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South Jordan Journal

Family-oriented Race Takes Runners from Temple to Temple

Oct 07, 2015 10:00AM ● By Bryan Scott

By Kaleb Loftus

Nearly 450 community members stood dancing in place at 7 a.m. in an effort to stay warm while waiting for the countdown to begin the race.  It was the Temple to Temple Steeplechase, a 5-mile run that began early on Labor Day. 

In its seventh year, the annual race drew the largest amount of participants in its history. Darylne McPheeters, one of the races founders and organizers was excited to see the unity the race brings. 

“I had a woman from Southern California, who spoke to me at the finish line and was in town visiting her daughter.  Her daughter had run the Temple to Temple on a previous year also.  She said she had such a wonderful experience that next year she would bring more family with her and they would all do it,” McPheeters said. 

The race is family oriented and many families participated together. James and Hayley Neider were able to run together as husband and wife and really enjoyed the time to bond. “It’s great, there’s such a feeling of unity and we don’t get to run together that often so it’s really enjoyable,” James said.

“I think the unique thing about this race is it has a community feel to it. The community draws together and it supports a great cause,” James said. The race earnings are donated to the Temple Patrons Fund where LDS families who don’t have the means to go to the temple are financially helped to do so.

The race started at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, went north down 4000 West, turned east down 9800 South and finished going south on 1300 West to the Jordan River Temple. 

From running with dogs to walking with strollers the race was a great experience for all who participated. One of Darylne’s favorite moments was when, “one family of six finished hand in hand. It was really sweet to see.” 

The family-finish felt right for many participants symbolically-- as in the temple, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be sealed together as a family for all eternity. 

“The race has a lot of symbolism of getting to heaven and the temple,” Hayley said. She appreciated the scenery as much as the exercise, and finished first among the women runners. 

“It’s symbolic because there might be a first place winner, but what matters is that we all make it. Just like in heaven. In fact you probably don’t want to get there first. You want to get there together,” James said. 


Family members who finished the race went back and ran with those who hadn’t yet. 

“Each year I have people who go the five-mile distance and at the finish line, they say, ‘Thanks so much for doing this! I love doing this with my community!’” McPheeters said