Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old former college athlete, tragically died after collapsing during her first New York City Marathon on November 1. She was just two miles from the finish line after months of preparation. Her family had been tracking her progress and initially received an encouraging message from Rachel saying she had “never felt this good.”

Rachel, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, had an impressive academic and sporting background. She played Division I field hockey at Bucknell University, graduated magna cum laude in 2024 and later began working as a product manager while pursuing an MBA. She was also running to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of her grandfather, with donations eventually exceeding $26,000.

But as Rachel approached mile 24, her tracking app appeared to show that she had stopped moving. Her family became increasingly worried as emergency responders and nearby doctors rushed to help. CPR and a defibrillator were used before she was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that evening. Her father, Steve, described the loss as “unfathomable.” Bucknell University, her employer and New York Road Runners later shared tributes.

The most heartbreaking details came from Rachel’s final messages. Around mile 18, she reportedly texted her family “Ow,” followed by “Ow, ow” around mile 19. Her father later said the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which damaged muscle tissue releases substances into the bloodstream, potentially causing kidney failure and other life-threatening complications. Despite her training and preparation, Rachel’s first marathon became her last, leaving her family, friends and the running community mourning a young woman with so much ahead of her.