Ocean Drive Marathon - Race Reviews

This was my second Marathon that I completed and much different from my first. My first was the Philadelphia Marathon which everything seemed much bigger. This is the first year the Marathon was held in April, which judging by previous posts, the weather was much better. It was a sunny day with a little breeze, not the head winds that previous years had. The Course is an out and back type course that is very flat. The only hills come from the three bridges you must cross but they are relatively easy. There are not too many turns with a lot of straight paths which makes this an easy Marathon to PR or qualify for Marathon. The volunteers at the water stations were very supportive and poured their hearts into cheering every runner.....all 170 of us....The water stations were spaced out fairly. Arriving in the morning was tough because not many people knew where the start line was and their were no signs directing anyone. The course had very little spectators but those who were out were very supportive. I was surprised by the low turnout due to the beautiful day but I assume there is not much advertising for this race. The Expo was not an expo but a bib pick up where you get your shirt and if you wanted, you could buy a previous year shirt. Overall, I enjoyed this Marathon. The beautiful weather with the scenic course of the water and beach homes made the experience enjoyable.

In 2018, we had perfect weather. There was a breeze but it was not a factor at all as has been reported in previous years. As ever, weather is luck of the draw. The course is flat, well-marked, and well-served by enthusiastic volunteers. It is also scenic at some points, and there are lots of pretty homes to eyeball on the out and back course. The race is small. Not a big field of runners (a lot were doing the ten miler vice the full marathon), and the expo, as noted, is really just a bib pickup. You also don't get a lot of spectators ... it's a bit early for the summer beach crowds, and the area hosts a lot of other events. I was surprised how many people asked me what I was doing and how long a marathon is as I ambled past them on the boardwalk! Still, it was a very nice, well-supported, quiet race. And since it is not my first rodeo, I was okay with having a smaller expo and such. A note for healthy eaters: Good Earth and Green Street Cafe are superb places to eat! Good Earth down by Cape May is a hole in the wall macrobiotic place run by an Italian couple who came here in 2012. It has delectable homemade meals that are perfect for fueling and recovery. Cafe Green Street is in a health food store.

First, the good...the course goes through a really lovely part of Cape May county which is very pleasant and entirely flat except three bridges, each of which are less of a hill than a speed bump with an attitude. There are a lot of aid stations and they're well stocked and the volunteers are great... When I didn't want water or Gatorade I actually felt guilty because they were so consistently enthusiastic and supportive. I really can't say enough how great they were and it seemed as if there were as many or more volunteers than runners. The big disappointment is the organization. Why are you required to pick up your bib the day before, in a place not that near the race, at an expo that doesn't exist? There is no running related activity there except bib pickup, an operation no different than the bib pickup before the start at every 5k.... Even worse is the start, which makes the pre-race at every 5k I've ever run look like a logistical work of art by comparison. Why would you advertise a bag check but not wait to close it until after the start? By the time I got there it either had closed or never opened... None of the race officials at the start could tell me which, only that it was supposed to be on the other side of the building next to the start. Finally, the race webpage could really use more information, like where to park and where the start is relative to that and how it will work (as if that should be planned and documented). It really seemed to I assume that anyone who wasn't local was staying at the hotel they recommended and taking the hotel shuttle to the race. Oh, and as others have mentioned, appreciate the nice quiet pretty towns and open natural spaces because the only cheering you'll hear will be from the volunteers at the aid stations. Spectators are very few.

This was my fourth ODM & my favorite so far. The race time starting at 9 was great, enough time for me to get from Cape May to Sea Isle. The out & back course was a welcomed change to the usual brutal headwind. This year it worked out that the wind was only tough for the second half. I think the expectations of people need to be altered for a March Marathon at the beach. Ed did a great job by making a change when the people asked for it. I will be back next year for my 5th!!!

This was my first race in Cape May. They changed the course and the first half was pretty much flat and fast. When the turn around came I was hit with 50 km an hour winds. Tough. I would rather the race kept going the same direction and go point to point to avoid the wind. Lots of runners were knocked out by the wind. My time was under the cut off but not as strong as it could be. Lots of food at the expo and the medal is good. I would like to see the organizers work with the local gyms (3 on 1 street!) for shower facilities after the race. I had a ten hour race home! Great shirt and easy packet pick up.

