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Participants to 'Run With It' during Pat's Run, April 25


Pat's Run
April 10, 2015

For the 11th annual Pat’s Run, organizers are asking participants to “Run With It” – this year’s theme for the April 25 event honoring the life and legacy of ASU alumnus Pat Tillman.

Tillman, who died while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan, was driven by leadership, service and passion. The Pat Tillman Foundation – the event’s sponsor – is encouraging people to find what their “it” is and run with it.

Arizona State University and the surrounding community will take part in the run/walk, which begins at 7:05 a.m. on Packard Drive and continues through Tempe, finishing on the 42-yard line in Sun Devil Stadium. (While a member of the ASU football team, Tillman wore No. 42.)

The 4.2-mile run and .42 kids run, which starts at 9:45 a.m., attracts more than 35,000 participants and volunteers each year. The majority of the proceeds go to the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Tillman Military Scholars, a program designed to support educational opportunities for service members and military families.

Sandy Flynn, Pat’s Run director, encourages people of all ages to come out for the run. Flynn did the run herself in 2010 and was so inspired that six months later she started working at the Pat Tillman Foundation.

“I tell everyone they can do it,” Flynn said. “Some people say they are scared if they haven’t run in a while, they aren’t a strong runner, but we want you to come if you can run, walk, hang and volunteer. We have a role for everyone, and that’s what Pat’s Run is about.”

Diana Kramer was selected to be a Tillman Scholar last June. This upcoming Pat’s Run will be her first time participating in the race.

“I’m excited about it, and I think it’s something I’m going to be doing every year from now on,” Kramer said. “I feel it’s a great way to give back to a great organization that has done so much for me, even though I’ve only been a part of it for eight months now.”

In addition to the main run, more than 35 chapters from the ASU Alumni Association are participating in shadow runs across the United States. The shadow runs are community-oriented, casual affairs, commonly held at parks, schools and recreation areas.

The Pat’s Run has grown from 4,000 runners in 2004 to 35,000 runners, counting volunteers, the kids-run participants and the shadow-run participants. The Pat’s Run in Tempe is capped at 28,000 participants.

Space is limited, and online registration closes on April 17. Walk-up registration is available April 22-24, space permitting.

Register at pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run.

Written by Samantha Pell, ASU News