rock and roll marathon san diego: Viral Rumor Claims Runners Were Given Poisoned Energy Gels, Here’s the Truth
A viral social media post this week sparked panic among runners by claiming that several participants in the recent Rock and Roll Marathon San Diego were hospitalized after ingesting poisoned energy gels handed out at a water station. The post, shared thousands of times on X and Facebook, included a blurred image of a hospital wristband and a caption warning, "Check your gels before you run! Ambush at the 15-mile mark!"
However, our fact-check confirms this claim is entirely false. The San Diego Police Department and event organizers, Competitor Group, have both issued statements calling the rumor a hoax. There were zero reported medical emergencies linked to energy gels during the 2024 Rock and Roll Marathon San Diego. The image used in the post was traced back to a stock photo from a 2019 food poisoning incident in Texas, entirely unrelated to marathons.
Local race officials also noted that all nutrition stations adhere to strict sponsorship protocols, with gels provided by a single, verified vendor. Runner Robyn Hayes, who completed the marathon, told reporters, "I saw the post and almost skipped my race. But everyone around me was fine—it’s just fear-mongering."
Bottom line: The claim that poisoned energy gels were distributed at the Rock and Roll Marathon San Diego is false. No runners were harmed, and the viral rumor appears designed to stoke unnecessary alarm. Always verify before sharing.