PORTLAND, Ore. -- A race organizer who unexpectedly canceled a series of events has agreed to refund registration fees. Additionally, the owner of Double Dog Dare U Events, Pattric Langley, will no longer organize or promote races in Oregon, as part of a settlement with the Oregon Department of Justice.
“It makes it a whole lot better knowing something is being done,” said Amy Mast-Morris, who’d signed up with a team of runners for Twelve Bridges Relay. “You don’t mess with the running community. This is justice being served.”
The Oregon Department of Justice recently mailed letters notifying runners about the December 2017 court settlement with Double Dog Dare U Events.
In July 2017, a KGW investigation found hundreds of runners were left empty-handed after the cancellation of the Twelve Bridges Relay, the Lucky Dog, Double Five, Youngberg Hill Half and Bald Peak Half marathon.
Race participants said the company behind the races, Double Dog Dare U, did not respond to various emails or phone call inquiries about race registration refunds.
The company failed to notify vendors and event hosts about the race cancellations, and didn’t respond to their inquiries either.
"We were getting five or six calls a day from people who had already signed up wondering what is going on,” said Nicolette Bailey, owner of Youngberg Hill in July.
State records show Langley filed as registered owner of Double Dog Dare U events in December 2011.
According to friends, the 46-year old was well known in Portland’s running community. He served as vice president of race operations for the Oregon Road Runners Club.
Double Dog Dare U successfully organized races in the Portland-area for several years. But in the fall of 2016, court records Langley’s personal life started to unwind after a drug arrest, along with his company.
It’s not clear how much money Langley collected before canceling the five Double Dog Dare U races scheduled for spring and summer of 2017.
Langley declined KGW’s request for an interview in July. Instead, he posted a statement on the company website which described a challenging business environment, increased costs and a decline in revenue.
As part of the Oregon DOJ settlement, Double Dog Dare U Events must provide full refunds to “eligible consumers within days of receiving an eligible consumer’s request for a refund.” An eligible consumer is anyone who paid money to register for the 2017 Bald Peak Half, the Double Five, the Lucky Dog, the Twelve Bridges Relay and the Youngberg Hill Half.
Runners who wish to file a formal complaint about Double Dog Dare U Events can submit an online form with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office: https://justice.oregon.gov/complaints/