I'm running the Chicago Marathon this year on October 12th. It will not only be my first marathon, it will hopefully be the first race that I complete over ~4 miles.
We're about 5 weeks out which means I've already gone on some of the longest runs of my life – by far – at this point in the training plan. I have just about 400 miles logged.
I'm one of ~100 running the race on behalf of the Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF). In addition to honoring the legacy of Pat Tillman, the foundation awards academic scholarships to U.S. service members, veterans, and military spouses. "Tillman Scholars" are often some of the most impressive people on the planet (or in its orbit).
I was recently asked why I'm running the marathon. Here is how I responded.
Below is an email I sent to Perry Edinger. Perry was the Head Athletic Trainer at Arizona State University when Pat Tillman was a student-athlete. He's a founder of Pat's Run, one of the largest annual fundraising events for PTF held in Tempe, AZ on ASU's campus. He's also a longtime ultra marathon runner. He volunteers time every year to help "Team Tillman" prepare for Chicago.
Perry
PJ Duffy here - 31 year old Team Tillman participant based in Chicago. After growing up with the race nearby, I'm thrilled to participate as a first-timer. I've trained for 2 half marathons but didn't complete either. One was derailed by covid and the other, I made the critical mistake of doing something new (very new) on race day. Ended up hurt and limping to the sidelines at mile 8.
I was an athlete before going to college. Played safety like Pat. Then spent most of my 20s focused on my desk-job career. In training for Chicago this year, it's the first time I've been able to put my ego aside, recognize that I'm about a decade out of peak performance, and just enjoy the slow miles. Before starting, I wanted to break 4 hours. Now, I just tell myself that no matter when I finish, I'll be setting a PR.
Your email a few weeks ago (subject line: "What does it take?") struck a chord with me.
You've been asking people to share their "Why?" since you started sending your emails back in the spring. I hadn't actually started chewing on the question until receiving your "What does it take?" email. I finally decided to pen a response for two reasons:
- I've been listening to "Where Men Win Glory" while running and was delighted to hear you make a cameo when helping Pat with a training plan for his Euro trip. Felt like the universe nudging me to say hello (I also just returned from 10 days in Europe for a cousin's wedding so I'm kicking myself for not doing this a month ago!)
- I'm behind on fundraising. I've had a few friends and family ask for my link but I haven't felt comfortable asking for the money if I'm not able to articulate my reason for doing so.
Now seems like as good a time as any to take a shot at your "why" question. Apologies in advance for giving you the verbose first draft.
For starters, I found my way to PTF serendipitously. I sat next to one of the foundation's board members on a flight last fall and learned a bit about what they were up to. We stayed in touch and he introduced me to the team to do some volunteer work. From there I learned about the marathon team and applied on a whim after deciding I could use a challenge in 2025.
There are a few reasons I needed the challenge.
My wife and I got married last year. After a busy 2024 spent wedding planning, we've had more time on our hands this year. Working toward a physical goal – one that was pretty far outside my comfort zone – felt productive.
Since graduating ten years ago, I've built my career in "startups." I chose this path because I believed it would offer the quickest route to meaningful experience, even if it meant passing up bigger paychecks at more established companies early on. Three years ago, I started a business with 2 partners and it's only very recently that we feel we've graduated from "throwing the proverbial pasta at the wall", just trying to get something to stick.
What I struggle most with (and what I absolutely signed up for) is that there isn't a map of this territory. There are plenty of entrepreneurship gurus and business school best practices. But our product, in our market, has never been done before. There's a reason for that. I have to remind myself that if we picked something easy, someone else would have already done it. Still, I get frustrated by the number of sleepless nights spent wondering whether we're doing things "right," because I know "right" doesn't really exist here.
At first, the challenge of the marathon seemed like an effective antidote to sleepless nights. That has largely proved true, but I've uncovered something even more useful this year.
This is a wholly different kind of challenge than the one I face at work: there is a map, and the body responds predictably if you treat it well. Nine times out of ten, there's no "right" decision to make. You either lace up and get out the door or you don't. I've heard that consistency compounds but this year I have the miles to prove it – to really feel it be true – and I'm proud of that.
I didn't start with a grand "why" but suppose I've found one along the way. Progress hasn't always moved in a straight line lately but training dependably provides a sense of accomplishment. If you follow the plan and do the work, you earn the result. In a season of life that's high on ambiguity, that clarity has been soothing.
The catharsis of the time outside, away from a computer, and learning about Pat's discernment and curiosity (part of his persona that I knew nothing about) has been a welcome respite from pasta throwing.
I'd really like to say that I'm motivated to run by an altruistic sense of duty to support a good cause like PTF. The truth is that I didn't start with a good reason and I've been motivated to keep going by something more selfish. That said, as I've been learning about Pat and the work of the foundation, dedicating these miles to their cause has become a no-brainer.
In the end, it'll be them that I have to thank for helping me internalize that if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, you'll likely end up with something to show for it.
With that, I'm off to Fleet Feet because I have a black and blue big toe and I'm running out of time to try new shoes!
thanks for the time,
pj
I'd be incredibly grateful for your support! Here is a link to my fundraising page.