I usually run half marathons. I ran only one full marathon before but the result was beyond 4 hrs. I would like to go below 4 hrs one time. I registered for this marathon because the course is flat. I believe I had training enough to run below 4 hrs. Unfortunately, the wind was so hard and against all the way. This is the risk of one way direction marathon, which I learned this time. You can be prepared for the cold weather by wearing more but you cannot do anything for against wind. My result was far below 4 hrs and I decide to run another marathon to achieve my goal. The course is good. Spectators are very few but they are very nice. Organization is also good. But, although I sent 2 emails to the address in the website asking simple questions, I received no response, which is not nice.

Out of 45 marathons, this was the most difficult, not because of the course, but because of the weather conditions. It was very windy from start to finish. The course was very nice and the volunteers were awesome considering the weather. There was little to no fan support but then again, who visits the beach in March. Overall a good race and would love to visit the area in great beach weather.

Other than not being listed in the official results (which hopefully will be rectified), I was pleasantly surprised by this race, considering how so many comments in previous years focused on the strong winds. Yes, the winds were strong (NW 22)  but this year, only when we headed due west, which was seldom; yes, it was cold (-14 windchill at start), but being from Chicago, totally bearable with appropriate clothes, especially since it was sunny. I liked that some was on the Boardwalk, some was on ocean roads, some were through coastal neighborhoods with beautiful big homes, some were through marshy areas, some was past harbors. I thought it was a nice variety. The shuttle buses back to start were great and ran on schedule. They allow a 1-hour Early Start; just email the RD. I was told by the RD no race-day packet pickup so I paid an extra $10 to have it mailed, but there were LOTS of runners picking up their bibs before the race. I stayed at Colton Court in Cape May  CHEAP with ocean-front room/'balcony' (just bring your own coffee, shampoo/conditioner, hair blower). Shirt fit to size.

This is a small, but friendly race. We were expecting cold temps, but with the sun it was a pleasant run. The expo was very small, one small room. Don't expect anything in the 'goody' bag; there isn't anything. Park at the finish for the Marathon; there is plenty of close parking. The buses pick up right at the finish to take you to the start. The hotel was great by letting everyone stay inside until the start, which is just outside the hotel. The race is almost all flat except for the bridges. Don't expect many people to cheer you along. There are a few along the way, but not after mile 11. Thanks to the very enthusiastic kids after mile 10. The runners are sparse after mile 10 as the Marathoners tend to spread out. The course isn't always marked very well. If there aren't any runners in front, pay attention. Watch out for traffic. There are several area later in the race where you are sharing the road with the cars and there are no cones to separate you from the cars. Thanks for the massage. The food was very slight; bagels, chicken broth w/o the chicken or noodles, bananas and oranges.

I gave the race a pass for lack of course support and spectators last year due to the rain; however, this year with bright sun, it was no better. Pretty much zero spectators, and not great support. The first half had police/safety vehicles at most intersections, and cones. The second half was rather deserted. There were a few times where we weren't sure where to go. One bridge with no shoulder had traffic open in both lanes - really quite an accident-waiting-to-happen. This race should really be a lot cheaper, or there should at least be more course markings.

I ran the course yesterday, the 17th annual run. Overall, the course was beautiful and you can't beat the view. However, the organization of it seemed more like an inaugural race rather than the 17th year. The Convention Center had a completely different address, than where it really was (according to Google Maps). When we finally got to the convention center, there were zero signs telling runners where to go. We walked into a Special Olympics basketball tournament. We had to wander all over the convention center trying to find the marathon packet pickup. The convention center staff was rude when we asked them where to go. The only sign for the expo was an 8.5 x 11 handwritten sheet of paper. It was very cold and very windy race day, but nothing anyone could do about that. It was sunny out and a lovely view. Course support was adequate. It was the best mix of gatorade I've ever had on during a marathon! Not too sweet, not too diluted. Just right! The water was yellow... that was a little disturbing. Not sure why the water was yellow. Maybe it's because it's by the beach or maybe it's because it's New Jersey. All in all, a good race, but I think better organization is needed. This was my state check off for the 50 States club and I think it was a great choice.

