Garden State 10 Miler & Cookie Chase 5k

Vote for the 2026 GS10 NJ Theme Here Today!

2026 Garden State 10

Welcome to NJ's Favorite Distance Race!

WHEN: 
March 22, 2026

WHERE:
Colonial Park
156 Mettlers Road
Somerset, NJ 

RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE: 

Friday
4pm-8pm: Packet Pickup, Road Runner Sports (North Brunswick, NJ)

Saturday
10am-2pm: Packet Pickup, Road Runner Sports (North Brunswick, NJ)

Sunday
7:00am: Registration opens (packet pickup, new registration)
8:45am: Cookie Chase 5k presented by Insomnia Cookies
9:30am: Garden State 10 Miler
11:00am: Youth Fun Run

SHIRT & BIB DEADLINE: 

Register by 11:59PM on March 1st for a race shirt and personalized bib. 

A FEW EVENT DETAILS:

5k Map
10 Mile Map

10 Miler Awards

Prize Money: $150/$100/$75* Top 3 M/F
AG medals: 19 & Under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
All finishers receive a medal 

Cookie Chase 5k Awards

1st M/F: $100*
Prize Money: Top 3 Costumes - $100*
AG medals: 19 & Under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
All finishers receive a cookie

*Gift cards provided by Road Runner Sports

Half Marathon Challenge

All finishers receive a "Challenge Accepted" medal in addition to their GS10 medal

The Relay 

We know running is more fun with friends. This is a 2-person team. The first participant runs ~3.6 miles, high fives their partner who then runs the remaining 6.4 miles. The relay transition is within walking distance of the 10-mile start at the corner of Mettlers Lane and Colonial Drive. Both participants must register for the relay individually. 

Youth Fun Run Awards

All youth participants receive a race bib and finisher's medal. 

EVENT PROCEEDS:

The Garden State 10 Miler is a collaborative fund raiser hosted by the Garden State Track Club and the Franklin Township Police Department. Since its inception in 2017, the event has donated $35,000 to charitable causes. It now provides need-based scholarships to graduating seniors at Franklin High School.

The Garden State 10 Miler is a collaborative fund raiser hosted by the Garden State Track Club and the Franklin Township Police Department. SInce its inception in 2017, the event has donated $35,000 to charitable causes. It now provides need-based scholarships to graduating seniors at Franklin High School.

The Cookie Chase in presented by the event's title sponsor, Insomnia Cookies

ARRIVAL TIME & LOCATIONS 
Please plan on arriving before the start of packet pickup.
Friday @ Road Runner Sports: Arrive at 3:45 for 4 PM start. 
Saturday @ Road Runner Sports: Arrive at 9:45 for 10 AM start. 
Sunday @ Colonial Park, Lot B: Arrive at 6:40 for 7 AM start.

TWO ROLES
There are two roles in registration - checking participants in and supporting those who are checking participants in. Those in the support role have it easy as it's literally just grabbing the shirt size that the person checking the participant in calls for. 

LINES
Bib pickup will be broken up into two divided sections. 
One section for 5K bib pick up (those doing just the 5K). Within this section there will be two lines, A-N and O-Z.  
One section for all other events (10 mile / relay / 5K + 10 Mile challenge).  Within this section there will be four lines, A-E, F-J, K-Q, R-Z. 

CHECK IN PROCESS
On Thursday, we will print a spreadsheet for each of the above sections organized by last name. This spreadsheet will note a bib number and the shirt size for the participant. Bibs are in order by name, not number, so practice your ABCs. Be mindful that there may be people with the same last name like "Smith". Please verify the bib number and last name is given to the right person so the results are not impacted. We've done our best to go ahead and label bibs with the first name when many people share the same last name but can't promise we got them all.

SHIRTS
Please note that anyone who registered after midnight on March 2nd will not receive a shirt. This will be communicated to participants in advance, but they may be surprised at packet pickup because everyone always thinks they are getting a shirt. In this case, no shirt size will be listed. 

Participants must take the size they registered for. Anyone wishing to change sizes or who may have not received a shirt can swing by post-race to pick from our leftovers. 

Note: There were 17 runners who registered in 2024 who did not specify a shirt size. On the spreadsheet, it will say choice next to their name meaning they can choose their shirt size. 

APP FOR DAY OF REGISTRATION & BIB CHANGES
There is an app for participant check in which will be needed for anyone who registers after Thursday AM including those who register race day.  All volunteers who are comfortable using an app need to download the check-in app to their phone prior to arriving.

Apple: RaceDay CheckIn on the App Store (apple.com)
Android: RaceDay CheckIn - Apps on Google Play

Once the app is downloaded, please load the Garden State 10 Miler and text Courtney for the password at 908-872-0217. 

Once logged in, you can name your device with your name, and we pick the "EDIT" configuration which will allow you to update bibs if needed. Bib numbers are specific to each event so we can review this on race day. 

Upon arrival on race day, we will show you how to use the app. Again, this will come into play only when someone is not on your printed check in list or needs a new bib. 

EVENT CHANGES

Anyone who wishes to change events should see Courtney on race day. I will be available in the tent for any issues.