NYC Marathon Runner Rachel Apa Dies Near Finish Line At 24

Rachel Apa was 24 years old when she signed up for the New York City Marathon on November 1, 2026. It was her first marathon, and she had a meaningful reason for taking on the long 26.2-mile course. She chose to run in memory of her grandfather, who had died from Parkinson’s disease. For Rachel, the race was not only a personal test but also a way to honor someone she loved.

She joined the race as a fundraiser for the Parkinson’s Foundation and set a goal of raising $4,000. She hoped to help others who live with the same disease that took her grandfather’s life. Many first-time marathon runners focus on their pace or their finish time, but Rachel had a bigger purpose in mind. Every mile she trained for was tied to a cause that mattered deeply to her and her family.

Via INKL

The day should have ended with a proud finish and a celebration with the people who came to support her. Instead, it turned into a heartbreaking loss. Rachel collapsed about two miles before the finish line and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors tried for hours to save her, but she died later that night, leaving her family, friends, and former teammates in shock.

Messages Shared Along the Course

Her father, Steve Apa, followed the race from the family home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. He kept track of Rachel through the marathon tracking app and stayed in touch with her by text as she ran. Her mother, Michelle Apa, had traveled to New York with two of Rachel’s friends to cheer her on in person. 

Via USA Today 

Before the race started, Steve had reminded his daughter to be careful since it was her first marathon. At around 11:30 a.m., when Rachel was about nine miles into the race, she sent her father a cheerful message. It started with “Hey, go,” a special phrase the two of them had shared for years. 

She told him she felt amazing and had never felt this good during a run. According to Steve, Rachel believed the carbohydrates she ate before the race were giving her the energy she needed. Near Mile 14, her mother finally spotted her along the route. 

Via NBC News

Rachel smiled and waved as she passed by, and Michelle recorded the happy moment on video. At that point, everything seemed to be going well. Rachel looked strong, her spirits were high, and her family felt hopeful that she would cross the finish line with a smile on her face and a big goal behind her.

Signs of Trouble in the Later Miles

As Rachel pushed deeper into the race, her messages to her father began to change. Around Mile 18, she sent him a short text that simply said “Ugh.” Steve kept encouraging her, but soon another message arrived reading “Ow, ow.” Rachel was now telling him that she was hurting. Steve grew worried and urged her to slow down and take it easy instead of pushing her body too hard.

By Mile 20, Rachel was still reporting pain and discomfort. Steve stayed close to his phone, checking the tracking app again and again while hoping she would make it through the final stretch. Near Mile 23, he sent her a clear message: “All finish, not speed.” He wanted her to forget about her time and focus only on getting to the end safely, no matter how long it took.

Rachel was now only a few miles from completing the race. Her mother and two friends were waiting near Mile 25, ready to see her pass by once more. For the family, the finish line felt close enough to touch. After months of preparation and a long morning of running, it seemed that Rachel was just a short distance away from reaching the goal she had worked so hard for.

Via ABC News

The Moment the Tracker Stopped Moving

Around 1:30 p.m., Steve noticed something that frightened him right away. Rachel’s location on the tracking app had stopped moving near Mile 24 in Central Park. She was still about two miles from the finish line. He sent her another text letting her know that her mother was walking toward her. 

This time, no reply came back, and the silence made his worry grow even stronger. Michelle and Rachel’s friends also realized that Rachel was no longer moving along the course. Michelle turned back toward Mile 24 to look for her daughter, calling out Rachel’s name as she searched the busy area. 

Via Go Found Me 

According to the New York Police Department, officers working at the marathon came across a 24-year-old woman having a medical emergency near the Mile 24 marker at around 1:40 p.m. Michelle could not find Rachel at first. 

An emergency medical worker eventually came up to her and explained that her daughter had already been taken away by ambulance. Michelle was then brought to Mount Sinai Hospital, where Rachel had arrived in critical condition. Back in Pennsylvania, Steve learned that something had gone terribly wrong and began making his way to New York as quickly as he could.

