Marathon Chaos: Runners Find Cars Towed After Following Event's Parking Advice
Dozens of participants in the San Diego-Tijuana Binational Half Marathon faced towing fees and frustration after parking in locations seemingly sanctioned by the event.
The San Diego-Tijuana Binational Half Marathon concluded with unexpected complications for many runners, as dozens discovered their vehicles had been towed despite adhering to parking instructions provided by the event organizers.
Following the 13.1-mile race, which spanned from San Ysidro into Tijuana, participants returned to find their cars missing, leading many to the Western Towing impound lot to retrieve their vehicles.
Runners reported that parking guidance on the marathon's official website suggested that the Las Americas Premium Outlets parking lot was a safe option. The website stated, "For your convenience, Las Americas Premium Outlets will allow you to leave your car parked there on race day without the risk of being towed. This convenient option allows you to park at the race start area and enjoy the event with peace of mind."
However, many participants found this assurance to be false. "We get there. and there’s no car. I was like, ‘Where is my car?’ I was not the only one: all these people are part of it, which is unfortunate," said Bernice Diaz, whose sister had parked their car in the Las Americas Premium Lot, to Fox 5.
Another official parking location was Baja-Mex Ped West Parking at 4575 Camino de la Plaza, which offered a $12 race-day rate upon presentation of a race bib. Some runners also claimed that race personnel directed them to park in areas not officially designated for event parking.
Alex Rodriguez recounted being instructed by a race team member to park near a Popeyes in San Ysidro Village. Upon his return, his car was gone. "The team for Binational was instructing us to park in a parking lot…They told us it was our fault, but it’s not our fault when the official people of Binational Half Marathon instructed us to park there," Rodriguez told the news outlet.
The Binational Race Team issued a statement to Fox 5, clarifying that the towing incidents occurred at the San Ysidro Village parking lot, which they stated was not an authorized parking space for the event. They also added, "No Binational Race staff members were assigned to direct or manage vehicle traffic or parking within or outside Las Americas Premium Outlets."