Final texts from runner who collapsed during New York City Marathon shared by grieving father

Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old former Division I field hockey player, died on Sunday after experiencing a medical emergency near the 24th mile of the New York City Marathon. The incident occurred in the afternoon as she attempted to complete her first marathon. Her father, Steve Apa, confirmed the details to NBC News, describing the loss as unfathomable. Emergency medical workers transported her to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, where she passed away hours later.

While Rachel ran the course, her father remained at home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, tracking her progress via a marathon app. Her mother, Michelle, along with two of Rachel's friends, traveled through the five boroughs to support her in person. Steve and Rachel had spoken before the start, with the young athlete expressing great excitement. Throughout the race, the pair maintained contact through a series of short text messages.

The first of these texts arrived around 11:30 a.m. when Rachel was at the 9-mile mark. She wrote, "Hey, go," a phrase that served as a shared mantra and a reference to Steve's football career at Lehigh University. She followed up by saying she felt amazing, crediting her pre-race carbohydrate intake. Steve responded with caution, reminding her not to overdo it since it was her first marathon and a learning run. He also noted that her mother would be waiting on the left side of the track in two blocks.

As the race progressed, Rachel's messages began to change. After her mother saw her pass the 14th mile, Rachel texted "Ugh" a few miles later. Steve replied that she had beaten the 18-mile mark. She responded with "Ow, ow," prompting him to advise her to go easy. At the 20th mile, she sent another "Ow, ow." Steve continued to check in at miles 21, 22, and 23, eventually telling her to focus on finishing rather than speed.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., Steve sent a text near the 24th mile. He then noticed on the tracking app that Rachel's location had stopped moving. His wife and the friends, who were waiting near the 25th mile, also observed the halt in movement. Michelle called Steve, and he instructed her to locate their daughter. He texted Rachel to let her know her mother was walking toward her, but she did not reply.

When Michelle arrived near the 24th mile marker and could not find Rachel, she began calling her name. An EMS worker on the scene informed her that an ambulance had just taken Rachel to the hospital. The worker then drove Michelle to Mount Sinai in a second ambulance while Steve began the drive to New York.

New York Road Runners, the event organizer, stated that a bystander performed CPR before medical staff arrived. The staff then used a defibrillator on the runner. Doctors later told the family that Rachel died of rhabdomyolysis, a condition they described as extremely rare. The Cleveland Clinic defines this serious condition as muscle breakdown caused by overexertion, which allows toxic components from muscle fibers to enter the bloodstream and kidneys.

Rachel was a lifelong athlete who played field hockey at Bucknell University and maintained a regular exercise routine after graduation. She had recently moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to work on an MBA while holding a full-time remote job. Steve described her as someone who was always on the go, whether in school or sports. She participated in the race with the Parkinson's Foundation to honor her grandfather, who died from the disease.

In a LinkedIn post, Rachel wrote that her grandfather was a role model who taught her to stay active and push her limits. Steve noted that although he had not asked her specifically why she chose to run for Parkinson's, he knew she saw how debilitating the disease was for him. The Apa family has since returned to Pennsylvania, with Rachel's two brothers working through the shock of the loss.