I ran the ODM in March 2014. The entire last 13 miles was run in torrential rain with a 20mph headwind. That being said...if it had been a nice day the course was flat and fast with the exception of a few short bridges which breaks the race up nicely. I think with the exception of the meager finish area and the half marathon split off area, I saw 5 spectators. So if you are into running solo (if slow like me) and in any kind of weather conditions this is a good race for you. Very well organized and the parking/shuttle was very easy. Around mile 17 it was raining and wind blowing so hard that you had to run with your head down. With no course people to guide you (only marked cones) I saw a few runners keep going straight when we should have turned. A FEW people guiding turns might be a good idea. Overall for the money it was a decent race. I hated the material the shirt was made out of though and it ran VERY small.

This is a nice smaller marathon, but not too small. The course has some great ocean views and is point-to-point, but it can be monotonous at times with some straight sections that go on for miles. The race didn't start until 9 am, and I wished it would have started at 8. Cape May is a ghost town pretty much during this time of year, so there aren't many spectators. The weather is also unpredictable at best - be prepard for anything, especially a strong headwind and cold temps. The shirt is a very nice tech long sleeved shirt, but the medal was drab and could have been much better. The shuttle system was a nice convenience, but it took way too long to get from the finish back to the start - over an hour! The hotels in the area are all very pricey since you are in a resort area and there aren't a lot of options since it is out of season during this time. We stayed at the Palace Hotel, which was about a mile walk from the start so that we didn't have to worry about parking. Very convenient, clean and we could check out as late as we wanted! Very nice staff. Although with the long shuttle ride it may have been better to stay near the finish line and take the shuttle to the start. Post race you were offered hot chicken broth and very yummy bagels. The overall and age group prizes were also nice.

I ran the 10 miler a few years ago and this year I ran the marathon so this review may be a combination of the two races. This is a mid-sized race (about 1000 runners and half in the marathon). I valled this race and it is. There are no bands or other bells and whistles but its well organized and runners needs are met. This a a point to point race run from Cape May NJ (a favorite shore point of mine) to Sea Isle City (the 10 miler runs to Wildwood). There is a shuttle system where runners can park at the finish and get bused to the start but I've never needed to use it so I don't know if this runs well or not. The course is very flat. Folks who hate hills would like this course. We run over a few bridges but these are short and in my opinion only one could really be classified as steep. The early crowded miles are closed to traffic but even after they open up runners will always feel safe. This is off season so we mainly get the streets to ourselves. Running the full I think I got 8 to 10 miles of ocean views. The 3 miles or so along the wildwood boardwalk is nice. Most of the race however is a few blocks off the beach running through shore towns. Pleasant but monotonous. Running in early spring along the Jersey shore one can expect ideal temps but one should also expect wind. This year I got pummelled by a tough headwind from miles 14 to 20. Talking to regulars they say the winds usually come from the north so be forewarned. Reports that there's no gatorade until mile 11 are accurate and also that the gatorade is diluted are also accurate. There were virtually no fans so one must be fine running alone. I like the solitude of races like these but its not for everyone. Perhaps if the weather was better more fans would turn up but I suspect not. Thanks to the volunteers who were enthusiastic and smiling even after the heavy rains started. Its easier running in the rain than just standing there but they were great! The website is not the best I've seen but if you work at it you can find most info that you need. The expo is very modest (held at Wildwood Convention Center) but you can get gels or other last minute supplies. The medal is disappointing and the shirt is always the same long sleeved tech shirt. Nice quality and design but other than color it stays the same year to year.

I was worried about the weather due to the downpours on Saturday, but we got lucky on Sunday. Light wind for the first 2+ hours and mist throughout. (I got in right before the rains.) Staying at Montego Bay resort with the pasta dinner (and 2 breakfasts) paid for in the reservation was perfect. Loved running through the quiet boardwalk in Wildwood. Appreciated the watered-down Gatorade. If I wasn't going for 50 marathons in 50 states, I'd definitely do it again.

I did this race on my quest for 50 states. Loved it. The race director ED, was very quick to return my emails. Organization was perfect. I took the early start which wasn't advertised but I had read it in an earlier comment. Traffic control was even available for the early starters. We stayed at the Jetty Motel at the end of Beach dr in Cape May and it was convenient, close to the start. The race was right on the ocean and through some pretty residential areas. Point to point which is my favorite. Shirts and medals were OK. The town of Cape May was scarce but quaint. We enjoyed our visit.

