Run.Walk.Honor.

If you don't know the story of Pat Tillman, you should.

Somewhere inside we hear a voice.
It leads us in the direction of the person we wish to become.
But, it is up to us whether or not to follow.
                                                                          -Pat Tillman

Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, NFL player Pat Tillman left the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army Rangers to defend our country.  Already a multi-millionaire in the prime of his football career, honoring his country was more important to Pat than anything else.  He served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan before falling in April 2004 at age 27.  If you don't already know Pat's story, you should take the time to learn about him.  He was more than a football player and a soldier, from all accounts he was a leader and a friend and the type of person you would always want to know and have on your side.  Born and raised in Northern California, Pat played at Arizona State, ultimately helping lead them to the Rose Bowl before being drafted and entering the NFL.  His exploits on the field, and that crazy long hair, helped to make him an icon in the Valley and his passing has made his legend grow even further and stronger.
The Pat Tillman Foundation was created in his honor and 9 years ago they held a 4.2 mile road race, in honor of the #42 he wore while at ASU, running across campus and Tempe.  3000 runners showed up that year and now in it's 9th year the race has become one of the largest in the world with over 35,000 participants last year.  Always held in April, in honor of his passing, this year's race was held on Saturday, April 20,  and I was delighted to take part.

As an avid football fan, I was always intrigued by Pat Tillman, long before 9/11.  He was the type of guy on the field that anytime you watched a game he was in, you knew where he was at all times.  He played with such passion and ferocity even though he was far from the biggest or strongest player on the field.  His heart and desire easily were big parts of his game.  When he turned down a multi-millionaire dollar extension to leave football and join the Army, it was obviously big news.  His untimely, and controversial,  passing also became huge news and I remember being in Denver the day of his funeral, watching it on TV in my hotel room.  It was captivating and passionate, just as one might imagine when dealing with someone who was bigger than life.  I had heard of the Pat's Run years ago, but not living in Arizona then, I never figured I would attend let alone run it.  But as soon as I moved to Arizona, I signed up for Pat's Run and I'd been waiting for the race ever since.

Registration outside Sun Devil Stadium is held for  full 3 days before the race.

Due to the Boston Marathon bombings, coupled with Pat being a soldier, you can imagine the amount of security and patriotism that was on display.  As most of us can easily take our freedom for granted, we must always remember that we are the land of the free, because of the brave and terrorism may do some tragic damage, but ultimately America will always survive.  So along with 30,000 new friends I was ecstatic to take part in the race.  Due to the enormous amount of runners and all of their friends and family and other spectators, there was going to be well over 100,000 people in a relatively small area.  Parking would be an issue, but luckily my friend Gregg, who is also an active 20+ year National Guard Airman, lives about 2 miles from Sun Devil stadium, so I drove to his house Saturday morning and then rode my bike down to the race, thanks again Gregg!  As you can imagine there was a lot of media and after parking my bike, apparently I look like a guy with an opinion(shocking to anyone that knows me I'm sure) and I was interviewed by a number of radio and TV stations, all asking the same thing, if I was worried about my security.  As far as I was concerned nothing frightened me, let alone some race.  I was going to take part in this no matter what and I had absolutely zero concerns.  Due to the large numbers of runners they put all of us in corrals of 1000, all based on your predicted time of finish.  I ended up in corral #1 and was hoping to run in under 28:00 minutes.  As the race was about to get underway, it was quite a sight seeing 30,000+ people all lined up.  After an emotional rendition of the National Anthem by a solider on a bugle the countdown began and off we went.

And we're off!  Lots of flags on the course today!  USA!  USA!

4.2 miles makes for a fast race and thus it doesn't leave you much time to get into rhythm or hold anything back.  You pretty much have to run about as fast as you can the whole way, if you are running for time.  But with a race this size and with it's mission, there were thousands of people that were walking that just wanted to take part and they also have teams, so you see a lot of people in their company shirts and of course lots of people in ASU gear or soldiers in full uniform.  It was interesting and very cool.  Most races I run have a few hundred or a 1000 people, so this was definitely a new experience.

