Photo by jthorpephoto.com[Ed. note: The post has been updated with comments from RAM Racing]
Runners that participated or registered for the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K race Saturday morning at National Harbor said the run was dangerously overcrowded, poorly organized and shoddily executed.
Many who signed up for the race never arrived, stuck in traffic for hours. The event was part of the RAM Racing series. RAM claims the backup was due to a traffic accident. National Harbor said many runners didn’t park in their designated areas. Those who participated say delays were caused by organizers registering too many runners, and they griped that parking was woefully unorganized. (Many said the event’s singular deficiency was a lack of public-transportation.)
The 15K race was slated to start at 8 a.m., but runners said it didn’t begin until after 9:00 am. When it did kick-off, they endured a painfully narrow course and frequently arrived at empty water stations.
Participants claim event organizers have been removing critical feedback from their Facebook page. Frustrated runners launched their own Facebook group to air their grievances: Epic Fail – Hot Chocolate 5k/15k.
The 5K was contained to the streets closest to National Harbor. The 15K started on Harborview Avenue and looped around National Harbor Boulevard. Racers then ran back up Harborview Avenue, crossed Oxon Hill Road, moved south on 210/Indian Head Highway and turned back around at Palmer Road. Frustrated participants complained the sidewalks at National Harbor were not built to funnel thousands of runners along the waterfront.
RAM Racing Chief Marketing Officer David Wallach said that about 20,000 runners were signed up for the race and about 75 to 80 percent finished. He said after the experience runners had this year, organizers could consider a different location for their next D.C. race.
“We’re new to D.C., and we’re learning,” Wallach said. “One of the things we’re going to do now is outreach to the running community to ask them where the next location could be.”
Participants were charged $65 for the 15K and $45 for the 5K. Many expressed their desire for refunds.
When asked if RAM Racing would offer refunds to people who were unable to reach the race, Wallach said, “Our management teams are going to come up with a resolution.”
Registrants should check the event’s Facebook page and the RAM Racing website for updates. Wallach is encouraging participants to continue sharing constructive feedback on Facebook and said that as long as comments don’t contain profanity or abusive language they won’t be removed.
“I promise next year will be better,” he said.
