Rachel Apa, 24, was about seven miles into the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 when she texted her father for the first time on the course.
"She said, 'Never felt better. I must have done the carb loading correctly for the first time,'" her father, Steve Apa, said.
But 17 miles later – just two from the finish line – Rachel Apa collapsed. She was pronounced dead hours later.
Steve Apa said his daughter was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare injury that causes muscle breakdown and is usually caused by overexertion, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The New York Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY that a 24-year-old female experienced a "medical episode" near mile marker 24 and was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The marathon
was Rachel Apa's first. She ran it for the Parkinson's Foundation after her paternal grandfather died from the disease.
"My grandfather was my role model growing up. He taught me to stay active, push my limits, and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement," she wrote on a fundraising page.
New York Road Runners, which organizes the race, said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by Rachel’s passing following running in Sunday’s race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community."
Rachel Apa was a lifelong athlete, father says
Rachel Apa, a native of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was a lifelong athlete and former field hockey player at Bucknell University, her father said.
"She did everything she's supposed to for the training up to the marathon," Steve Apa said. "I remember her telling me, 'Dad, this weekend's my 18-mile run.' So she was fully trained, fully prepared."
While Steve Apa was at home in Pennsylvania tracking his daughter on the marathon app, his wife, Michelle Apa, was along the route. He was texting her throughout the race.
"I said, 'This is your first marathon. Go easy. Don't go out too fast,'" he said. "And then, every mile, I would just text her the mile number."
Around mile 18, she texted him, "Ugh" and then "Ow," he said.
"I said, 'go easy,' and then I pinged her when she hit the 20th mile and she said, 'ow,'" Steve Apa said. That was the last time he heard from her.
At mile 23, Steve Apa sent his daughter another text: "Final stretch. Finished, not speed."
Michelle Apa was waiting for her daughter around mile 25 when they noticed she appeared to have stopped moving on the tracking app. When she headed to mile 24, spectators told her an ambulance had just taken Rachel Apa to the hospital.
A spectator later told Steve and Michelle Apa that they saw Rachel collapse and immediately began giving her CPR before eventually trying a defibrillator. She was then taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital where doctors worked on her from about 2 to 9 p.m. local time, Steve Apa said.
Rachel Apa was 'always full of life'
After graduating from Bucknell University with a degree in business, Rachel Apa got a job as a product manager for a manufacturing company, the same one her grandfather and father worked for, Steve Apa said.
She recently moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and was pursuing a master of business administration degree.
"She was always full of life. Always a go-getter," Steve Apa said. "She wasn't one to sit around about anything, if it's athletics or academics or just life in general."
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Rachel Apa had rhabdomyolysis, her father said.
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition that causes muscles to break down, causing toxins to enter the circulation system and kidneys, which can lead to kidney damage, per the Cleveland Clinic.
The condition can result from overexertion, trauma, medications or an underlying health condition. Common symptoms of rhabdomyolysis are weak muscles, muscle stiffness, muscle pain and a change in your pee color, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on Instagram @bymelinakhan and TikTok @melina.khan2.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dad texted daughter ‘go easy’ before NYC Marathon runner’s death