Similar comments to others who have already posted. PROS: Interesting and pretty in spots (even with gloomy weather) Energetic Water Stop Volunteers Nice bus driver on return trip Soup at the end CONS: No Gatorade until about 11 mile mark. (They ignored comments from 2013). That said, Gatorade very weak. Finisher's medal a bit boring/strange Marathonguide site posted results for clock time, not chip time. Not sure why

First rate operation. No gripes. The run: First half was pleasant, through sea marsh and a section of boardwalk(a ghost town in March). Got lucky with just fog, fine mist, no wind, after downpour the prior day. Second half not so lucky at least for us 'back of the packers'. Steady rain, some downpours, some stiff headwind and a more monotonous run through neighborhoods. Street numbers starting at about 160th and not ending until 5th for final dash to the finish. Glimpses of a rough surf at times. Good ambulance and intersection police presence throughout. Toasty tent at finish with plenty of food.

I love smaller races like this. For runners expecting glitz, glamor and fan-lined streets you'll be disappointed. For seasoned runners who mean business and want a PR, this is the place for you. The course is dead flat except for a few bridges. The scenery is nice and beachy. Race day for me was chilly, windy, foggy and misty. Rain pounded later finishers. The food at the finish could be better. The massage tent was awesome. Transport back to the start was good. I had a great time and would definitely do this race again. Great small race and nice medal.

This course was a very scenic course! Wonderful volunteers along the course up until mile 24! Lesson learned from this race, plan on finishing no later than 5 1/2 hours. If not, you will definitely be left behind and will need to find a way back to the starting line on your own!

A relatively small race that had a reasonable turn out. The course was flat, a little boring and well stocked with supplies at the aid stations. Spectators were few but enthusiastic and the volunteers did a great job. At the finish I was handed a mylar cover and walked to the tent to wait for results that were delayed 45 minutes and the times were botched but since corrected. The tent could have used heaters instead of a DJ. By the time the awards ceremony came most had left and the few behind froze listening to a race director calling out awards but most were not there to receive them.

This was a nice, smaller race. Registration was a snap, the website left a bit to be desired, though. It was barely updated from 2012 and left out some fairly important info. I stayed near the finish, took the shuttle to the start. We arrived 75min prior to race start, and they made us get off the bus in the 30deg cold and wind. Luckily, one of the host hotels was right there so several hundred runners packed the lobby to stay warm for til the start. The race went off on time. the course was flat, there were 4 or 5 bridges, but they were nothing severe. There were plenty of water stops with enthusiastic volunteers. They only had water until the stop at Mile 11, though. I would have liked to have gatorade earlier. It seemed that we were never more than a block or 2 from the ocean, but other than a short stretch of boardwalk in the first half of the race and then in the last mile of the race, you could never really see it. Post race activities were adequate, the warm soup was great. Coming from TN, I was disappointed that the race is before the tourist season starts, so there was a ghost town feel to the Jersey shore. If the race were moved a month later, at least the shops and stores and such would be open. At least it was nice and cool, and from what I hear, we were lucky with the winds, which were barely noticeable to me. Overall, a nice race, with everything you need, but not a memorable race for me.

This was one of my states to finish for the 50 state goal and I liked it. I stayed at the Palace Hotel and they prepared a breakfast for the runners for 5:30 in the morning. The race director answered all of my emails promptly when I had questions. I liked the course as most of it was along the ocean and on the boardwalk. I did an early start and young volunteers were ready along the course to direct us. It was flat all of the way. Of course, it was early in the season and the town was deserted, but since I do not like crowds much, it suited me fine. I would recommend this course.

