At Least 19 Runners Hospitalized After Santa Barbara Half Marathon

WHO:

Daily Mail Sports - Santa Barbara half-marathon runners were among those hospitalized with “unusual symptoms.”

ABC7 Los Angeles - Cottage Health Hospital treated at least 19 people who had similar symptoms after falling ill during the race.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Run Local, the race organizer, issued a statement about the illnesses.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Health officials said more than a dozen runners were being treated.

WHAT:

Daily Mail Sports - More than a dozen Santa Barbara half-marathon runners were hospitalized, and police launched an investigation.

ABC7 Los Angeles - At least 19 people were treated at Cottage Health Hospital after falling ill during the half marathon.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Officials said more than 7,500 people participated in the race.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Authorities had not released further information about the patients’ conditions.

WHERE:

Daily Mail Sports - The event was a half marathon in Santa Barbara.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The half marathon took place in Santa Barbara, California; Cottage Health Hospital treated patients in Santa Barbara.

WHY:

Daily Mail Sports - Police said the precise cause of the widespread illness had not been confirmed.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The cause of the illnesses was not immediately known.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Run Local said it had “no reason to believe that there was anything out of the ordinary that occurred during today's race, besides typical heat-related illness or exhaustion that can take place while participating in long endurance events such as a half marathon.”

HOW:

Daily Mail Sports - Runners arrived at the hospital both on their own and by ambulance.

ABC7 Los Angeles - Cottage Health Hospital treated the runners for similar symptoms.

(UPDATED November 9, 2026 07:03 UTC)

More than a dozen runners were hospitalized after falling ill during Santa Barbara’s half-marathon. Cottage Health treated at least 19 people, while police launched an investigation. Officials haven’t confirmed the cause; more than 7,500 people participated in the race.