Mysterious illness affects 19 participants of Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
At least 19 runners were hospitalized after experiencing unusual symptoms following the Santa Barbara Half Marathon in California, prompting a police investigation into what caused the participants to fall ill. The race took place on Sunday, November 8, with around 7,500 people participating in the 13.1-mile event. Several runners were taken to hospitals in Santa Barbara and nearby Goleta after reporting similar symptoms whose cause has not yet been established. Cottage Health, which operates the hospitals that treated the participants, confirmed that 19 runners arrived at its emergency departments following the race. "We have a larger than expected number of emergency visits that are tracked to participants in this morning's organized run in [Santa Barbara]," the hospital system said in a statement. "This morning 19 participants arrived at Cottage EDs, a number of them with similar symptoms of undetermined cause." The hospital said it was investigating whether the illnesses were linked to the heat or other factors. Santa Barbara police are also investigating the incident. Authorities said they received a report from the hospital about multiple race participants seeking medical treatment for unusual symptoms after the event. "The cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed," police said, adding that participants who felt unwell should seek medical attention.
What happened during the half-marathon?
According to the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, 12 runners were transported by emergency crews to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, while another three were taken to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Four additional participants reached the hospitals on their own. Emergency crews responded to several locations along the course, including State and Cota streets, between 9.40 am and 10.45 am. The race began at 7 am on Cabrillo Boulevard and finished on State Street. The event was organised by Run Local and sponsored by running brand Hoka.
Was the heat responsible?
Race organisers believe heat exhaustion and physical exertion could explain the hospitalizations. Event director David Monico told the Los Angeles Times that none of the 15 runners taken to the hospital from the race's medical tent had suffered serious injuries. He said the cases he was aware of involved heat exhaustion. Monico also told Noozhawk that organisers had "no reason to believe that it's anything more than just the heat and exhaustion from the half marathon". Temperatures in Santa Barbara reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) on Sunday, making conditions warmer than usual for the event. The race featured water and hydration stations approximately every 1.5 to 2.5 miles. Runners were offered water, Voli Hydration's strawberry lemonade drink and energy gels, while snacks were also available at the finish line.
Social media rumours prompt questions
The incident triggered speculation on social media, with some users suggesting that runners may have been drugged or that drinks at the hydration stations could have been tampered with. However, authorities have not confirmed either allegation, and no evidence of deliberate contamination has been made public. Monico said police were conducting their due diligence because of claims circulating online. Santa Barbara Police Lt. Ethan Ragsdale said investigators had not established a cause as of Sunday evening. He added that there was no specific action recommended for the general public. Police have asked anyone with information about the incident, including participants who experienced unusual symptoms after the race, to contact Sgt. Andre Miller at 805-897-2330.
