Following the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, 30 runners required medical care, with 26 hospitalized. Marathon Handbook tracked the situation from the initial emergency visits to the latest updates. As of Tuesday, all hospitalized runners have been discharged, according to Cottage Health.
The Santa Barbara police are still investigating the incident, which they described as suspicious. The county health department suspects heat as the cause, though no official cause has been confirmed. Runners reported symptoms during the final stretch of the race. The event director mentioned treating numerous runners for dehydration and overheating. Read more culture coverage.
The police investigation remains open, seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or from runners who fell ill but did not seek hospital care. The county District Attorney’s Office will intervene if a crime is confirmed. Two runners are still awaiting blood test results. Related: Marathon Runners Seek Answers After Illness at Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.