Runners find cars towed after San Ysidro border race

Dozens of participants in the Binational Half Marathon found their vehicles missing when they returned to the San Diego area on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred after the race, which began in San Ysidro and crossed the border into Tijuana.

A long line formed outside a local towing office following the event. Some runners told FOX 5 San Diego that they had parked in lots designated by race personnel, yet their cars were still removed. Runner Alex Rodriguez said, "When we got back, our car was gone. They told us it was our fault, but it is not our fault when the official people of Binational Half Marathon instructed us to park there."

Valerie Rivera, managing director of Binational Race USA, clarified that the towing incidents took place at the San Ysidro Village Shopping Center. She stated that organizers did not designate or promote that location as an official parking area.

Rivera wrote in an email that the organizers had clearly communicated the designated parking locations to participants. Those approved sites were Las Americas Premium Outlets and Baja-Mex Ped West Parking in San Ysidro. She added, "We have not received any confirmed reports of vehicles being towed from our designated parking locations."

The race organizers expressed regret for the inconvenience experienced by those whose vehicles were towed, according to Rivera. Sunday marked the third edition of this cross-border running event. The competition aims to celebrate the diversity of border communities by bringing the two countries together through sport.

In addition to the half marathon, the event included a 12K that began in San Diego and crossed into Mexico, as well as a 10K held entirely in Tijuana.