A 24-year-old youth pastor named Treyton “Trey” Lara died Sunday after collapsing around mile 20 of the Portland Marathon, according to his family. His wife, Audrey Shin-Lara, said he had trained for months and had no underlying medical issues. She saw him near miles 18 and 19, where he ran over, smiled, and kissed her before heading off. Doctors told her he went into cardiac arrest, and he died at the hospital despite efforts to save him. He was days away from his 25th birthday on Oct. 15, and he had recently helped open a youth camp called Camp Genesis.
The story raises familiar questions for anyone who runs here on the Suncoast, where fall race season, summer heat, and year-round training put a lot of stress on local athletes. Sudden cardiac arrest in young, seemingly healthy people is rare but not unheard of, and many cases involve conditions that go undetected without screening. Cardiologists often recommend a simple heart check for anyone ramping up mileage, especially if there’s family history. If you’re training for an upcoming race, it’s a conversation worth having with your doctor.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Audrey and the family. His wife shared a simple, heartbreaking thought about him: he is the love of her life, always will be, and they will see him again. If you’d like to help, the link is in our article source below. Have you ever been screened for heart issues before starting a training season?
