Path of the Flood Historic Races

A Flood of Runners is returning to Johnstown, PA for the 8th year of the Path of the Flood Historic Races! This event allows runners to experience the historic 1889 Johnstown Flood in its entirety with the (new in 2021) 14 mile course, or in small droplets through the 5K or 8 mile races. The course follows the Path of the Flood Trail, travels through Staple Bend Tunnel – the first railroad tunnel in the United States – and finishes at Peoples Natural Gas Park where you can see the historic Stone Bridge, still standing after stopping the majority of the flood’s energy. 

Prepare yourselves for a whole new experience with two new trail extensions. For those who choose the 14 Mile distance, you will have the opportunity to “be the water” as you face the new trail and it’s steep initial eighty foot ascent – forcing your way up and over the top, breaching the “dam” and allowing your potential to shift into kinetic energy where you will roil and foam along this new 1.75 mile stretch. You will be able to see the town of South Fork from a whole new perspective before rejoining our previous course and continuing towards the finish.

All runners will have the opportunity to experience the new Trolley Line Extension from East Conemaugh to Woodvale Heights. This new trail allows us to get you off that long, exposed, mean stretch of road that ran from miles 10.5 to 12.0, but running in the shade doesn’t come without a price! This Trolley Line gives everyone an opportunity to take in a view of Johnstown that few ever see with a little climb before descending into The Heights of Woodvale and the continuing shade of Plum Street, passing through the Hope Tunnel and back onto the course for a strong push to the finish at Peoples Natural Gas Park, where you can see the historic Stone Bridge, still standing after stopping the majority of the flood’s energy.

As we are always looking to improve upon your experience each year, all three distances will have timing mats with chip timing.