A lot of people say that runners are a breed of their own. A local runner is proving that right by running 314 miles to Georgia. It’s important to set goals for ourselves but isn’t this taking it to the extreme? Not according to the Hendersonville Running Club.

Hendersonville Running Club has been gathering on Saturday mornings for at least the last seven years. Whether you are a beginner runner or a seasoned Boston Qualifier runner there is always a spot for you. The club was set up to promote running as a local fitness option and is helping others achieve their goals. What’s really great about this club is it’s free.

The motto of the club is “Build Friendships in Motion,” and that’s just what they are doing. Charlie Taylor, of Gallatin, is a member of the Hendersonville Running Club. Taylor is running the Last Annual Vol State Road Race. This is a 314 mile, 500km run across Tenn. ending in Castle Rock, Ga. Taylor has used his Facebook page to journal his miles with the public. There is an enormous amount of encouraging comments from people all around cheering him along the way. Pictures of blisters on his wall show that this was not an easy task but one that he has endured in spite of the pain.

Taylor’s not the only inspiration this running club has. There are others involved that are making a difference in our community and standing in for those that are unable to. On August 21, HRC is conducting their fifth Annual Run for the Fallen of Sumner County at The Streets of Indian Lake from 7-9 a.m. Family members of the fallen will attend and some will even run. Randy Smith, a retired Marine, is very involved in this event. Smith has a deep personal connection to this event as there are names of friends that served with him and were killed in action. He is not running just to get fit but to honor those friendships of those that he served with.

While there might be those that question the logic behind the long runs or the crazy attire these runners wear; when we dig deeper into the reasons behind the runs we find caring individuals that are just trying to inspire others. Let them be leaders, examples and fanatics. Let them prove that goals were meant to be set and records to be broken. Continue on, throughout your travels may you make many “Friendships in Motion.”

If you’d like to know more about Hendersonville Running Club visit their website at www.hendersonvillerunningclub.com or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . There are many opportunities for you to get involved with this group throughout the week. Check their website for a schedule of runs.