Run Wild at the Jersey Shore this Summer - at the Inaugural Wild Half Marathon
It is the perfect vacation place or weekend getaway! Run a seaside half marathon along the beautiful Wildwoods shoreline. Yes, for the first time ever a half marathon that combines your love of running with the sights, sounds and scents of a classic boardwalk, and the pure joy of an amusement park--entry includes a free weekend pass to famous Morey's Pier.

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By Skip Cleaver
Posted Thursday, 18 August, 2011

On August 28, 2011 the first ever Wild Half Marathon will run in the Wildwoods of New Jersey. It will start on the famous boardwalk in Wildwood, head to North Wildwood along the seawall, cross a bridge for even greater views, then head back along the boardwalk to Wildwood Crest, and follow a beachside path to a tremendous finish on the beach—the powdery, broad, warm, wonderful sands of Wildwood.

Remember when you were a kid, and the trips to the shore were magical. The boardwalk and the rides were fantastic, and the beach and the waves so inviting. Everything smelled and tasted better at the beach. You could crawl under the boardwalk to play in the shade and then go build a great castle in the sand. Remember the waves, the warmth, and the welcome of the shore, where everyone was having a great time.

You can relive those moments and run a terrific half marathon this summer with the first annual Wild Half. You can even camp on the beach for free if you like, and every race entry includes FREE admission to Morey’s Piers, one of “the best seaside amusement parks in the world”, with six blocks, three piers, 18 acres of amusements, including two ocean-side water parks. If friends and family go with you, they can get 70% off their admission, so everyone wins.

This is a seaside race like no other. Really! Wildwood was voted “one of the best beaches in America” more than once; and Morey’s was awarded “One of the top three seaside amusement parks in the world" by “Amusement Today” magazine. This is your opportunity right now to put a cold, wet spring behind you and plan some surf and sun with your run. It is like signing up for your summer vacation, so don’t get left out.

If you don’t want to sleep on the beach, the Wildwoods have top notch accommodations to suit every taste and budget, and some great restaurants too for the before and after fuel and fun.

You will want to come early and enjoy all the Wildwoods and those beautiful beaches have to offer. The Health and Fitness Expo takes place on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Convention Center; and packet pick up and Morey's Pass will be available during the expo. But you can also pick up your number and free pass to Morey’s on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Convention Center. Check out everything (clinics, seminars, samples, coupons) at the Expo and then head out to enjoy the beach and everything else.

Yes, summer is coming. The average high at the Wildwoods on the 28th of August is 81 degrees with an average low of 65, and a mean of 73 degrees. This means it will be ideal for the 7:30 a.m. start on the boardwalk and a beautiful afternoon to celebrate on the incredible beach. Music is a key element for this one; there will be lots: at the Expo, the start, along nearly every mile of the course, and at the finish from 10 to 1:00 p.m. Fun is in the air.
http://thewildhalf.cgiracing.com/

This event is brought to you by CGI Racing, the folks who brought you the UNITE Half Marathon recently at Rutgers University, and bring several triathlons to the eastern US. They are based in Glassboro, New Jersey and you can learn more at www.cgiracing.com or by e-mailing info@cgiracing.com.

The excellent race website includes tools and information on the race weekend schedule, athlete services, fees and registration, perks and FAQ’s, results following, the Health and Fitness Expo, entertainment, accommodations, directions and parking, what to do, course details and maps, time limits and other rules, the start and finish, post race party, volunteer information, and official charities. Go to http://thewildhalf.cgiracing.com/

The Course
This course was designed with runners in mind. It is nearly all ocean front with several miles on the famous boardwalk in the early stages. The start and finish are in front of the Wildwood Convention Center, which overlooks the beach and fronts Ocean Avenue between Montgomery and Burk Avenues. The first two miles are mostly on the boardwalk, unique and uplifting, before heading out along the seawall along 2nd Avenue, Spruce Avenue and Anglesea Drive for miles 2 to 4. The ocean views include the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.

Miles 4 to 7 include bridges with a turnaround on the bridge to Stone Harbor (Ocean Drive) between Grassy Sound and Jenkins Sound; and near the Cape May Wildlife Management Area. Runners will enjoy the seaside beauty twice as they head back by the Convention Center (mile 11, and great for spectators) toward Wildwood Crest for a tour of the Doo Wop architecture stretching for blocks and blocks. The last mile traverses the pleasant paved bike path immediately along the beach from Wildwood Crest to Wildwood and the triumphant, memorable beach finish!

Amenities and Rewards
Every participant will receive a custom tech shirt, a commemorative medal, that gorgeous scenery, live music at the expo, start, finish, and nearly every mile on the course. The aid stations will be well stocked with water, energy drinks and gels. They will be using the disposable (or more often keepsake) Chronotrack “B” or bib tag to insure quick and accurate results; a gear drop for your stuff; and a wonderful Post Race Beach Party with live music from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., in addition to runners’ refreshments immediately on the beach right after the finish.

The Wildwoods—Lively, playful, enjoyable and just plain fun
There are four separate entities that make up the Wildwoods on one beautiful “Five Mile” island. Located about 37 miles south of the urban hustle and bustle of Atlantic City, and about 7 miles northeast of stately and reserved Cape May, the Wildwoods sit on the Atlantic at the southern tip of the Garden State. It is a place reserved for fun and amusement. With beautiful long, broad beaches and a conscious effort to maintain the 1950’s and 60’s mystique (architecture and neon included) while providing the most advanced amenities and amusements; this place is special. What a wonderful, fun, scenic and unique place to run.

The town of Wildwood, the center of it all, is surrounded by North Wildwood (once called Anglesea), West Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. They are located on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail. The history goes back well before the 50’s, however, as evidenced by the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, which anchors the northeast corner of the islands beaches and was built in the Victorian era. It is surrounded by lush flower and herb gardens and boasts five fireplaces (tours available). Much further back there was a Revolutionary War battle fought here and around Sunset Lake.

The first roller coaster was built in 1916, and the famous boardwalk—now over two miles of specialty shops, boutiques, snacks and amusements –was first proposed in 1899. That boardwalk is now a landmark and an attraction in itself with electric trams taking passengers the entire length (Wildwood and North Wildwood). The boardwalk is rated “one of the top 10 in the nation”. Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Waterparks sit right on the boardwalk and the complex stretches for blocks. The Mariners Landing Pier hosts the famous Giant Wheel (nearly 200 feet), Rollies Coaster and the speedy Sea Serpent Coaster. The adjacent Surfside Pier contains the AtmosFEAR free-fall thrills, the Condor and a log flume ride that will make you day wild and wet. Enjoy the sun and the thrills on the Adventure Pier with Curse of the Mummy, the Great White Roller Coaster, and Sky Ride, and much, much more.

And there are open air trolleys in addition to the trams—run for years by the Five Mile Beach Electric Railway Company, one of the oldest in the USA. You may want to take in the Doo Wop Back to the Fifties Bus Tour the day before your half marathon. But the beach with that white sand and crashing surf is really the draw. Deep sea or surf fishing, and whale and dolphin watching cruises are also very popular in the region. (There is a remarkably large population of bottlenose dolphins living just off the island.)

Do the First Wild Half Marathon
This is really a unique event, and one that will prove memorable for many reasons. Throw off the cold and wet of this spring and plan to join all those running the ocean front avenues, bridges, boardwalks, beaches and byways of the Wildwoods. See you there on a beautiful summer morning. Running is fun! The enticing sands and amusements of the Wildwoods make for something really special. Be there!

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