Via Essentially Sports

Hours of Effort to Save Her

New York Road Runners, the group that organizes the marathon, later shared details about what happened after Rachel collapsed. A bystander began CPR right away, and race medical staff soon took over to continue the effort. Medical workers also used a defibrillator while trying to revive her. 

Rachel was then taken to Mount Sinai Hospital at around 2 p.m., where doctors continued fighting to save her life. Her family waited anxiously for news, holding on to hope that the doctors could bring her back. Rachel stayed under medical care for several hours as the team worked without stopping. 

Via NBC10

Her father later said that doctors spent more than six hours trying to save his daughter. Those long hours were filled with fear and prayer for a family that had started the day expecting a celebration. Despite every effort, Rachel could not be revived. 

She was pronounced dead at around 9:40 p.m. on November 1. Speaking about his daughter, Steve described her as someone who was always on the move, whether it was school, sports, or anything else in her life. His words painted a picture of a young woman full of energy who never stopped chasing her goals.

Via WUSA

What Rhabdomyolysis Means

Steve later told reporters that doctors linked Rachel’s death to rhabdomyolysis. This is a serious medical condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down quickly. When muscles break down, they release substances into the bloodstream, including a protein called myoglobin.

In large amounts, these substances can place heavy strain on the kidneys and upset the balance of minerals the body needs to work properly. The condition can be triggered by many things, and intense physical effort is one of the well-known causes. Long-distance running, extreme workouts, heat, and not drinking enough fluids can all raise the risk. 

Via Everyday Health 

Common warning signs include strong muscle pain, weakness, and dark-colored urine. Because the symptoms can look like normal soreness at first, the condition is sometimes hard to spot early during or after hard exercise. Rachel’s case is a painful reminder that serious health problems can affect even fit and active people.

She was not new to training or hard physical challenges. Staying active had been part of her life since she was a child, long before she ever decided to run a marathon. Her story has led many runners to think more carefully about listening to their bodies during long races.

Via The Feel Good Lab

Life Built Around Sports and Hard Work

Rachel grew up in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, and sports were a big part of her life from an early age. She spent nine years playing with the Central Penn Field Hockey Club, where she built her skills and her love for the game. 

Those years of practice and competition helped shape her into a disciplined athlete who was ready to take her talent to the college level. She went on to play Division I field hockey at Bucknell University, where she spent four years with the Bison. 

Via The Running Week 

During her college career, she scored 17 goals and earned Academic All-Patriot League honors. That award showed that she worked just as hard in the classroom as she did on the field. She graduated in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Markets, Innovation and Design.

After college, Rachel started working full-time as a product manager. She had recently moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to earn her MBA while keeping her remote job. Balancing work and graduate school is never easy, yet she still made time to stay active and exercise regularly. Her busy schedule matched her father’s description of a young woman who was always on the go.

Via Business Insider

Bucknell and Supporters Honor Her Memory

After news of her death spread, Bucknell University shared a heartfelt statement in her honor. The school remembered Rachel as a four-year member and key contributor to the Bison field hockey team. It also noted her 17 goals and her Academic All-Patriot League honors.

The university said its community was mourning her loss and sent its deepest sympathy to everyone who knew and loved her. The cause Rachel chose to run for also received a powerful response. Her original fundraising goal for the Parkinson’s Foundation was $4,000, set in memory of her grandfather.  Once people learned what had happened, donations began pouring into her campaign in her honor. 

Via Facebook 

The total quickly passed her goal and went beyond $20,000, according to reports on November 3. Rachel never got the chance to cross the finish line, but the reason she started the race lives on. People who never met her have joined her family and friends in supporting the cause she cared about so much. The money raised in her name will help those living with Parkinson’s disease, turning a moment of deep sadness into a lasting act of kindness that reflects the purpose behind her final run.