Race Description

The 5K (3.1 mile) course through Duke Island Park is one of the best you can find. The paved, tree-lined path circles the park, with great views of the Raritan River. Runners and walkers alike will enjoy the early Spring beauty among the 339 acres of the park. The race will begin near the Visitors Center, and follow two loops around the park. A water station will be available just before the 1 mile mark and again around 2.5 miles into the course.

Post-race refreshments will be available, and bathroom facilities are just across the road in the Visitors Center. We will have a brief awards ceremony after the race, followed by some door prizes and other giveaways. We welcome you to stay and enjoy the park afterwards.

The nature lovers among you might like this paragraph from the Somerset County Park Commission's Duke Island Park brochure:

Duke Island Park is a sanctuary for many of the plants and animals that are characteristic of the region. Between the Raritan River and the canal, an open deciduous forest provides habitat for several species of owls and many deer and small animals. In the spring and fall, migrating warblers and many other species of song birds draw birdwatchers to the park. On warm days, painted turtles can be seen sunning themselves on the logs in the canal. Waterfowl, hawks, and an occasional osprey soar above the sycamores and hemlocks which line the banks of the Raritan River. Walkers seek solitude on the woodland trails, and wildflower lovers enjoy a rich variety of native plant species, especially the Virginia Bluebells which carpet the forest floor in April.