Community Runners Baffled as Phantom Run Lacks Organisers, Confusion Over “Run For Destination 2025”

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Early morning runners were left bewildered and frustrated on 25 May, at Suan Luang Rama IX Park in Bangkok after arriving for the much-anticipated “Run For Destination 2025” event, only to discover that no organisers were present to oversee the race.

 

According to the event schedule, the 10km run was set to commence at 06:00, followed by a 5km race at 06:10. Hundreds of participants, many of whom had paid a 450 baht registration fee and dedicated weeks to training, arrived punctually, only to find a ghost event with no operational staff in sight.

 

While the event setup appeared superficially ready, complete with a start line arch, activity tents, and mobile toilets, there were no officials or event coordinators on the ground to manage the run. The absence of any organising presence sparked confusion and frustration among attendees, with several taking to social media to voice their disappointment over what has been dubbed a “phantom run”.

Adding to the confusion, sharp-eyed runners noticed a glaring error on the English signage at the event’s start gate, which read:

 

“RUN FOR DESTINATION 2025 SUNDAY 28th MAY 2028 @SUANLUANG RAMA”, suggesting a race date three years and three days in the future. The typo has become a viral point of ridicule and speculation online.

 

Several participants have questioned the event’s legitimacy and demanded accountability for the disorganised debacle. As news of the fiasco spread, local police were reportedly dispatched to the venue to receive complaints and begin an investigation.

 

Disappointed runners are now seeking answers as to how such a large-scale event could collapse so completely, with many left wondering whether the race was the victim of administrative error or something more deliberate.

 

Authorities have yet to confirm if any legal action will follow, but runners are calling for refunds, transparency, and assurance that future events will not suffer the same fate.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-25.

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
‘Phantom Run’ Organiser Taken into Custody

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Pandemonium broke out at Suan Luang Rama IX Park on the morning of 25 May, as more than a thousand furious runners gathered to demand refunds for a run event that turned out to be a scam. The so-called running event, which charged participants between 400 and 450 baht each, failed to materialise, leaving only a confused MC at the venue and a crowd of duped runners.

 

The situation escalated when police arrived and escorted a woman believed to be the organiser away from the scene. Viral footage shared by social media page “เจ๊ม้อย v+” captured the moment of her detention, along with the audible outrage from the crowd. At one point, a scream rang out as officers took her into custody and escorted her to Phra Khanong Police Station for questioning.

 

Reports reveal that the woman claimed she had only 1,300 baht remaining in the event’s account, a paltry sum considering over 1,000 participants had registered. A quick calculation by onlookers showed this would amount to barely 1 baht per person, sparking further outrage and disbelief among the crowd.

One runner commented, “We were sold a dream of a race with prizes, T-shirts, and a great community event. But when we showed up, there was nothing. A start line, no staff, just a confused announcer telling us to start running if we wanted.”

 

The day before the event, the organiser had set up a booth to accept last-minute registrations and sell merchandise, further misleading attendees and boosting confidence that the race was legitimate.

 

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, while disappointed runners are filing complaints in hopes of recovering their registration fees. The police are expected to press fraud-related charges, pending further evidence.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-25.

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

When corruption is so systemic it becomes normalised, it’s no longer shocking - it’s almost expected - but the publicity of this scam shows a huge degree of hubris - or perhaps is was a last minute 'dash' as the organisers realised they were working at a loss.. No prize money, no remaining face...  they'd blown the budget ?

 

But make not mistake - the 'organisers' will be sitting pretty - with sponsorship from MK and others, plus the entrance fees - they've profited nicely.

 

So endemic is the graft within society that everyone’s queuing up for their shot at the grift, and events like this run are just the latest hustle in a long line of small-time scams that slip through the cracks as the organisers may well take greater profit that any fines they face.

 

Until there's real accountability - actual prison time, asset seizure, public exposure - scams like this will keep happening. Because when everyone thinks corruption is normal, no one bothers to fight it.

 

The organisers will likely get little more than a warning and a shrug from the system, while everyone else is left wondering whether they’re the fools for playing fair.

 

It breeds a quiet distrust of almost everyone, yet somehow this sits alongside a society that remains naively, almost charmingly, positive - and that odd contradiction is exactly why Thailand continues to be such a strangely refreshing place to be.

