New Jersey runners battle floodwater during half marathon

The images are striking. On Sunday, September 13, the Racefaster Half Marathon, held in Paramus, New Jersey, went ahead in exceptionally difficult conditions. Several runners had to wade through completely flooded sections, with water at times reaching their thighs.

The race was originally scheduled to start at 8 a.m. Because of the weather, organizers eventually pushed the start back by two hours. Despite the heavy rain and flooding, the race went ahead. Several sections of the course were soon underwater. Videos show runners forced to make their way through fully flooded stretches, in some places with water reaching significant depths.

Floodwater transforms sections of the course

As they made their way around the course, participants had to tackle several particularly difficult areas. Some moved through knee-deep water, while the deepest sections reached thigh or hip height. Videos also show runners picking their way cautiously through the flooded areas, sometimes using objects along the course for support.

One participant said he had to cross “five or six rivers” during the half marathon, prompting him to wonder whether the route had been changed. The race had initially been billed as an event where participants could target a fast time, but the weather turned it into something entirely different.

Race goes ahead despite the flooding

Despite the conditions across several sections of the course, the runners kept going and made it to the finish. Images from this edition of the Racefaster Half Marathon show just how unusual the conditions were for a road race, with participants running through submerged streets.

The half marathon ultimately went ahead, and no injuries were reported after the event.