Achilles New Jersey Hope & Possibility 2026 - In Loving Memory of Kenny Franco Jr. 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Start time
- 8:35 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Rochelle Park, New Jersey
- Entry fee
- From Free
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Fun Run | Kids | Oct 18, 20268:35 AM | Free | – |
| Achilles New Jersey Hope and Possibility WHEELER Half Marathon-Handcycles/Pushrims ONLY! | Half Marathon | Oct 18, 20269:00 AM | $45 | – |
| Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 4 Miler | Other | Oct 18, 20269:00 AM | $45 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kids Fun Run: Free until Oct 18.
- Achilles New Jersey Hope and Possibility WHEELER Half Marathon-Handcycles/Pushrims ONLY! and Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 4 Miler: $45 until Oct 18.
Online registration closes Oct 18, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $45, entry is about the same as a typical half marathon in New Jersey ($45).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in New Jersey runs 2:07:25, about 9:43 a mile, based on 24 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:14:48 and men in 1:59:07.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:09 AM, and the Kids Fun Run starts at 8:35 AM. The start sits about 60 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Saddle River Park, Rochelle Park, NJ 07652
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (3 years)Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 10K
Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 5K
Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility Wheeler Half Marathon
Aggregated from official results (Tristate Timing) for Achilles New Jersey Hope & Possibility 2026 - In Loving Memory of Kenny Franco Jr.. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Achilles New Jersey Hope & Possibility 2026 - In Loving Memory of Kenny Franco Jr.?
At the 2025 Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 50:01 or better, the top quarter in 57:04, and half the field in 1:07:21; the last tenth came in after 1:37:32.
At the 2025 Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 32:12 or better, the top quarter in 40:33, and half the field in 58:00; the last tenth came in after 1:19:01.
At the 2025 Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility Wheeler Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:17:50 or better, the top quarter in 1:28:18, and half the field in 1:52:11; the last tenth came in after 2:23:56.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:04:58 | 52:58 |
| 20-29 | 59:23 | 55:04 |
| 30-39 | 56:04 | 52:25 |
| 40-49 | 50:02 | 46:11 |
| 50-59 | 55:40 | 45:20 |
| 60-69 | 58:03 | 44:11 |
| 70+ | 1:29:58 | n/a |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 80 percent since 2023.
All events combined, from official results.
Achilles New Jersey Hope & Possibility 2026 - In Loving Memory of Kenny Franco Jr. 10K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 202 to 208 finishers, and the median time rose from 59:02 to 1:07:21.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 208 (+3%) | 1:07:21 | under 50:01 | 39:03 |
| 2024 | 202 | 59:02 | under 39:30 | 27:19 |
From each year's official results for the 10K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most New Jersey 10Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 57:04, against 53:38 in a typical New Jersey 10K, so times here run 6 percent slower.
- 8K: Slower than most New Jersey 8Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2023 8K field finished under 50:35, against 41:25 in a typical New Jersey 8K, so times here run 22 percent slower.
- 5K: Slower than most New Jersey 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 40:33, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here run 49 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 18 the day usually runs from 47°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 20% of days. Cold snaps dip to 41°F and hot years reach 74°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- Saddle River Park, Rochelle Park, NJ 07652Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 60 feet
- Included with entry
- T-shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Half Marathon, Kids, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 18, 2026), 2025 (Sep 28, 2025), 2024 (Sep 29, 2024), 2023 (Sep 10, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Achilles New Jersey Hope & Possibility 2026 - In Loving Memory of Kenny Franco Jr.?
- Sunday, October 18, 2026, starting at 8:35 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 18, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for New Jersey?
- At $45, entry is about the same as a typical half marathon in New Jersey ($45).
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- Half Marathon, Kids, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 208 runners finished the Achilles NJ Hope & Possibility 10K; the median finish was 1:07:21 and the winner ran 39:03.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 57:04, against 53:38 in a typical New Jersey 10K, so times here run 6 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- Saddle River Park, Rochelle Park, NJ 07652.
From the organizers
In Loving Memory of Kenny Franco Jr.
We will continue to breakdown barriers in your honor our sweet friend, keep smiling! We miss you everyday, this one's for you Kenny!
Join Achilles New Jersey for our annual Hope & Possibility Run, Walk, or Roll, a powerful day where athletes of all abilities come together to move, connect, and achieve
Whether you're participating in your first race, rolling alongside new friends, or chasing a personal best, this event is about one thing: breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible!
Since 1983, Achilles has empowered over 150,000 athletes worldwide, from neighborhood parks to the global stage of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Here in New Jersey, that impact is felt every single week.