March 16, 2006

In honor of Pat

Almaden gets its collective feet ready to honor Pat Tillman
with inaugural Pat’s Run, slated for April 30

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

For Alex Garwood, honoring the late Pat Tillman will, among other things, require a good pair of running shoes.

Arizonians came out in droves for the inaugural Pat’s Run, held in April of 2005 in Tempe. In total, more than 6,000 runners, from the serious-minded, to novice weekend warriors turned out for the event, which raised funds for the Leadership Through Action initiative. Photo courtesy of the Pat Tillman Foundation

That’s because Garwood, Tillman’s brother-in-law and the executive director of The Pat Tillman Foundation, is bringing Pat’s Run to Almaden Valley on April 30, after the event’s inaugural staging saw a successful turnout of more than 6,000 runners in Tempe, Ariz. last year.

Tillman, an Almaden native, died in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, while serving his country as a member of the U.S. Army Rangers. Tillman gave up a promising NFL career as a member of the Arizona Cardinals to enlist, along with his brother Kevin, and serve his country following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Although the focus in the news lately has been on a new Army investigation into the friendly fire attack that killed Tillman and the possible cover-up by Army personnel, Garwood and other family members said they plan to pour their energy into the upcoming hometown run.

Garwood said it seems only natural for the run to take place in Almaden as well, given Tillman’s ties to the area.

“San Jose is his home, but then he burst onto the national scene, or whatever the right term is, in Arizona,” said Garwood, who participated in the Tempe run last year. “The Arizonians very much adopted him and made him their own, whether it was because he was a Sun Devil, or because he was a Cardinal or because that’s where he became famous, for lack of a better word. But we here, for those of us who grew up here, he’s ours too … It makes sense. I mean, Arizona is a natural step but the Bay Area, it’s (also) a natural step.”

Garwood said that Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, is very excited and looking forward to the run.

Garwood said last year’s turnout in Tempe was a pleasant surprise, given the number of volunteers who showed up to help with the event, not to mention the numerous and wide variety of runners, from the serious-minded to novice weekend warriors. At the same time, Garwood said the outpouring of support isn’t entirely shocking to him, because, as he puts it simply, “it’s Pat.”

“Is it shocking that someone in Arizona is touched, or someone in San Jose, or New York (by what Tillman stood for)? Probably not,” said Garwood. “But when people in Utah, or Kansas, or wherever are touched by Pat, that’s amazing in his reach. Pat touched so many people from all walks of life, demonstrated in the kind of people who participated in the (2005 Tempe) run. But also, it’s not amazing, because I had the honor of knowing him, the privilege of knowing him and spending time with him. So I don’t find it amazing at all. It’s an interesting dichotomy.”

And while the event is held in honor of Tillman, its purpose is also to carry on his legacy.

Proceeds from the inaugural Pat’s Run in San Jose will benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation and its Leadership Through Action initiative, which originally started at Arizona State University, Tillman’s alma mater.

The Leadership Through Action program allows Tillman Scholars, students selected annually by the foundation and ASU, to develop into future leaders by finding solutions to social problems. The scholars not only study applicable curriculum for the leadership program, they are also advised by community and business leaders, and afforded the opportunity to test their solutions before implementing them with seed money through the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Garwood said a similar program is currently in the works for South Bay high schools, which will directly benefit from the San Jose run.

Pat Tillman, shown here during his playing days at Arizona State University, made quite an impression on future brother-in-law Alex Garwood during Tillman’s high school days. Garwood, who played football at Leland shortly before Tillman began his career there, said he heard several stories about Tillman’s skills on the football field. Photo courtesy of the Pat Tillman Foundation

“It was important to us to come up with something that felt like Pat, a program that somehow was reflective of him,” Garwood said of the Leadership Through Action initiative. “You can imagine the challenge that would be, trying to develop something that captures him … and that’s what Leadership Through Action is.”

And while the Leadership Through Action program is reflective of Tillman, the run also features ample amounts of symbolism. The Foundation created the run of 4.2 miles with the idea of honoring Tillman whose his jersey number, 42, was worn at both Leland High School and ASU. There’s also a 0.42-mile race for children ages 8 and younger around the Leland track. In addition, the race, which begins on the corner of Via Valiente and Camden, ends at the 42-yard line of Pat Tillman Stadium.

In between, the 4.2-mile run/walk will go past some of Tillman’s old stomping grounds, including Bret Harte Middle School, where Tillman’s mother still works as a teacher, and where the Almaden native graduated eighth grade before venturing on to Leland High School, as well as Graystone Elementary School, where Tillman spent his early childhood years.

In keeping with the foundation and Tillman’s theme, Garwood said Pat’s Run is an opportunity to bring something positive to the community, while also honoring a local hero.

“Everyday, our job, good or bad, is to try and carry forth the amazing legacy of this man,” said Garwood. “And so, you try to do something positive out of something horrible ... I spend my day talking about Pat, which is good, but it’s also hard.”

For Garwood and the rest of the Tillman family, the weeks leading up to the inaugural Pat’s Run in San Jose will be difficult, at best. The city of Tempe will hold its second annual Pat’s Run on April 15, which coincides with this year’s selection of Tillman Scholars at ASU. In addition, the April 30 run in San Jose will take place slightly more than a week after the April 22nd anniversary of Tillman’s death. Garwood said a time for reflection would likely come shortly after San Jose’s run.

Garwood said he hopes Almaden residents will come out and celebrate Tillman’s life by taking part in the run and honoring the Almaden native for who he was and what he stood for.

“Pat wasn’t my best friend,” Garwood said, “he was just one of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Registration for the inaugural Pat’s Run in San Jose, slated for April 30 at Leland High School, is $25 per person. To register for the run, go to www.patsrun.com. For more information about the Pat Tillman Foundation and its Leadership Through Action initiative, go to www.pattillmanfoundation.org