64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon
- Date
- August 1, 2026
- Location
- Ocean Beach Park, New London, CT
- Distance
- 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon
From the Organizer
Connecticut's Oldest Shoreline Road Race! The Ocean Beach Kelley Half Marathon is ran over a well marked/supported road course with panoramic vistas of Long Island Sound and rural roads in the City of New London and Town of Waterford. Starting and finishing at Beautiful Ocean Beach Park. The race is FREE, runners are asked to bring a donation of food for the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center. Mylaps Chip Timing by SNERRO, awards in all standard age divisions, Team Competition, the Famous 'Port and Starboard Clam Chowder', Ice Cold Coca Cola Products, pre/post race physical therapy, Live Music, Huge Raffle, Finisher Medals, plus a lot more. Don't forget your swim suit, 3/4 mile long Sugar Sand Beach and Boardwalk!
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
80°
Typical Low
65°
Chance of Rain
33%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Groton New London Ap, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
About New London, CT
Population
27,199
as of 2023
Elevation
30 ft
Nearest Airport
WST
Westerly State Airport · 16 mi
Major Hub
PVD
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport · 44 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
54
Days to train
- Race
- 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon
- Date
- August 1, 2026
- Location
- Ocean Beach Park, New London, CT
Coming Up
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Less than a mile away
5K Training Program for the Battle of Stonington
5K
7 miles away
MAD 5K
5K
Less than a mile away
Mohegan Striders 4-Miler at Sneekers
3 miles away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon?
- 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon is a running race held in New London, Connecticut on August 1, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon?
- Saturday, August 1, 2026 in New London, Connecticut at Ocean Beach Park, New London, CT. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the 64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
64th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon
Aug 1, 2026