First, I'll say that the RD and organization were reliable, they mailed me the bib and timing chip with race-day instructions b/c I was unable to attend the Expo. That was great. The pre-race shuttle from the finish to start went smoothly, as did gear check. Not many port-o-potties though. As for the race, a surprisingly boring course. You'd think having the ocean right there lends to some pleasant scenery. Not exactly. Much of the race is run through residential neighborhoods; less than half has the water in view. Not anybody's fault, probably just the availability of roads/trails in the area. Miles 8-10 in Wildwood are on the Boardwalk, which gives the race one of its few original, local feels. And even though the 4-5 bridges that you go over are windy and cold, at least they vary the scenery. I wonder what the logistical implications would be of running the course from Sea Isle to Cape May. The wind generally blows out of the north in the area, so as it's run now odds favor a headwind every year. Fan support is barely present, despite the number of residential areas. The Shore just must be deserted this time of year. Volunteers were solid, aid stations were good. Shot Blocks at mile 17 were clutch. Not knowing specific price points, I'd highly recommend switching plastic cups to paper... much easier to fold and drink from paper while running. Timing chips seems to be somewhat inaccurate, my watch time was 50 seconds faster than chip time. Looks like they substituted gun time for many racers too b/c the chips didn't read. Not that this is why most of us run, but for an average priced marathon, the tangible benefits (medal, shirt, post-race food, supplies in med tent) were subpar to well below average.

I'll start with the bad: Website takes the time to write a couple sentences about the water stops but doesn't give specifics unti the day before at the expo. Website doesn't say that headphones are banned, you find out at packet pickup. Gatorade isn't available until Mile 11 onward and then it's heavily diluted. (no mention of diluted gatorade until packet pickup) Most fast marathoners rely on non-diluted gatorade throughout as their main calorie source. Results were promised up by the end of raceday and it's the next day and they're not available. It just feels like a race designed by a person who doesn't run. The good: It's a beautiful part of Jersey, even if it's the off season. The weather was good, the course is really nice and flat other than the bridges you knew to expect, race started on time, shuttle buses were nice. It's as if the person who directs the race is a great race director, he just isn't a runner himself and doesn't know what we expect once we get running.

I'll be honest. I don't really care about scenery, post race facilities, medals, etc. All I want is to not get lost on the course and enough water along the way. The R.D. delivered. The course was well marked with enough volunteers along the way to handle the amount of runners in the race. It was basically a headwind the entire way but I knew it would probably be like that coming in. My wife and I had access to the bathroom facilities before the start at multiple times and did not have to wait long. Don't show up at the last minute and expect the race to go off late just for you. Plan ahead! I'm very pleased the race started on time.

This is a pretty low key event. Good organization. Easy packet pick-up. Montego Bay was very runner friendly allowing late check-out. There's not much going on in and around town because it's off season and virtually everything is closed so it doesn't rate really as a destination marathon. In fact, the houses are empty too so it's like running in a ghost town. Rating for spectators is really low because they're aren't any. I only did this race to get my 47th state done. The volunteers and the transportation drivers did a great job pulling off getting everyone around. Thanks. My only suggestion for improvement is to have chip or some form of electronic timing. We stood in line for a ridiculous amount of time because they didn't have enough bathrooms at the start. Missed the start by a couple minutes so our times are off. In this electronic world to have someone taking your bib tear off like the 'olden days' and using 'gun time' is so antiquated. I love 'old school' running and marathoning but this is one part of this race that needs to get with the real world of running.

The cold dreary day was nobody's fault. I imagine the run along the ocean could be gorgeous on a sunny day. However, many runners said the headwinds are the same every year. If this is so, because they were horrible, why not reverse the course? Would be wonderful to run a marathon with about 24 miles of tailwind!

PROS: This was a wonderful point to point marathon that was very well organized. The expo was fairly small, but nice, and the shirt was one of the better ones I've gotten from a marathon. The headwinds and chilly, damp winds were terrible, but I think the Race Director was someone other than God. CONS: Even for a small marathon, the crowd support was minimal. Additionally, a few more water stops would be useful. Lastly, I stayed in Wildwood near the expo. The town was DOA and the hotels are generally worn. Cape May may have been a better housing choice. Overall, very nice job ODM - I'm glad I came!

The size of this race is still just right. Great views and spaces. Inspiring support along the way. Thank you again to the organizers and fans/locals (including my crazy family) that were out and about at this event down the shore in March. So good so good.

From the ghost town of Cape May in the winter to the beautiful route. This small intimate race is just a pleasure. Coming from England you obviously dont get this kind of course. My take is that this is a small selective race, affordable and prior to the likes of Boston or London. There are so many positives that I don't care for any negatives. The spectators and the supporters, though small in numbers, very fantastic. I will cherish the memory of a super run.

