Marathon Runner, Rachel Apa, Dies After NYC Marathon Race: Here Is What We Know

The 2026 NYC Marathon ended in tragedy after 24-year-old Rachel Apa died following a collapse in Central Park, around two miles before the finish line. Apa was taking part in her first New York City Marathon on November 1.

Her death has drawn attention to rhabdomyolysis, a rare but serious condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases its contents into the bloodstream.

Rachel Apa NYC Marathon 2026: What Happened During The Race?

According to reports, Apa had been experiencing pain during the race. When her progress stopped on the marathon tracking app, her family became concerned. Apa's mother, Michelle, rushed towards the location where her daughter had collapsed.

NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa dies after collapsing in Central Park two miles from finish line https://t.co/HlmyOTGbGR https://t.co/tPxubvC3GA

— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) November 3, 2026

Spectators, including a hospital social worker and two doctors, reportedly began providing emergency assistance. Medical personnel from the race also responded with a defibrillator. Apa was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors tried to save her.

She was pronounced dead at 9:40 pm, according to her father. He told The New York Times that doctors attributed her death to rhabdomyolysis. The New York Road Runners (NYRR), which organises the race, expressed condolences to her family and the running community.

NYC Marathon Death: What Is Rhabdomyolysis?

The CDC says the main rhabdomyolysis symptoms are muscle pain, dark urine, and feeling weak or tired. Healthdirect, Australia’s government health service, adds:

• Muscle swelling
• Fever
• Dark red to brown urine
• Symptoms that may start hours or days later

Seek urgent medical help if you notice these signs after a hard run. Do not wait for them to pass.

However, this does not mean that rhabdomyolysis is a common outcome of marathon running. It is a serious but uncommon condition, and the risk can vary depending on a person's health, training and other factors.

Who Was Rachel Apa? A First-Time Marathon Runner 

Rachel Apa, a former field hockey player at Bucknell University, collapsed in Central Park during the final stretch of the NYC Marathon. She was 24 and had been running her first marathon.

🔥👀 NIGHTMARE. 24 year old girl in perfect shape COLLAPSES near the end of the NYC Marathon while her mom was waiting to film her. The last thing she texted her Dad was “Ow ow ow” This girl Rachel Apa played Bucknell field hockey also. She was running her first NYC Marathon to honor her grandfather who died of Parkinson's. The mom had already filmed her smiling at mile 14 in Queens… then went all the way to Central Park to film her finishing and instead arrived to see her being loaded into an ambulance. She died later of rhabdomyolysis. Unfathomable.

— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) November 3, 2026

According to reports, Apa had been experiencing pain during the race. She sent messages to her father, Steve Apa, at miles 18 and 19, saying that she was hurting. She later sent a message saying she was nearing the final stretch.

However, the celebration of the event was overshadowed by Apa's death. Her participation had been dedicated to her grandfather, who died from Parkinson's disease in 2022. She had hoped to honour his memory by supporting the cause.

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Her death is a reminder that endurance events place considerable demands on the body. Recognising unusual symptoms and seeking timely medical attention are important, even for runners who have trained extensively.