Ocean Pathway runner. All photos  by Paul Goldfinger.  You can click on the photos to enlarge.  Blogfinger.net

Coach

Volunteer Charlene Burns and daughter Sanei. “Good job,” she says.

Greeting her fans on the Ocean Pathway

By Paul Goldfinger, Sports editor @Blogfinger.net

Today the New Jersey Shore Marathon rolled into Ocean Grove, which is at the 18 mile-post of the 26 mile event.   They arrived down Central Avenue and headed east on Ocean Pathway. They turned right on Ocean Avenue and then made a loop at Broadway to head back north via the Casino toward the finish line in Long Branch.

Heading north on Ocean Avenue ©

This is volunteer Idreaner Causby of West Side Christian School who said, “Looking good, way to go, watch the puddle” over and over again on Ocean Avenue–while remaining totally cheerful.

Over 2,000 runners participated, and the lead runners arrived in the Grove about 10:00 am. There was a rock band called KEPT playing on the porch of the Albatross. Ocean Pathway resident Norm Goldman was running around near his house with a big grin on his face, wearing a hat that made him look like a Sherpa.

I noticed many medical personnel all over the route, and there were people on bicycles, riding near the runners to make sure they were all right. Scary? I don’t know, but few of the participants were smiling and waving. Most of the runners were wearing earphones to stay focused.

Along the way volunteers were handing out cups of drinks, bananas and some kind of gel food. Half the time a breathless runner would grab for a cup, knock it to the ground, say “oh s**t” and then try for the next one. One guy had the job of raking up all the cups.

Take the water, pass on the banana. Blogfinger photo

I have to say that the runners varied in size, shape and sex, but almost all of them were thin. Most seemed relaxed in their pace, even though they were at mile 18.

Nearing the Casino. Smiling at me. One runner said, “Nice camera.”

Tutu. It’s the rage for runners in NYC.

Luckily it was a beautiful cool day. As they passed into the Casino, they came out into the sun, and this photographer got some nice light.

Dan Cashman (L) and Greg Porlier of Stroudsburg, Pa. These two friends prepared for months and finished with a time of 4:18:22.

Many volunteers were present along the route to keep the runners on track and to cheer them on, along with Grovers, visitors, friends and family. It actually was a joyful event. Some participants were running to raise funds for cancer research. A few women (and one man) wore tutus.

PINK MARTINI: