Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary is a longtime fitness advocate. While he is particularly passionate about cycling and soccer, he also works in several runs each week. Recently, the Hendersonville Lifestyle team caught up with Jamie to get his thoughts about running in the City by the Lake.
When did you start running?
“I ran cross-country in high school to keep in shape for soccer. Since then, I don’t place myself in the category of ‘runner’ because I’m not that good or that serious.”
What do you enjoy the most about running?
“If I don’t sweat every couple days, I get irritable. If my soccer team is not playing and the weather is too cold to bike ride, I run. The post-run feeling of exertion and the sense of accomplishment, even for three miles, are what I enjoy most.”
How often do you run?
“For the past 15 years, I rarely go three days without running three miles or more. I feel that I have a responsibility to participate in Hendersonville activities that support non-profit organizations. So, I run eight to ten 5K events every year. I also ran our local half-marathon three times. As I trained for those, I ran more often and longer distances, culminating in running my one and only marathon a few years ago.”
What is your favorite running distance?
“Three miles is about what my schedule permits on most days. I’m a planner, and three miles is easy to prepare for psychologically. Running less than that distance is a waste of preparation.”
What is your favorite time to run?
“I prefer heat to cold. I would rather run in 90 degrees than 50 degrees. Afternoons are preferable but not always available. Very often I will run in the afternoon, take a shower, return to work, and stay at City Hall until 9:00 or 10:00 at night.”
What makes Hendersonville such a great place in which to run?
“Our sidewalks and greenways are incredibly inviting. Our scenery is also an incentive. We have every kind of course, including grass, road, hills, flat and along the lake.”
What is your favorite course?
“The three-mile loop from my house into a nearby neighborhood is very accessible. I just walk out my back door and run. That is my course for 75% of my runs. I see many of the same people and pass the same houses each time I go out. It’s very comfortable. But I also love the peace and shade of the greenway along Saundersville Road. When I run to that greenway and add a few miles, I really feel like I am accomplishing something.”
What is your favorite greenway to run on?
“I like our newest one, which runs along Drakes Creek and Sanders Ferry Road. That route is satisfying on many levels. The boardwalks allow running over the water and views that last miles. I also love seeing people eating at the restaurants along there, knowing that they are supporting local businesses while providing sales tax revenue for the city to provide services.”
What advice would you offer to a beginning runner?
“Shoes are important. For a long time, I refused to invest in serious running shoes because I don’t see myself as a serious runner. Once I changed my mind, the comfort was transforming. I talked to serious runners and visited a running store to help understand the options. That decision made a huge difference in my running.”
What courses would you recommend for beginning runners and/or those new to the city?
“I would suggest running closest to your home at first. The preparation and time commitments are minimal. After that, I recommend running in Drakes Creek Park. The constant activities are a distraction from the exertion.”
"I love the peace and shade of the greenway along Saundersville Road. When I run to that greenway and add a few miles, I really feel like I am accomplishing something.”