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Hundreds Of Runners Being Checked For Hypothermia

SANTA MONICA (CBS) — About 300 runners participating in the Los Angeles Marathon were evaluated for hypothermia after passing the finish line Sunday.

Six hours after the marathon began, Los Angeles paramedics were dealing with hundreds of soaked runners scattered between Hollywood and Santa Monica, some suffering mild hypothermia.

The Santa Monica Fire Department said about 200 marathon runners who crossed the finish line were being evaluated inside the ballroom of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel. About 10 of them had been taken to local hospitals for evaluation of cramps and hypothermia, a spokesman there said.

Most of the complaints from runners were for cramps and hypothermia, Capt. Judah Mitchell of the Santa Monica Fire Department said. "After they sit a while and we get a banana in them, they say they are good," he said.

Los Angeles firefighters said they were tallying the numbers of hypothermia cases and said it is not yet apparent if the number of chilled runners is comparable to the numbers of sunstroke or dehydration cases on warmer day marathons.

Ankle deep rainwater greeted the marathoners in Brentwood and cold, wet winds lashed the finish line.

The race started at Dodger Stadium on nearly-dry pavement, but soaking rain and driving winds developed a half hour into the race.

Spectator turnout along the route was significantly lower than in years past, no doubt due to the weather.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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