Road race participants fighting to get refunds after last minute cancelation

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Jennifer Mcalinden planned to run her first half marathon near her home in Plymouth, but when the old sandwich road race abruptly canceled she needed a backup.

The Old Sandwich Road Race was scheduled to be and end at Plymouth South High School on June 4, but the day before an email from event organizers Plymouth Rock Racing said it had been "postponed due to the availability of the venue (construction)."

“It was a red flag to me because the school had held there graduation ceremony the day before the race was supposed to run,” Mcalinden said.

Jennifer has been trying to get the $58 she paid to enter refunded, but she says Plymouth Rock Racing has not responded.

The June 4th road race is not the only event Plymouth Rock Racing has failed to deliver on.  A Sprint triathlon that was initially planned for April 30 still hasn't happened.

Assistant Plymouth Town Manager Derek Brindisi said the permit requested for June 4 were denied.

“He didn't complete the application and we had tried on multiple occasions to make sure the application was full and complete,” Brindisi said.

Plymouth Rock Racing is operated by Craig Brenner, but when Boston 25 News tried to contact him a man who identified himself as Brenner's son said he was unavailable.

According to Plymouth Rock Racing’s website, the sprint triathlon has been rescheduled the for the last weekend in July.

The filing deadline for that date has already passed, and the town says it has no new applications.

Meanwhile, runners like Mcalinden have had to look for other races across the state to participate in.

“On the larger scheme I think it's unethical that he's accepting registrations and then postponing events and cancelling what have you for me personally I just want my money back,” Mcalinden said.

Cox Media Group