'Ow, ow': NYC runner Rachel Apa sends text to father from marathon, collapses and dies

Who was Rachel Apa, 24-year-old runner who died during NYC Marathon? A 24-year-old woman died after collapsing during the final stages of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, with her father saying she suffered from a rare condition linked to intense physical exercise.Rachel Apa collapsed in Central Park, about two miles from the finish line, during her first marathon, her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times. She was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team in memory of her grandfather, who had suffered from the disease.Apa, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, had played field hockey in college and was in “perfect health, perfect shape”, her father said.Her parents were cheering her on during the race. Her mother, Michelle Apa, had filmed her smiling at mile 14. However, Rachel later began reporting pain through text messages to her father. At mile 18, she sent him a message saying “Ow”, followed by another message reading “Ow, ow” a mile later.She appeared to have recovered as she approached the final stretch, texting her father at mile 23. But she collapsed shortly afterwards.A member of the public performed CPR before race medical staff arrived and used a defibrillat...