One day before he ran the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon during last weekend’s Southern California heat wave, Bobby Graves shared his trepidation about the torrid sun and humidity with thousands of his TikTok followers.
Graves, 35, who went by his middle name, Caleb, posted a video on Sept. 7 in which he expressed concern about the 90-plus-degree heat and said he was “marginally worried” about running the next morning. Graves rested on a pillow after a 20-minute, early afternoon walk with his dog in the city of Garden Grove in northern Orange County.
“Ten minutes after I came back in, I just passed out,” he said in the post, describing what he felt as “heat exhaustion.”
The experienced long-distance runner and Disney-race enthusiast admitted having “some susceptibility” to high temperatures and said “the UV exposure with the heat in Southern California is its own kind of beast.”
“I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning,” Graves told his followers.
About 7 a.m. last Sunday, he crossed the finish line in one hour, 56 minutes, then started clutching his chest. A volunteer grabbed him before he fell, Anaheim Police Sgt. Matt Sutter said. About an hour later, Graves, in full cardiac arrest, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The Orange County coroner’s office says it is investigating whether the heat or something else killed the young attorney.
‘Attempted to Save His Life for About an Hour’
The Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon started at 5 a.m. last Sunday. Fireworks and floodlights lit up the early-morning darkness as more than 11,000 runners, some in Disney-themed costumes, began the 13.1-mile run through the theme park and the surrounding area in a series of waves based on previous or predicted race times. Temperatures that day ranged from 74 to 106 degrees, with 70 percent humidity, according to the National Weather Service. In searing heat, some runners stopped along the route to take selfies with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and other Disney characters.
“I started sweating almost immediately,” said Jacob Boyer, 33, an avid runner who finished his race about 30 minutes after Graves completed the half marathon. “It’s definitely one of the warmer races I’ve ever done… I took probably double the amount of fluid intake throughout the race compared to what I would normally take.”
The flashing lights of an ambulance nearby caught Boyer’s eye at the end of his race.
“I did notice that there were a lot more nurses, medical staff, like really paying attention to people as they were crossing the finish line—more so than normal,” he recalled.
Paramedics were just a few feet away when Graves almost collapsed, according to Sutter.
“They started performing CPR and other life saving measures,” the sergeant said. ”They said he was in full cardiac arrest, so they transported him to the nearest hospital … and they attempted to save his life for about an hour.”
Sutter added, “Our battalion chief in charge of Anaheim Fire and Rescue for that event said that paramedics could not have been there any faster. He got the quickest medical help he could.”
The sergeant said he did not know whether Graves had “any underlying medical issues” prior to the race.
The coroner’s office awaits the results of toxicology tests—which could take up to three months, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Frank Gonzalez.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good said via email.
The resort did not respond to questions about measures taken last weekend to prevent heat exhaustion or whether it has considered changing the dates of the Disney-themed races.
Running events at Disneyland that weekend included hydration stations with extra water and cooling towels. Disney emails before the race urged participants to stay well hydrated, wear light clothing or costumes with “breathable” headwear, maintain a “conservative” pace and ask for assistance at any signs of illness. Paramedics, doctors, and nurses were stationed throughout the course and at the finish.
Fire and rescue officials usually anticipate one or two cardiovascular events, Sutter said, but deaths are rare. He said six runners were treated for heat-related issues, including dizziness, nausea, and fainting or near fainting, during the half marathon.
Boyer, who has participated in long distance races for about 10 years, said he didn’t hear about Graves’s death until Sunday night, when another runner messaged him an article about it.
‘Loss of a Stellar Person’
Graves studied biology at the University of Texas at Austin, and taught that subject as well as chemistry in public schools near Washington for nearly two years, according to his Linkedin page. He got a law degree at Georgetown University and worked most recently as a litigation associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he handled entertainment, intellectual property, and copyright and trademark infringement cases, according to the firm.
“His many friends and colleagues at the firm are grieving the loss of a stellar person and lawyer. Out of respect for his family’s privacy, we have no further comment,” Wilson Sonsini said in an email.
In a Facebook post on Sept. 8, friends and relatives wrote that Graves “will surely be missed” and asked that his family receive “the space and opportunity they need to make the upcoming arrangements necessary for such an incredible loss.”
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.