 

 

[impulse]

1000 participants at 450 baht?  It probably cost that much just to rent and set up the arches and the tents.

 

I suspect incompetence more than anything.  Perhaps well meaning, but didn't do the math before hand?

 

Hopefully, we'll get some follow-up reports, but I suspect it'll all be forgotten before the next news cycle.

 

[hotchilli]

Nice try by the organiser..

[redwood1]

Corruption leaves no stone un-turned in Thailand....Government from top to bottom,Police,the Army,movie stars, beauty queens, immigration, contractors, average joes etc etc  just about anyone in a position of power has had and continues to have their finger in the corruption pie in Thailand.

[Emdog]

Appears the organizers "did a runner"... there, I said it,so you don't have to.... 🙂 

[Watawattana]

Misunderstanding...

[mran66]

Anyway at least the run was well named 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Run For Destination 2025: Sign Company Blames Organisers for Errors, Organisers Point Finger Back

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

The company responsible for producing the event’s signage has publicly revealed that it had warned the organisers about errors in the artwork, including incorrect dates, logos, and banner sizes, before printing. Despite these objections, the organisers insisted on proceeding with the flawed design.

 

The sign company explained on social media that it received the final files late on 21 May and although they promptly flagged the mistakes, the organisers authorised printing anyway due to time constraints. The company also confirmed it delivered the signs on the morning of the event but was not responsible for installation, which was left to the organisers’ own staff.

 

In a phone call to the sign company on race day, the organisers reportedly blamed the signage errors for the lack of participants showing up, claiming the incorrect date discouraged runners. The sign company expressed frustration over being held responsible for the event’s failure, emphasising they had no intent to mislead and had followed the client’s instructions.

 

Meanwhile, event staff involved in the event had arrived on the morning and even set up drink stations, as they had not been told of any problems. Most of whom were unpaid and connected through tutoring networks, expressed concern about potential legal repercussions following the sudden cancellation and poor organisation.

 

In a related statement released by MK Restaurant Group, a sponsor of the event, firmly denied any involvement in the race’s organisation or its cancellation. MK emphasised it had provided only financial support and condemned the last-minute failure that caused harm to runners and stakeholders. The company is reportedly preparing legal action against the event organisers.

 

The “Run For Destination 2025” debacle has left many runners disappointed and sparked calls for greater accountability in event management and sponsorship transparency. Police are investigating complaints filed by participants who feel misled and let down and legal action may follow.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-27.

 

 

 

 

[JoePai]

In the mean time the fees the runners had paid in advance...........?

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Bangkok Authorities Ban Future Events by No-Show Run Organisers

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Bangkok authorities have banned an event organiser from holding two upcoming races following a farcical no-show event over the weekend that left hundreds of runners stranded and outraged.

 

Prapas Luengsirinapa, Chief of the Environmental Office of Din Daeng District under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), confirmed that an order was issued to prohibit Tonson 99 Sports Complex Co. from organising two additional running events they had applied for in July.

 

The company was behind Sunday’s now-infamous “Run For Destination” event at Rama IX Park, where participants, both Thai and foreign, turned up early only to find no organisers present, no race officials and no event management. Runners, who had each paid up to 450 baht to take part, were met with nothing more than a start line gate and a mobile toilet truck.

 

Adding to the confusion, the banner at the start line bizarrely read “Run For Destination 2025”, but below it in smaller print, the date was marked as Sunday, 28th May 2028. This glaring inconsistency baffled attendees even further, especially since the organiser’s own Facebook page had confirmed the race would take place on Sunday, 25 May 2025.

 

Police were called to the scene as disgruntled runners began to suspect they had been scammed. Formal complaints have since been lodged.

 

Tonson 99 Sports Complex Co. had also sought permission to host two more running events:

 

• “Love To Run”, scheduled for 20 July at Lumpini Park, and

• “Colourful Running Day”, planned for 28 July at Chatuchak Park.

 

Both events have now been officially cancelled by City Hall, which oversees the parks.

 

It remains unclear how many runners had paid in advance for these July events or whether any refunds will be issued. The whereabouts of the organisers are also unknown, raising further suspicions that they may now be “running from justice”.

 

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-05-28.