Running is nothing new to Zack Gowen. For the past eight years, it has been a part of his daily routine. After watching his mom, Faye, fight pancreatic cancer for 18 months without ever giving up or losing sight of who she was, Zack now feels more determined than ever to put his best foot forward and join the fight against pancreatic cancer.
On Sunday, October 11th, Zack will run his third marathon in partnership with Project Purple, supporting critical research for early detection and providing financial assistance to patients and families.
A Daily Commitment
Ever since his childhood, Zack has been a runner, carrying the sport with him through high school into adulthood. While he has continued to run recreationally throughout his adult life, it wasn’t until around eight years ago that it became a non-negotiable part of his routine. Zack finds himself running 5 to 6 times every week, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.
Running serves many purposes for Zack. Staying active and fueling his body with what it needs are important parts of taking care of himself, and starting his day with a run helps set the tone for a productive, successful day. Beyond the physical benefits, running also gives Zack an outlet for creativity and brainstorming. As the owner of three restaurants in Georgia, Zack often finds running to be a great time to come up with new ideas and plans for his businesses.
Zack prioritizes many different aspects of his life, including family time, work, time for himself, and running. Making time to run each day gives him a sense of structure and helps him stay focused on his goals. For Zack, running is also an opportunity to step away from the busy nature of everyday life, clear his head, and take a break. It gives him time to relieve stress, process what is going on in his life, and simply enjoy some time to himself.
Holding Onto What Matters Most
In the summer of 2022, Zack’s mother, Faye, began experiencing fatigue, which prompted her to seek medical attention. Further testing and scans revealed that she had pancreatic cancer.
A year prior, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which can be an indicator of pancreatic cancer, but doctors hadn’t yet located the cause. She was fortunate enough to receive care from the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, she was not a candidate for surgery, so she underwent treatment and fought for 18 months before sadly passing away.
Before her diagnosis, she was healthy and in great shape, making the news even more unexpected for her and her family. While they initially tried to remain optimistic, Zack explained that as time went on and he learned more through his own research, that optimism was increasingly accompanied by fear and uncertainty.
Faye was described as a gracious Southern woman who was social, laid back, and full of life. She was also incredibly athletic, with a natural talent for golf, tennis, and basketball. Like Zack, she prioritized her health and well-being, maintaining an active lifestyle and making her health a priority.
“She talked softly but carried a big stick,” Zack said.
During her fight against pancreatic cancer, she made it a point to live life and not lose sight of what mattered to her. She prioritized time with family, attended her grandson’s wedding, and never let cancer define her.
Zack’s Marathon Journey
When his mom passed away, running shifted from being a way to deal with stress to a way to deal with grief.
“People deal with grief in different ways,” Zack said. “It’s not a once size fits all.”
For Zack, running is one of the major things getting him through this difficult time.
Zack had run a marathon prior to his mom passing, along with countless half marathons. He had a goal of running a marathon in each state and participating in all the majors. After his mom passed, he was looking around on the internet, trying to get into a marathon. He learned that you can run with a charity and instantly knew he wanted to do one for pancreatic cancer. That’s when he found Project Purple.
“It was a no-brainer,” Zack said. “I was like, ‘this is what I’ve been looking for.’”
Since discovering Project Purple, he has partnered with the organization for two marathons, the New York City Marathon and Grandma’s Marathon, and he can’t wait to take on his third with Project Purple in Chicago.
Zack’s partnership with Project Purple extends far beyond running. In each of the three restaurants he owns, Project Purple is featured on the menu with information and a QR code, making it easy for customers to learn more and get involved. The restaurants also donate a portion of their sales to Project Purple. His fundraising efforts have also included a wine dinner at one of his restaurants, which raised upwards of $5,500.
He is enjoying every minute of this process and will continue it for years to come.
The Journey to Chicago
Where Zack lives in South Georgia, the heat can make training especially challenging. Still, he trains with his running coach every day, rain or shine. Even when the weather isn’t in his favor, Zack prefers to go outside and stay committed to his routine.
Although Zack loves running, there are still days when getting out the door is harder than others. When motivation gets low, he reminds himself of the sense of accomplishment he feels when he finishes a run.
“I know that at the end, I’m going to be glad I did it,” Zack said.
He expects to have that same feeling of accomplishment to carry him through race day.
When Zack travels for marathons, he also makes sure to leave time to experience the places he visits. For his trip to Chicago, he plans to bring his wife and kids along for the weekend so they can spend time together exploring the city. He has already started looking into different activities and museums they might want to visit during their trip.
Zack is especially looking forward to crossing the finish line and receiving his race shirt and medal. For him, those moments are a rewarding reminder of all the hard work, dedication, and training that went into reaching race day. More importantly, they serve as a reminder of why he started in the first place and the purpose behind every mile he runs.
Connecting With Purpose
Being able to run is something Zack doesn’t take for granted. He considers it a blessing to be healthy enough to get up, walk, and run, while also being grateful to be healthy for his children. Having an organization like Project Purple that allows him to turn something he loves into a way to support others makes the experience even more meaningful.
Through his journey, Zack has also learned that there is no single way to navigate grief. For him, running has provided structure and something to focus on, even on the days when other things feel difficult. From picking out his shoes and checking the weather to planning what he will eat before a run, each small detail gives him something to work toward.
For Zack, every run is a way to connect with and remember the profound impact his mom had on his life. It allows him to move forward while continuing to carry her memory with him. As he prepares for the Chicago Marathon, this is just the beginning of Zack’s journey to make a difference in the pancreatic cancer community.
If you’d like to run or participate in an event of your own for Project Purple, visit our events page.
