Boston, SLC runner uses marathons to overcome tragedy


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PAYSON — Saturday's Salt Lake City Marathon will be the first major marathon to take place since the tragedy in Boston. Like many others, one woman participating in the half marathon that day used running to overcome personal tragedy.

Oct. 27th, 2009, was a day Rachelle Wardle will never forget. Her best friend and younger brother, Trevor, was killed early that morning in a rollover accident.

"After Trevor passed away, my life ended," Wardle said. "I just felt there was no way I could be happy again."

Two weeks after Trevor's funeral, Wardle realized she could either stay depressed or live her life in her brother's honor. She chose the latter. She chose to start running.

"I started doing some research and I came across a quote that night, and that quote was, ‘The miracle isn't that I finished; the miracle is that I had the courage to start,' " she said.

She started with an old pair of running shoes and returned home after one very difficult mile.

"I instantly connected. I loved it and it was so peaceful, and it was such a great opportunity to think about my brother and connect with him," she said.

She also connected with a running community, meeting dozens of new friends. Since that first run, Wardle has competed in several races, including seven marathons. She took first place in her division in the Utah Valley Marathon in 2012, and finished the Boston Marathon.


After Trevor passed away, my life ended. I just felt there was no way I could be happy again.

–Rachelle Wardle


She ran the Top of Utah Marathon with an amazing time: 2 hours, 58 minutes. They were all difficult races, but nothing compared to Trevor's battle with mental illness.

"It gives me the courage to fight through that pain when I'm running, and realize that Trevor lived his whole life with this mental battle," she said. "And that I can fight through that pain until I reach the finish line, and that's what motivates me and keeps me going."

She wears a ring with wings that remind her of Trevor to keep her going. But it's her feet that saved her, literally taking one step at a time.

"I think the greatest lesson I learned is that life goes on, and you have to keep moving forward one step, one breath, one minute, one day at a time," she said. "We can cope with anything; it's just a matter of loving ourselves enough to move on from tragedy."

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Kathy Aiken

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