Organizers Of Flooded NJ Marathon Banned From Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The organizers of a half-marathon that continued despite flash flooding on Sunday will not be allowed to host events in Bergen County parks for a year, officials said.

READ MORE: Waist-High Floodwaters Soak Runners In Bergen County Half-Marathon: Video

County officials will also investigate whether runners headed through ponds and other unauthorized areas.

Runners who participated in the Racefaster Half-Marathon in Paramus on Sunday posted videos of themselves braving waist-deep water. Many of the observers said that the race, scheduled to start at 8 a.m., should have been canceled.

A flash flood watch had been issued hours earlier, and Bergen County already has been hit with several rounds of flash flooding this summer.

"The county of Bergen is reviewing all of the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s privately organized half marathon," said Derek Sands, a spokesman for County Executive Jim Tedesco. "The event was not sponsored, organized, or operated by Bergen County. The county issued a permit allowing the organizer to use portions of [Saddle River Park]."

Sands said county Parks Department and public safety officials "advised the organizer to utilize an alternate route specifically intended to avoid areas of the park at highest risk of flooding. Despite that guidance, a number of race participants chose to disregard the alternate route and proceed at their own risk."

The county is investigating to see if the organizers complied with the conditions of the permit.

Runners Could Be Charged

Sands said sheriff's officials are also investigating whether runners entered ponds and restricted areas.

"The Sheriff’s Office is also reviewing the conduct of race participants, including individuals who entered county park ponds and other restricted areas," he said.

When asked if a runner could be charged with an offense, he said, "That is certainly a possibility."

Some appeared to have jumped into a duck pond, he said.

"As a result of Sunday’s incident," he noted, "the race organizer will be placed on probation with the Bergen County Parks Department’s permitting office, and will not be permitted to organize races within the Bergen County Parks System for a minimum of one year."

Videos Of Flooding

Paramus got the most rain in the county on Sunday morning, nearly five inches, said the National Weather Service.

Runners and observers who posted videos from the half-marathon said the race should have been canceled.

"We live in Ridgewood and many of our friends were running this race,” Helen, a Ridgewood resident, told Patch. “They all said it was horrible experience. Watching and cheering them was not easy.” She posted several videos, including this one:

Patch reached out to the Racefaster Half-Marathon organizers Monday, but received no response.

Prior reporting: 'This Is Nuts': Waist-High Floodwaters Soak Runners In Bergen County Half-Marathon: Video