At least 19 participants in a Santa Barbara half-marathon were hospitalized on Sunday, with officials investigating the cause of their sudden illness.
The event, which attracted approximately 7,500 competitors and was sponsored by Hoka and organized by Run Local, saw a significant number of runners requiring medical attention. Cottage Health confirmed that 19 participants arrived at their emergency departments with similar symptoms of an undetermined cause.
“We have a larger than expected number of emergency visits that are tracked to participants in this morning’s organized run in [Santa Barbara],” a statement from Cottage Health read. “This morning 19 participants arrived at Cottage [emergency departments], a number of them with similar symptoms of undetermined cause. We are working to determine whether this is due to the heat or other factors.”
David Monico, local event director for the half-marathon, stated that none of the 15 individuals transported from the race's medical tent sustained serious injuries. He indicated that those affected were primarily suffering from heat exhaustion, noting that Sunday's weather in Santa Barbara was warmer than usual.
The 13.1-mile course featured varied terrain, including a 100-foot elevation gain in the initial two miles. Race organizers acknowledged that Santa Barbara police were aware of the situation, though a department representative did not immediately provide comment.
