Runners Waded Through Chest-Deep Waters: Bergen County Bans Race Organizer After Viral Flood Controversy
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, The Bergen County Parks Department’s permitting office has officially placed race management company Racefaster on probation and issued a one-year ban on organizing events within the county park system. The disciplinary action follows massive public outrage and a formal county investigation into the decision to proceed with the Racefaster Half Marathon on Sunday, September 13, 2026, despite severe flash flooding across North Jersey.
Key Actions Taken by Bergen County Officials
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1-Year Permitting Ban: Racefaster is prohibited from hosting or organizing any races within the Bergen County Parks System for at least one year.
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Ongoing County Investigation: Bergen County officials are reviewing the events leading up to race day to determine how the event proceeded under extreme weather risks and who authorized the permits.
Background: Extreme Weather and Ignored Safety Warnings
Over the weekend, North Jersey was hit by catastrophic rainfall, receiving up to 5 inches of rain. The torrential downpour caused the Saddle River to crest more than a foot above flood stage, inundating local roads and parks.
Despite warnings from local safety agencies to reroute the course away from dangerous flood zones, race organizers chose not to alter the track. Instead, Racefaster delayed the start time by two hours and kept the original course intact, forcing participants to navigate hazardous, flooded pathways.
Viral Video Shows Runners Battling Raging Currents
The controversy reached a national audience after former Bachelorette star and marathon runner Zac Clark posted a video online detailing the harrowing conditions.
The viral footage showed participants wading through waist-deep and chest-deep floodwaters, clinging to bridge handrails along inclines to keep from being swept away by swift river currents.
While an estimated 250 runners completed the course without any reported injuries, the decision to allow the race to go forward generated intense safety concerns from participants, spectators, and local authorities alike. Racefaster has not yet issued an official public statement regarding the suspension.
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