickup runs October 2 and 3 at the Music Pier.
From the house, the Music Pier is about 15 minutes on foot up the boardwalk. Pick up your packet Friday 4 to 6 p.m. or Saturday 12 to 6 p.m., carb up downtown (Ocean City is BYO, so bring what you like), and sleep 6 blocks from the sand.
The stay that works for a race
Book Saturday to Monday: packet pickup and a shakeout walk Saturday, race Sunday morning, then the deck, the beach, and a slow Monday checkout instead of driving home stiff at noon. Two nights on our weekends board with cleaning included, and the whole crew fits: the house sleeps 10.
Racing with a cheer squad? Kids do the boardwalk while you run it; the course passes within blocks of the house. October beaches are tag-free, the ocean is often still in the 60s, and one dog is welcome ($100 pet fee) now that dogs are allowed on the beach.
Frequently asked questions
When is the OCNJ Half Marathon in 2026?
Sunday, October 4, 2026. The half marathon and 10-miler start at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at 8:40 a.m., all from the Ocean City Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk. The course is flat and fast, running the boardwalk and downtown. Online registration closes September 30 and there is no race-day registration for the half.
Where should runners stay for the OCNJ Half?
Close enough to walk to the start. Haven on 12th is a 3-bedroom top-floor condo that sleeps 10, about a 15-minute walk up the boards to the Music Pier start, with a 2-night minimum, driveway parking for 3 cars, and a deck for the post-race afternoon.
