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ST. GEORGE — One year ago, 22-year-old Hayden Holman unexpectedly passed away — just minutes before finishing the St. George Marathon. He left behind his wife of seven months, as well as countless family members and friends.
On Saturday, family and friends toed the line at the same marathon, both in remembrance and to finish what Holman was unable to complete.
In anticipation of the race, Holman's mother, Judy Lowder, said she hoped the day would bring some closure. She also said the anticipation of the anniversary of that fateful day brings with it a lot of emotion.
"We can't change what happened; we just have to move forward," said Lowder, who traveled to this year's race as a spectator. "I think that being here and having so many who love and miss Hayden running the marathon will help with that."
"Everyone says the first year is the hardest, so I'm looking forward to maybe being able to just deal with it a little better," she said.
Lowder described the moments before and after her son died as unexpected and surreal.
"Everyone went down last year to run the marathon for my other son's birthday because he was turning 26, and that was the significance of running the marathon because it's 26 miles," Lowder recalled. "We were all waiting for Hayden to cross, and he called me to tell me that he was almost there. He said, 'I'm almost at the finish line. Make sure you're there to take a picture!'
"He said that he loved me, hung up the phone and he basically hit the ground after that. He just collapsed."
A 22-year-old Idaho man died while running the St. George Marathon.
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) October 4, 2021
Hayden Holman was two minutes from the finish line when he called family to make sure someone was at the finish line to take a picture, but his stepmother said he never arrived, according to @EastIDNews. pic.twitter.com/SEqfFaTjWp
The death came so unexpectedly, as Lowder said her son was extremely physically active.
"He just had a heart attack," she said. "He was in really good shape. He was a rock climber and skier. He had climbed the Grand Tetons two weeks before, and did it with such ease. So it really came as a complete shock. It wasn't like he was struggling.
"We had many runners who saw him who said it was so weird because he was just talking and then he was just gone. It was just like he called to say goodbye. We waited 20 minutes before I called his phone, and the nurse at the hospital answered and she said that Hayden was in critical condition. We had no idea he was as bad as he was. He never regained consciousness."
Someone else was at the race with Holman that day — his wife of just seven months, Charlotte Holman. The two had trained for the marathon and started the race together.
"I was 20 minutes behind Hayden when he passed away," Charlotte Holman said. "He was very close to finishing. He was at the last turn of the finish line, and he didn't get to finish the race."
Finishing for Hayden
On Saturday, Charlotte Holman, along with several of Hayden Holman's family members and friends, completed the St. George Marathon. Charlotte Holman said running the marathon was very hard, but it was important for her to finish what her late husband started, both for him and for her own healing journey.
"I had so many emotions while running because it's very hard being there, knowing what happened, but it is also a victory," she said. "Running the marathon was a commitment I felt like we should do. It was hard to get to the final turn. You're already hurting, then there's this whole emotion of trying to breathe. But there is also some strength that came from it. Just to know that I did all I could for Hayden. It was amazing to cross the finish line for him, and be where he gave his final breath."
"It's easy to forget the people who have passed away," she said. "I've learned a lot about grieving this past year. We don't talk a lot about death; it's a very real thing. It can happen any time. I think there's a lot of pressure to move on, but I think that it's important to remember that person. That's what keeps them alive here on earth. We need to talk about them. We need to remember them."
Charlotte Holman said she plans on running the St. George Marathon annually, and hopes to add more races and events to help remember Hayden.
"I think it's something we should do every year," she said. "We have already signed up for the Salt Lake City Marathon in April. My goal is to run maybe two or three marathons a year. I hope to get into bigger races — ultras and triathlons. I kind of see it as a very spiritual experience to remember Hayden.
"It isn't just the moments on the course, but the whole journey."
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Arianne Brown
