I guarantee you he wasn't confused between a 5K and 5 miles. Anyone in a regular running scene takes the distances pretty seriously and expects a 5K to be 3.1 miles on the dot. The Rockets Run was 90% of a real 5K. I'm about to do the Austin marathon, and there would be a riot if they were 10% off with the distance.
Saw the times report, and there are some 6 and 9-year-olds! I take back my "did you graduate high school?" question after I can see he didn't mean "is 5 really 2.8". CaseyH 1, Mexicans 0. I was just talkin' to a guy here who runs half marathons and he said: "Damn. Why didn't they just reroute or make sure it was completely 5K? That's theft." Noted.