The finish line was getting closer, but something was suddenly wrong. A young runner who had spent months preparing for one of the biggest challenges of her life began struggling during the final miles of a major race in New York City. Spectators watched as medical personnel rushed toward her, while a hospital worker who happened to be nearby immediately began performing CPR. Emergency responders arrived with additional equipment, but the situation quickly became critical. Her family, who had been following every mile through a tracking application, suddenly realized that her progress had stopped. The messages they had exchanged throughout the afternoon would soon become painful reminders of how quickly everything changed.
Her parents had been watching closely, celebrating each milestone as their daughter moved closer to completing her first marathon. Her mother had even recorded her passing an earlier checkpoint. But the encouraging updates gradually changed. At mile 18, she sent her father a short message: “Ow.” Another message followed at mile 19: “Ow, Ow.” Her father continued encouraging her, believing she was approaching the finish line. At mile 23, he sent one final message telling her it was the “final stretch.” This time, there was no reply. What happened during the next few moments would leave her family facing a loss they never imagined.
According to her father, the young woman was taken to a hospital after collapsing in Central Park, but doctors could not save her. He later described the loss as “unfathomable.” The family said she had been in excellent health and had spent months training for the event. Her death was attributed by her father to rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue that can release harmful substances into the bloodstream and damage the kidneys. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition can occur following intense physical activity without adequate recovery, although it can affect people with different fitness levels. Symptoms may include muscle pain, weakness, swelling, and unusually dark urine. Medical complications can develop even after someone has completed an activity.
The runner was identified as 24-year-old Rachel Apa, a Pennsylvania native and student at Charleston Southern University. She collapsed at mile 24 of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026, approximately two miles before the finish. Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that she passed away at 9:40 p.m. Her mother, Michelle, had been following the race and recording her daughter’s progress. Rachel had been participating in the event to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation Champions team in memory of her grandfather, whom she considered a major influence in her life. She had described him as her role model and credited him with inspiring her love of sports and movement. New York Road Runners, the organization behind the marathon, expressed condolences to her family, friends, and the running community. For those who knew Rachel, her participation was about more than reaching a finish line; it was a way to honor someone she loved. Her family is now left remembering the young woman whose determination carried her through months of preparation and whose final race was dedicated to her grandfather.