A 24-year-old woman’s first marathon ended in tragedy when she died a few miles short of the finish line.
Rachel Apa was around mile marker 24 at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 when she experienced a medical episode, her father told NBC News.
She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition and died hours later, according to the New York Police Department.
Apa was a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University running her first marathon, with her mother and friends waiting to cheer her on at mile marker 25 of the 26.2-mile course.
Apa was running the race to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of her grandfather, who died of the disease, she said in a post on LinkedIn. She texted her father shortly before beginning the race that she felt ready for the challenge.
“I feel amazing,” she wrote, her dad told NBC News. “I’ve never felt this good.”
When her mother, Michelle, went to find her on the course, an EMS worker told her Rachel had been taken to the hospital, according to her father.
New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, said in a statement that medical staff used a defibrillator on her after a bystander administered CPR.
Doctors told her family that Apa died from rhabdomyolysis, NBC News reported. The condition is rare and can be caused by intense exercise. A Bucknell University football player, 18-year-old CJ Dickey Jr., died from the condition during a football workout for the team in 2024.
Here’s what to know.
What Is Rhabdomyolysis?
It’s a rare injury that can occur after an injury or excessive exercise, causing the muscles to break down, according to Cleveland Clinic.
The condition, which is often called by the shorthand “rhabdo,” leads to muscle death. The damaged muscle fibers then enter your blood and kidneys and cause kidney damage, per Cleveland Clinic. If the kidneys are unable to get rid of the body’s waste, a person can go into life-threatening kidney failure.
About 26,000 people a year in the United States develop the condition, which can be caused by injuries, like a burn or being crushed; high-intensity exercise; severe dehydration; genetic conditions; or certain antipsychotic, antidepressant or antiviral medications.
Marathon runners and other endurance athletes have a higher risk of getting rhabdomyolysis, according to Cleveland Clinic.
It’s usually treated with fluids and electrolytes administered intravenously or dialysis if the kidneys are extremely damaged.
What Are the Symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis?
The main symptoms of the condition are as follows, according to Cleveland Clinic:
- Muscle swelling
- Weak muscles
- Tender and sore muscles
- Dark pee that’s brown, red or tea-colored
Other symptoms some people may experience are dehydration, decreased urination, nausea and loss of consciousness.
If you have weak or sore muscles days after exercising, you should check for muscle swelling or dark urine, which could be signs of rhabdomyolysis.
Experts advise to immediately see a healthcare provider, who can administer urine and blood tests or a muscle biopsy to determine if you have rhabdomyolysis.