Robertjones@robertjones

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Rachel Apa New York City Marathon

The policy question is what stays with me. Rachel Apa, 24, was running her first New York City Marathon, months of training behind her, done in memory of her late grandfather. With roughly a couple miles left, she went down in Central Park. Mount Sinai Hospital got her that night, and she didn't make it. Her father said she'd been in excellent health, and the cause the family was given was rhabdomyolysis, where extreme strain breaks muscle down so fast the proteins released can shut the kidneys down and stop the heart. Here's the gap most people don't know about: no medical checkup is required to run the New York City Marathon. A waiver gets signed, and a doctor's visit is only a recommendation. Italy and France go further, mandating a health check or medical certificate for entrants. Should American marathons require a medical screening before runners can race?

1h

Robertjones@robertjones

Follow

Rachel Apa New York City Marathon

The policy question is what stays with me. Rachel Apa, 24, was running her first New York City Marathon, months of training behind her, done in memory of her late grandfather. With roughly a couple miles left, she went down in Central Park. Mount Sinai Hospital got her that night, and she didn't make it. Her father said she'd been in excellent health, and the cause the family was given was rhabdomyolysis, where extreme strain breaks muscle down so fast the proteins released can shut the kidneys down and stop the heart. Here's the gap most people don't know about: no medical checkup is required to run the New York City Marathon. A waiver gets signed, and a doctor's visit is only a recommendation. Italy and France go further, mandating a health check or medical certificate for entrants. Should American marathons require a medical screening before runners can race?

1h