Path of the Flood Runners!
I cannot thank you enough for supporting the Path of the Flood Historic Races this year. Once again, we look forward to feeling the rush of runners “flooding” over the starting lines and making their way to the Old Stone Bridge.
Don’t forget – Runners are asked to wear BLUE or GREEN for race day to simulate water. We will have Bo Hagaman from SeePARun.com and his photographers along the course to capture your effort. Their photos will be available free of charge to download from his site following the race.
One note when planning your drive to Johnstown – The Haynes Street Bridge is presently closed. There is a short detour around the area that is easy to follow. Please keep this in mind when heading out on race day.
See you soon! Mark Voelker Race Director
May 8, 2015 Runner Update Where is packet pick-up and when?
Packet pick-up will be Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Peoples Natural Gas Park Oilhouse, 90 Johns Street, Johnstown, PA 15901.
For those runners who plan on attending the Friday Night Pre-Race Dinner at the Johnstown Flood Museum, you will be able to pick your packet up at the dinner.
Day of the event packet pick-up will be at People’s Natural Gas Park, 90 Johns Street, Johnstown, PA 15901 starting at 5:30 a.m.
What happens if I entered and cannot participate?
There are no medical comps, rollovers (this MAY not be an annual event), nor registration transfers. Our event is a non-profit although any uncommitted funds will be donated to the Johnstown Area Heritage Association to support the improvement project of the Johnstown Flood Museum.
Can I register Day-of-Race?
There will be day-of registrations for the 5K Race ONLY, but you will not receive a t-shirt, pint glass nor will you be electronically timed.
Can someone else pick up my packet?
Yes. They will need to provide your confirmation print out or a note signed by you giving them permission to pick up your packet for you.
What pre-race events are available?
A Pre-Race Pasta Dinner will be available at the Johnstown Flood Museum, 304 Washington St, Johnstown, PA 15901. The dinner will start at 6:30 p.m. and will continue until 8:00 p.m. and will cost $10.00 for pasta, salad, rolls and drinks. Those who attend the dinner will have full, free access to the Flood Museum and a tour guide will be on hand. This is a great way to absorb the impact of the flood and make the run on Saturday much more memorable.
Those interested in the Pasta Dinner are asked to RSVP to Ms. Melody Tisinger at 814-418-6088 or [email protected].
What will you have as premium for the runners?
High quality technical short sleeve shirts for all participants that will be unique for each race, Souvenir pint glass for all finishers, awards for the top three Male and Female runners for each race, A great tour through Johnstown history, and a post-race festival at the finish area.
Is there anything else to do following the post-race festival?
Discover Johnstown will be holding their Second Annual “Taste and Tour” of downtown Johnstown from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. More information can be found at
http://www.discoverjohnstown.org/what-s-happening and https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/342580272607892/
The Course
How are the races being timed?
Chip timing is being provided this year by Integrity Sports – PA Runners from Williamsport, PA. Results will be available shortly after the race at http://www.parunners.com/.
Can I walk the course?
Yes, but if you opt to walk the half marathon course, you must be prepared to self-support. Aid stations and traffic controls will remain in place to support a 15:00/mile. Anything slower than that will not be guaranteed on course support. There will be a designated “Last Runner Couple” for the half marathon.
What are good locations for cheering?
As the course traverses many of the communities affected by the 1889 flood, cheering from along the course should be easy. Remember that traffic controls in place for the event may slow or delay your moving around in the areas of downtown Johnstown during the race.
Spectators who would like to watch the start of the Half Marathon can purchase a bus ticket at the packet pick-up or morning of the race for $10.00. The price will include round-trip
transportation on the bus with your runner(s) from PNG Park to the start and back plus a complimentary drink at the festival area. Children 12 and under can ride the bus free of charge.
Will there be medical professionals available?
Yes. There will be EMT support at Mile 6 of the half marathon at the Staple Bend Tunnel parking lot. There will also be EMT/medical support at the race finish. Each aid station will have basic first aid materials, Vaseline, etc…
Will there be aid stations along the course?
Half Marathon. There will be six water/aid stations with porta-johns along the course. They will be at the Start area, near Mile 3.0 South Fork, Mile 6.0 Staple Bend Tunnel, Mile 8.5 Tunnel exit (no porta-johns), Mile 10 Franklin Borough ballfield, and Mile 12. They will provide water, electrolyte replenisher, gels, bananas and/or oranges.
