The Path of the Flood Historic races commemorate the Flood of 1889 in Johnstown, PA. The runners have spoken and the event will continue annually! A Flood of Runners returns to Johnstown, PA every year for the Path of the Flood Historic Races! Experience the Path of the historic 1889 …
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The Path of the Flood Historic races commemorate the Flood of 1889 in Johnstown, PA. The runners have spoken and the event will continue annually! A Flood of Runners returns to Johnstown, PA every year for the Path of the Flood Historic Races! Experience the Path of the historic 1889 Johnstown Flood in its entirety with the 14 Miler or in small droplets through the 5K or 8 Miler races. See the resiliency of the communities of South Fork, Mineral Point, the boroughs and the City of Johnstown.
Run through Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in the United States. Finish at the Old Stone Bridge, which still stands after stopping the majority of the flood’s energy. The hybrid road/rail trail course beckons you to be a part of history once again! The Path of the Flood Historic Races is hosted in partnership by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association and the Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority. All proceeds from the Path of The Flood Historic Races will benefit the Johnstown Area Heritage Association and the CCCRA Friends of the Trails program, a program which exists to enhance the Cambria County trails.
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Run the path of the historic flood of Jo
I enjoyed the rolling starts. It was a cold rainy day and starting minutes after I arrived at the start line was a bonus. Runners are bussed to start line. … MORE
I enjoyed the rolling starts. It was a cold rainy day and starting minutes after I arrived at the start line was a bonus. Runners are bussed to start line. Run was trail, tunnel and pavement. Trail portion was a muddy and there were a few hills, also slippery in some areas, but that just added a little challenge to the experience. Note: we had heavy rains the day before and throughout the night. Race day was also rainy, hence the mud. There is alot of history in this run and I knew the history of the flood, but I wish I had done more research in the history of Johnstown to better recognize some of the landmarks in town and appreciate it more. My take is it was a great race, w/ well organized water and refueling stations, The total race from start to end was well organized with a great post race party.
Tough Lonely Race
Chose this race as my original plan to run Buffalo got sidetracked. The course was mostly trail with a mix of packed dirt and packed gravel. The course for me … MORE
Chose this race as my original plan to run Buffalo got sidetracked. The course was mostly trail with a mix of packed dirt and packed gravel. The course for me was very challenging with many ups and downs. Thankfully it did not rain as originally forecast otherwise, the footing would have been that much more challenging as there were already numerous muddy spots along the trails
The course was point to point so we were bused from the finish to the start and it was a rolling start, so as the runners arrived at the start, they were able to take off. The race was fairly small so after I started, I very rarely had another runner in sight. A few runners passed me up, and occasionally there were a few runners I could spot in the distance. Otherwise I was out there on my own for the majority of the race and other than the water stops, there was zero crowd support.
Although I was able to maneuver most of the course by following the Path of the Flood trail and road signs, the only other markers were painted markers on the Trail and road but could have easily been missed. There were very few race personnel throughout the course and no one checking on runners as there are at most race events.
My other big concern was being out there for miles without another runner in sight or any other support personnel in sight, if I were to have a problem, sustain an injury, or worse, needed any medical care, it could have been a huge problem!
The Shirt is nice but the medal was disappointing – all one dark gray color! Overall, and after 114 Half Marathons, one of my least favorite events!
Another good year
This race is such a positive event in a city that has seen better days. It continues to grow. They have everything organized like it has been around for decades. … MORE
This race is such a positive event in a city that has seen better days. It continues to grow. They have everything organized like it has been around for decades. I will keep coming back to support this event. It is great they have a distance for every level and for walkers and runners alike. The course is nice, even on a hot sunny day with its plentiful shade and soft surface.
Smalltown Race
This was my first time participating in this race. I signed up on the recommendation of 2 friends who ran it in 2017. It's a small town race, but offers … MORE
This was my first time participating in this race. I signed up on the recommendation of 2 friends who ran it in 2017. It’s a small town race, but offers 3 distances to suit any runner. The race is in its 5th year and this was the biggest yet. The half marathon boasts a course that is almost entirely downhill. There are a few small climbs, but nothing major. About 8 miles of the race is on a gravel rail trail surface and offers excellent shade. Despite a hot day, it was less intense. The last 3 miles are unshaded city streets, so that was tough but you were almost done. A neat aspect of the course is the old rail tunnel you run through. They line it with paperbag lanterns and it creates a neat experience. The tunnel is also 20-30 degrees cooler than outside temperatures so it’s a nice break.
The shuttle service was well-run before the race, parking is easy and the after party was nice with music and a free beer.
It was also neat to learn a bit of history. The course follows the path from South Fork to Johnstown of the 1889 Flood that killed more than 2,200 people. There’s a national memorial in South Fork, I’d recommend visiting to learn more.
With Johnstown being a city in poor a economic state, this was a feel good race in that you knew you were benefiting a community in need of economic activity. The race officials are very humble and thankful for the support of their race and community. I will definitely go back.