In the last 4 years living in Arizona, I’d never participated in the annual Pat’s Run. However, after covering the event for Cronkite News, witnessing all the fun and cool storylines last year, I finally decided it was time to get in on the day’s festivities. I loved it, and am certainly marking the date on the calendar for years to come.
What started as a small event with just 5,000 participants has grown tremendously and has now become second largest military race and 15thlargest road race in the country. 21 years later, Pat’s Run now yields approximately 28,000 runners in Tempe and another 20,000 virtually – not to mention the thousands of Honor Run participants nationwide.
When I first visited Arizona in the fall of 2019, my dad and I took a visit to the Pat Tillman Statue outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, where I first learned about his story. I’ve always admired it ever since. I’ve always had a fond appreciation for our servicemen and women, as my grandpa was an Air Force veteran during the Korean War. It’s really cool seeing the different ways the state continues to honor his legacy year after year, and Pat’s Run is another way to do that.
Participating in Pat’s Run for the first time was a huge accomplishment for me because I’d never done an event like this before, not even a 5K. I wasn’t in shape for the event at all and should have trained harder, but I didn’t let that take away from my enjoyment of the event. The best part is that this isn’t like a normal race where you are competing for time against everyone else. You do it for your own personal benefit and the greater cause. Some people walk the whole course, while others run the whole time.
I finished in 1:10, and collectively ran about two miles of the course spread throughout. Not bad for my first time. Now, I know what to expect and can better prepare for next year.
When I covered the event last year, I was fascinated by the diversity among the participants – from firefighters in full gear, Kenny Dillingham and the ASU football team, senior citizens, and of course, fellow military veterans. Pat’s Run is truly a community event for all. I even saw someone pushing themselves in a wheelchair on Saturday.
I love seeing how Sun Devil Athletics rally around the cause, as ASU hockey and women’s soccer teams were both volunteering at the water stations throughout the course and entire ASU football team ran with the Kids’ Race (.42 miles) giving them an unforgettable experience.
On a personal level, Pat’s Run meant even more than just honoring Pat’s legacy and the men and women in the armed forces. At Country Thunder this weekend, multiple artists gave a shoutout to the cops, firefighters, doctors and other medical workers serving on the frontlines. I was thinking about this as I was doing Pat’s Run Saturday morning.
Last week, my family got the devastating call that Uncle Pete passed away unexpectedly. Pete worked as a Kaiser doctor for over 30 years and loved his family more than anything. I saw him just a few weeks ago during Spring Break, and we went to a couple Spring Training games together. I’m very glad I did.
Pat’s Run for me wasn’t just about honoring Pat’s legacy and the sacrifices of our military vets, but also remembering the time I had with Pete.
Doing it with some of my best friends made the experience even better. Although it was my first Pat’s Run, it certainly won’t be the last.
