Woman suffers terrifying side effects, collapses at California half marathon where 19 hospitalized as her mom explodes at organizer

A runner at Sunday’s Santa Barbara Half Marathon struggled toward the finish line while experiencing a deep fog — then suddenly woke up in a medical tent.Nineteen competitors were hospitalized after the event, prompting a police investigation into what caused their “unusual symptoms.”One mom, who requested anonymity, told The Post her daughter was well prepared for the race and runs regularly but near the finish she got sick.“You can see on her Garmin, [she] went from a really decent pace to a crawl,” she said.“She has no memory of the finish line.

She said she saw it and it felt like she was running through Jell-o.” The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Her daughter’s next recollection was waking up in the medical tent, according to the mom.“She then woke up in the med tent, scared and sick, and just sounds like a horrifying experience.

And I, it just broke my heart.It makes me sick.” she said.Her daughter’s girlfriend joined her, and they ended up going to the hospital, the mother said.

“I talked to her from the hospital and she was just really thrown,” she said.The mom said her daughter is now doing well, but the experience has left the family shaken.“It just broke my heart.

It makes me sick,” she said.She questioned explanations attributing runners’ medical emergencies to heat or inadequate preparation, saying her daughter had trained extensively.Race organizers believe the runners suffered from heat exhaustion, but unverified rumors circulating on social media suggested a water station along the course may have been spiked.The mother also believes contaminated water at an aid station could have been responsible, but didn’t have evidence for it.Police said the cause remains undetermined.Santa Barbara Half Marathon Event Di...