Course is flat except for 4 small hills approaching drawbridges. Water stops were well-stocked but could be a little closer together. Volunteers were great. Nice shirt. No expo to speak of, just packet pickup. Virtually no crowd support, but not expected with a small marathon. Course was scenic with several miles within sight of the ocean.

I picked this marathon for sentimental reasons - I used to vacation down there and sail off the beaches of the barrier islands. It was good sailing because of the reliable winds especially in spring and fall. Having said that, we were real lucky this year with a nice light north breeze about 8 mph - just right to keep cool in the 88% humidity. The first 15 and last 3 miles are very scenic with lots of ocean, salt marsh, bay and harbor views. The bridges are low (that's why they're draw bridges) but afford nice big sweeping views. Miles 15 through 23 are mostly straight, pancake flat past shore homes that are probably nice to live in but dull to look at - but that's about as good as Avalon/Stone Harbor gets. Spectators' enthusiasm and support more than made up for their relatively low numbers. The race started exactly on time. Organization and support on the course looked top notch to me. I carried a fuel belt with two 20 ounce water bottles which worked well because I like to drink a little every mile. Refilling the bottles at some water stops went real well - like they did it before and had a pitcher ready - but others weren't so sure. I read many people would prefer a north to south route to avoid the prevailing north winds of early spring. The problem with that is you could still get a strong steady south wind and would also have the sun in your eyes, with no shade at all, the whole way. The only thing I would change is the seagulls on the medal and shirt. Sneakers on seagulls? Please.

Cape May is a lovely little town but too crowded in summer for my taste - so come to this run and take a look. The course is pretty flat (just a couple of drawbridges), although prevailing winds may slow you. Lots of scenery: wetlands, oceanfront, pretty and/or interesting homes, and the boardwalks with their rides and arcades all closed up were interesting, maybe a little haunting. Few but friendly spectators, and super-nice volunteers. Well-stocked water/electrolyte stops. Gels and fruits were also available during the 2nd half. Bring your own Tylenol if you're accustomed to taking it en route. Good shuttle bus service. We really appreciated the food at the finish - the usual bagels etc. but also yummy pastries, and chicken soup! Loved the heated tent and the heated bus back to the start.

* Course - beautiful course... but most of the time I was running into the wind. That was probably the hardest part of the event. However the views along the way more than made up for that. I got to run on very very cool bridges. * Organization - the event was very well organized. I'm a mid-back of pack runner (~4:40 for the marathon) and there was still food towards the end of the course for me! (That's rare in many events.) Bananas and oranges were offered along the second half of the course and the aid stations were very well-staffed as well. The only downside about this event is that it doesn't utilize any timing technology so there is no 'chip' time. * Spectators - even though there were limited # of spectators - they were beyond amazing. They are so incredibly supportive and I really appreciated their encouraging words.

I ran Ocean Drive as a last long run before Boston. It's hard to find marathons this time of year (in the northeast at least!), and I enjoyed it enough that I'd go back again. Flat course if you're looking for a PR, though consistently just one block away from being scenic. You know the ocean is right there, but you can only see it once at the 10 miler finish. The volunteers on the course were enthusiastic and entertaining and great:) My only recommendation is a little more of a food selection at the finish of the race, please. My husband thought it was fine, but I'm the foodie of the family and need more than a dry bagel and cup of chicken broth when I wrap up 26.2! Other than that, nice event:) Thank you race directors for offering us northeast-ers a February marathon:)

A beautiful, flat course with lots of ocean views. The wind was not much of a factor and the conditions were good for a fast time. The aid stations were well equipped with drink and food, but there could have been one more in each half. The crowd was sparse, and not too supportive. The expo was a good size for a small race and the shirt is among my favorites. The medal was nice as well. If you are coming from out of town, I would recommend staying near the finish in Sea Isle City or, what I did, driving to the finish from Cape May and taking the shuttle back to the start. I then stayed in my hotel until about 15 minutes prior to the race. It's better than waiting for the shuttle and then riding 45 minutes after the race. Not much is open in Cape May on race weekend so it's not a great destination race. A very nice run, but not one that I am likely to repeat.