Circle of Trust

I have run several Spartan and other obstacle course races over the last several years, but the last official road race that I participated in was Pat’s Run in April 2009. This is an annual 4.2mi race in Arizona to honor Pat Tillman. I ran the race with my dad…but he wasn’t feeling great and we ended up doing a lot of walking.

A week later, I got a phone call that my dad had emergency heart surgery. We immediately made a values-based decision to move back closer to family and left Arizona to come back to the Naperville area. My dad recovered and is still doing great.

[While prepping for this COT, I realized that I had a unspoken mental block. I knew my dad was lucky not to die during the race…and so I unknowingly linked that memory with running. I stopped running and lifted weights for the next 10 years…although running is actually one of the best things you can do for your heart. With the push of F3, I am now back and accelerating my endurance, heart health, and running skills.] 

Pat Tillman was a linebacker at Arizona State University who went in the 7th round to the Arizona Cardinals to play safety. Undersized at 5’11 and 200lbs, he set a franchise record for tackles. He turned down a $9M contract out of loyalty to stay with the Cardinals…then after 9/11, he turned down a $3.4M contract and signed up to be an Army Ranger…to serve the country he loved.

Pat served tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004. On the evening of April 22, 2004, Pat’s unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his untimely and tragic death via fratricide.

“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 #42