With so many runners, you were never alone, almost always 3-4 across.

The start in the foreground.  Zoom in on the bridge in the background and you'll see runners around Mile #3.

Another shot of the huge amount of runners.  Signs of Tillman were everyone. He wore #40 in the NFL.

The race is for the most part a 4 mile square around Tempe Town Lake, which for my Midwestern friends it isn't a lake at all, rather a dammed up small river, but here in the Valley it's all we got.  But it's a fairly flat course and there were people lining almost the whole way.  They shut down Mill Street and Scottsdale Road, two of the busiest roads around and it really is an event the whole Valley gets into.  Honestly going into the race I was not worried at all about my time or anything, I just wanted to enjoy the experience and the coolest race finish ever, running into Sun Devil Stadium in front of thousands of people finishing on the 42 yard line.  The whole race I felt terrible, sluggish, slow, not really sure why until my dad reminded me that I had given a double platelet and plasma donation about 36 hours before and that probably had an effect.  As an aside, I encourage anyone reading this to contact their local blood bank and consider donating blood and/or plasma.  There is always tremendous need and you will feel better for having helped others I assure you.  But back to the race, I started out on pace for the first mile, could feel myself slowing a bit on Mile 2, but held firm on Mile 3, but as I was running the last mile I was just ready to be done.  But when you see the stadium and you start to run around it, knowing you will be inside it shortly, you definitely feel some adrenaline and as I started running through the tunnel I could see the clock above the finish line and I burned it in finishing in 27:43.  I ended up in 270th place, not bad for the size of the race, but then I found out my friend Dan also ran and he finished about a minute ahead and in approximately 150th place.  Dan is also a U of A grad and supporter, but proves that this race has no rivalries.  Nice work Dan!  Without contacting each other ahead of time, there was no way to know who is there because its so huge.  But maybe next year I can keep up with him.

After I was done, with the finish behind me.  I had written #42 on my hand.

Again, as an avid football fan, running into the stadium and finishing, in essence, at mid field in front of a huge crowd, that was easily one of the coolest things I've ever done and it will be hard for any race to top that.  Due to the large number of runners when I did finish I heard the announcer calling for Corral #28 to get to the starting line, so I actually was finished before thousands had even started.  Thankfully everyone is chipped time, so your time is counted when you cross the starting line, not at the gun.  But that was neat for me to be able to watch the race, because I never get to do that otherwise.  On the way out of the stadium they have a nice statue of ASU legendary Coach Frank Kush, who was a dorm mate of my Uncle Al at MSU, as well as a Rose Bowl tribute, be sure to make note of the LOSING opponent.  Ha ha.

Chip timer I wore on my shoe, has my bib number as well.

 A tribute to winning the Rose Bowl, sure.  But to me anyone that memorializes beating scUM, I'm on your side!

With that the 9th Annual Pat's Run went off incident free.  Thousands of runners and walkers participated and thousands more were there to support and cheer everyone on.  It was a year ago this weekend that I traveled back to Lansing, MI to walk in the 1st Lansing Marathon and 5K with my dad.  I was in horrible shape at the time and my life was really in turmoil.  Walking that 5K inspired me to start running just 2 weeks later.  I encourage you, wherever you live, to take part in a 5K, walk it in honor of someone or just to be a part of a community event.  You don't ever have to become a runner, but when you finish, I guarantee you will feel a sense of accomplishment and you'll feel better for having done so.  The proceeds from Pat's Run help soldiers and all of us know someone who has served or is still currently serving.  The next time you see the soldiers in your life, be sure to thank them again, because after all they have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep this land of ours great.  Pat Tillman's legacy will live on, but let's never forget all of those that defended this great country's honor.  God Bless America!

Those goes that opinion of mine again....

Land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave. 
Thanks Pat!