So here I am getting ready to run in my second Pat's Run. I survived last year's run, barely, but have made Pat's Run something that I just feel the need to participate in. Like I said in my post about this last year, I am not, and never have been a runner. In fact, I don't really enjoy it. However, I have come to love the Pat's Run, and now have a goal this time around.
This year's Pat Tillman Run in Tempe, AZ will be on Saturday April 17th, 2010. The 4.2 mile run will start at 7:00am. Today was my fourth time running in preparation for the run, and I am feeling much better than last year around this time. I now know what to expect from the race and am familiar with the route. Last year I almost ran out of steam at the end, and didn't realize there would be a fairly steep hill to climb. I think I started off too fast last year, and now I know that I need to pace myself. My goal this year is to break a 10 minute mile, as I just missed this last year by less than a minute.
As you can see by the pictures, I was looking pretty good in the before picture (right). After the race, you can see in my face that I look like I may get sick at any moment (below). Both my son and my neighbor looked as though they hadn't even ran.
During the race last year, both my neighbor and my son could have easily ran a much faster time. I kept telling them to go ahead, but at one point in the race my neighbor turned to me and said, "you never leave a man behind." They stuck with me the entire race to the detriment of their own times. This year, I want to make sure they run their own race, and I will finish several minutes behind them while running at my own pace.
More than 20,000 runners, walkers, volunteers and spectators will participate in Pat's Run Tempe this year. The 4.2 mile run/walk celebrates the life of former ASU football star and Army Ranger, Pat Tillman. Proceeds from the race benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation and its Leadership through ActionTM initiatives.
I will make this plea again this year. Please, if you have an opportunity, get involved or make a donation to this wonderful foundation. You never know what you are capable of until you challenge yourself. I hope to see lots of you at the Pat Tillman Run in 2010.
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