The running community is in mourning after a young youth pastor lost his life during the Portland Marathon on Sunday. Treyton “Trey” Lara, just 24 years old, collapsed and died, leaving behind a wife, family, and a community that adored him.
Lara was about 20 miles into the 26.2-mile race when he went into cardiac arrest, according to doctors. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead. The heartbreaking news has sent shockwaves through his congregation and the broader running world.
His wife, Aundrey Shin-Lara, spoke with KPTV, recounting the last precious moment they shared on the course. “I saw him at 18, 19. He ran over and was able to smile and give me a kiss, and then he ran off, and he looked good,” she said. That kiss came just a mile before the tragedy.
Audrey described her husband as someone who had poured months into training, using running as a healthy outlet. There were no warning signs, no hint of the danger ahead. “The grief is coming in waves where one moment it still doesn’t feel real where we’re like I’m just gonna wake up, and he’s gonna be over there,” she told KPTV.
Beyond the marathon, Trey was a devoted youth pastor who helped open Camp Genesis during the summer. His impact reached far beyond the church walls. “Besides loving Jesus, he loved his friends and family. He was the best big brother, Tio to so many cousins, and some of our friends’ kids would call him Uncle Trey,” Audrey added.
Trey had no diagnosed medical conditions, making the sudden loss even more difficult to process. The family has found some solace in the overwhelming support from the community. A GoFundMe campaign has already raised close to $60,000 to help with funeral costs, hospital bills, and other expenses during this unimaginable time.
“We thank you for thinking of the family during this time of heartache. So many of you have shared in their grief, lifted them in prayer, and offered your support, and they are deeply grateful,” the fundraiser reads. “Please continue to keep the Lara family in your prayers as they mourn.”
This tragic incident echoes the sudden losses that can strike athletes at any level, reminding us of the fragility of life. While the running community rallies around the Lara family, the memory of Trey’s smile and his passion for life will endure.
