An NYC Marathoner Died From Rhabdomyolysis. What Exactly Is It?

You Should Know: A healthy 24-year-old runner died from rhabdomyolysis after collapsing during the New York Marathon on November 1. Her condition deteriorated quickly, from smiles and running strong at mile 14 to collapsing in Central Park, near mile 24. Rhabdomyolysis, or “rhabdo” is a relatively uncommon condition that causes muscle tissue to break down or “leak” and send the contents of muscle cells into the bloodstream. 

Going Deeper: Often connected to CrossFit (see “Uncle Rhabdo” or “Pukie”), rhabdomyolysis has two main causes. There’s trauma-induced rhabdo, which occurs from crush injuries that rupture the walls of muscle cells. And then there’s exertional, also called exercise-induced, rhabdo, which occurs when muscle cells are so depleted of energy that they become injured and leak. The latter is what happened to Rachel Apa, the marathon runner.  

Takeaway: Once associated primarily with military training camps, doctors say they’ve seen an uptick in exertional rhabdo cases as long-distance running and high-intensity exercise have grown in popularity. Most people who suffer from the condition survive it, but in the worst cases, it can lead to kidney failure, heart arrhythmias, and death.  

Bottom Line: Over-exerting yourself during exercise, or attempting an endurance event you’re not well trained for, can have serious health consequences.