Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park)

Ocean, NJ

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

About the Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park)

The course runs through the wooded trails of Joe Palaia Park, so expect natural surface underfoot rather than pavement. It has the feel of a park run, with tree cover and trail character throughout, rather than a road race through open streets.

Parking is at a nearby elementary school, with volunteers directing you from there to the check-in area. After the race, the Ocean Township Fall Fest is happening on the fairgrounds right there, so there is something to walk around and take in before you head home.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

· 2025 results

112finishers

19:55winner

33:35median

53:03cutoff

Top 3: Elliot Espinoza Paullac (19:55) · Jaydon Destouche (20:33) · Aria Ghahari (20:45)

The Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park) has been held every year since at least 2024. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K9/26/2026 09:00$25

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Common Questions About the Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park)

Will I finish last at the Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park)?

Almost certainly not. Half the race field finished slower than 33:35, and the last recorded finisher came in around 53:03, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park) a good first race?

It is a small race (112 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first race, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Ocean Parks 5k (Joe Palaia Park)?

The race winner ran 19:55 while the median finisher took 33:35. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.