Two-Time Champion Oz Pearlman Returns To Compete In 2013 New Jersey Marathon

Online, February 6, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Oz Pearlman, winner of The New Jersey Marathon in 2008 and 2011, will compete in the May 5, 2013. race, it was announced today by US Road Sports & Entertainment, event owner and operator. Pearlman, 30, set the course record of 2:28.19 in the 2011 event. The professional magician from Manhattan performs hundreds of events a year, but still finds time to compete in marathons and ultra distance events.

Pearlman's return helps accentuate The New Jersey Marathon's theme for 2013 of "We are on! Are you in?", emphasizing its resolve to conduct the weekend's festivities and help in the region's recovery efforts. USRS and The New Jersey Marathon earlier announced a series of initiatives termed "Restore the Shore," to be implemented to help the region's recovery efforts from the lasting effects of Hurricane Sandy. The Marathon, as part of a full weekend of running- and health-related activities (May 3-5), winds through eight towns on the New Jersey shore, which each suffered from the storm.

US Road Sports and The New Jersey Marathon plan to include three main components in "Restore the Shore," including fundraising and donations to "Restore the Shore" from portions of paid registrations from The New Jersey Marathon and other USRS events as well as new sponsor revenues.

"The New Jersey Marathon is one of my favorite races, and I'm particularly excited about running this year to support the shore and New Jersey, to show that they are back and strong," said Pearlman. "I'm training pretty hard right now, and while my goal is to break my PR, everyone will be running their own race, and it's a long distance, so I know you can never take anything for granted."

From 2008-2011, either Pearlman or his friend and running rival Michael Arnstein of New York won The New Jersey Marathon, with Arnstein besting Pearlman in 2009 and 2010, sandwiched between Pearlman's victories.

"We've been going back and forth in a fun, peer pressure kind of way," noted Pearlman of the rivalry.

Michael Harrison is also a two-time winner, breaking the tape in 2000 and 2001. Last year, Jason Page, 38, of Durham, N.C. won the men's marathon in 2:33:13, while Megan DiGregorio, 24, of White Marsh, Md., running in her first marathon ever, took the women's first place medal at 3:00:44.

"We are pleased to welcome Oz back into the fold," said Race Director Joe Gigas. "He has been a great champion, and we look forward to seeing him try to become the first three-time men's winner of The New Jersey Marathon."

The popular race, which starts at historic Monmouth Park in Oceanport, winds through eight N.J. shore towns, including Monmouth Beach, Deal, Allenhurst, Lock Arbour, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Long Branch. While it is still unclear whether changes may need to be made in the race course, organizers continue to survey the route and hope to make decisions thereupon as quickly as possible.

For thousands of avid runners, walkers, beginners and everyone in between, the New Jersey Marathon at the Shore is one of the highlights of Spring. With a full marathon, half-marathon, half-marathon relay, three-mile fun run/walk, kids race, and Kids and Family Events scheduled, plus world-class courses designed for speed, great area restaurants and attractions, and amazing oceanfront scenery, May 3-5, 2013, are circled on calendars all over the Garden State and beyond.

Registration for all events, course views (when finalized), information about volunteering and sponsorship and details of the entire weekend of activities and more are available at the race Website at www.NJMarathon.org and the event Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NJMarathon.

Beginning runners, walkers and athletes with disabilities are all invited to participate. The New Jersey Marathon also conducts a series of training runs and related events to help participants of all levels to prepare.

The New Jersey Marathon is administered by US Road Sports & Entertainment Group, which conducts road races nationwide, including the Allstate Life Insurance 13.1 Marathon® Series.

Major sponsors of The New Jersey Marathon include Barnabas Health and Investors Bank.

About US Road Sports & Entertainment Group
US Road Sports & Entertainment Group is a health and wellness company dedicated to the production of world-class endurance events. The mission of US Road Sports is to offer an unparalleled participant sports experience that showcases host communities and endures as a deeply valued local asset through events that are a part of the city's culture, identity and brand. For each participant, US Road Sports strives to offer events that allow participants of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their physical and mental health and accomplish life-altering goals while having fun. US Road Sports provides sponsors and municipalities highly effective exposure to help maximize their presence and message in the community.