10K. There will be three water/aid stations with porta-johns along the course. They will be at the bus drop off at Staple Bend Tunnel parking lot, Mile 1.5 Tunnel exit, Mile 3.0 Franklin Borough ballfield, and Mile 12. They will provide water, electrolyte replenisher, gels, bananas and/or oranges.
5K. There will be porta-johns and an aid station with water, electrolyte replenisher, gels, bananas and oranges at the Franklin Borough ballfield for replenishing prior to start and an aid station at Mile 1.2.
Will the course be marked?
Yes. There will be markers at each mile along the route. The course is fairly intuitive but we will have guides for traffic control and “steering” at the few points that they are required. Orange traffic cones will guide the runners on nearly the last three miles of the route.
What is the course terrain and surface like?
The 5K is all on paved surface and flat except for a short section from Franklin Borough to Woodvale that will cross the Colonel Tominac Bridge on SR271. Runners will get an elevated view of the flood path from the bridge apex!
The 10K is roughly a fifty-fifty combination of crushed gravel (rails to trails) and paved road surfaces. Runners will have a smooth start to and through the Staple Bend Tunnel before a healthy, but short, series of climbs to regain the hillside before heading into the halfway mark. The half marathon course is roughly a fifty-fifty combination of paved road and crushed gravel (rails to trails) surfaces. Although the flood waters of the Little Conemaugh all ran “downhill,” there will be portions of the course that will offer ascents – most notably the first two miles of the course into and around South Fork, PA, and the west side of Staple Bend Tunnel on the Coy/McCombie section of the Path of the Flood Trail.
Where can I learn history of the course to make my experience greater?
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough is the most comprehensive book on the 1889 flood. Also visit the following sites:
www.nps.gov/jofl/
www.jaha.org/FloodMuseum/history.html
Race Day
How do I get to the Starting Line?
PARKING. All participants will park in the Conemaugh 1 Lot across the street from the Johnstown Amtrak Station on Walnut Street. This will be one half block from the finish line. There is no parking available at the starting areas for the Half Marathon or 5K. Limited parking (less than two dozens spots) is available at Staple Bend Tunnel.
5K BUSSING. Participants will be bussed to the starting area, commencing at 6:45 a.m. There will be two school busses continuously shuttling runners to the start. Runners are asked to keep things moving for an on-time start and busses will depart as soon as they are full.
10K BUSSING. Participants will be bussed to the starting area at 7:00 a.m. Drop off will be at the parking area for Staple Bend Tunnel off Beech Hill Road. All runners should be delivered on one bus and will have to take a short walk down the trail to the official starting line.
HALF MARATHON BUSSING. Participants will be bussed to the starting area through continuous shuttling provided by three busses. The first bus will leave at 6:45. It is roughly a 20 minute ride to the start area. Busses will depart when they are full. Runners are asked to take the earliest bus available to make an on-time 8:00 a.m. start.
Can I be dropped off at the start area for my race?
Runners who arrange a ride and can be dropped off without parking a car at any start area are free to do so. Make sure you have all your gear and are there in time for the timely 8:00 a.m. start!
Will there be a gear drop off for me to leave gear to be retrieved post-race?
Yes. There will be a designated indoor area at Peoples Natural Gas Park (race finish area) for participants to leave gear they would like to have following their event. There will also be gear drop off boxes at each race start area. This gear will be returned to PNG Par and placed at the finish area in the designated gear drop.
Awards?
Although we view this race as an opportunity to recreate a piece of Johnstown and national history, there will be a simple award ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. for the 5K, 10:30 a.m. for the 10K, and 11:30 a.m. for the Half Marathon at Peoples Natural Gas Park. Locally crafted awards will be presented for the top three male and female runners in each race.
Can I…?
Wear an MP3 player? Yes, but please do so as to not pose a safety risk to yourself or others. Use a baby jogger/stroller? Baby joggers/strollers can be used on the 5K course only as long as they are packable for transport on the school bus.
Expect continuous cellphone coverage? Most, but not all of the Half Marathon course, has cell coverage. If you are streaming music, do not be surprised when you are “forced” to listen to your footfalls at some points along the course!
