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Some Runners Claim Temecula 5K Failed To Give Them Run For Their Money

TEMECULA (CBSLA.com) — Christine Massa said she was hoping a 5K she ran last Saturday at Mount Palomar Winery in Temcula would have been a lot of fun. But instead, she said it was a big disappointment and a waste of her $40.

"I would not do another event with these people," she said. "It was an experience that no one should have to go through, especially if it was their first 5K."

Massa said she received a bib with the wrong name. She showed CBS2/KCAL9's Crystal Cruz a bib with someone else's name and said: "I have no idea who Rosa Tirado is. I hope she had more fun at the event than I did."

She is not alone. Several other runners complained that the facility failed to provide enough restrooms, parking spaces, water and other necessities. On top of that, the route was not properly marked. So some runners got lost.

Massa and Maria Bravo were among the 1,600 runners who took part in the 5K Kiss Wine Run.

"At one point, he turned us around and he said: 'Oh, every body is going the wrong way.' So people were running across the field that had holes that had rocks. Absolutely, everything was horrible," Bravo said.

A spokesperson for the winery said it offered the venue for free and agreed with some of the runners that the event was disorganized.

5KHR that organized the race declined to be interviewed but released a statement: "We wholeheartedly feel sorry for anyone who had a bad experience onsite. We don't want to minimize the issues and we are doing our best to make sure that future events are better."

But the company would not say if it would refund the runners who were disappointed.

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