Halloween 5K runners: “They left us in the middle of nowhere”

Runners are speaking out about their experience participating in the Halloween 5K last Saturday, after they say hundreds of people were left stranded in the bitter cold with no direction for nearly an hour before the race started.

A video shared with us from a participant shows dozens of costumed runners standing around

People are also complaining about a dirty, unmarked course, and a lack of communication from the organizers.

The race’s organizers posted to their Facebook page Friday night, saying the U-Haul holding the commemorative Halloween-themed race T-shirts and medals had been stolen. They said they were working with local law enforcement to find the thief, but didn’t expect to have the gear back by race time.

Colorado Springs police confirmed to KRDO on Tuesday that there was a report made about a stolen U-Haul outside the Gold’s Gym on North Academy Avenue.

We reached out to the organizers early Tuesday, who agreed to speak with us, but have yet to answer our questions about what happened.

The race was set to begin at Dorchester Park.

Race participant Raymond Bailey tells us hundreds of people were dropped off via bus just outside the Caliber Collision, an auto body repair shop across from the park, with no one to direct them to the starting line.

Eddie Davis, another participant, agreed, saying the race was very disorganized.

“They loaded us up and they took us to this part of town, and they just dropped us off, and there was no race set up, nothing that indicated there was an event going on,” he explained. “It was just a really weird experience, and we didn’t know what was going on the whole time.”

Davis and his mother, Carmen Burcaigo, say people were left at what they call an “unsafe” area while they waited for organizers to show up.

Other participants claimed there were porta-potties available, but they were unsure if those were provided by the organizers.

They say some of the toilets had needles and other concerning objects in them.

Davis and Burcaigo say the race itself was confusing leading all the way up to the finish at El Pomar Youth Sports Park where, to their surprise, there was a legitimate finish line.

“There were no indications. It was just follow this path. We were just following the people in front of us who hopefully knew where they were going,” he said.

Burcaigo also said there were no water stations in sight.

“There’s always people at every mile marker to give you water and there was nothing,” she said.

Bailey, who won his age division says he didn’t receive his specific reward.

Davis and Burcaigo said they were told that it was only the winners’ awards that were stolen. The mother and son duo was still able to get their participation medals at the end of the race.

It’s unclear how the medals eventually showed up.

Participants we spoke with say they hope the winners will eventually get their prizes, and those who left due to confusion will get a refund.

KRDO Only 2019