At Upstate Running Club, our mission is to promote health, fitness, and community through the power of running. We are dedicated to supporting our youth program participants, empowering club members, and fostering a strong sense of community. By providing inclusive and engaging running opportunities, we aim to build lifelong runners, enhance personal well-being, and create positive, lasting impacts both within our club and beyond.

Founded in 2020, our local run club is dedicated to providing direct funding for a comprehensive youth running program. By becoming a member, making donations, or sponsoring our events, you actively contribute to fueling our team's endeavors as we engage in year-round training and competition.

Table of Contents

• Mission Statement

• Group Runs in the Upstate

• Upcoming Races

• Runner's of the Quarter

• Hood to Coast Write Up

• Running News

• Coaching Tips

• Sticky's Corner

• Quote of the Quarter

Eleanor Hammersmith 

What’s your favorite race?

“My favorite race is the one with medals and snacks at the end! I like when everyone cheers and I get to run super fast like a superhero.

Trails or Road?

Trails! ‘Cause there’s trees and sticks and sometimes mud puddles, and I can pretend I’m on an adventure in the forest.

What is your dream race?

A race where you run, then you stop and eat ice cream, then you run again, and at the finish you get a big trophy and more ice cream.

What do you like to eat after a run?

“Mac and cheese! And maybe gummy bears if my mom says yes.” 

Frank Kachinski

How did you first get involved with Upstate Run Club?

Honestly, I didn’t even know Upstate Run Club existed when I first started running. I’d already done my first 5K—thanks to my PTs pushing me into it—and even joined the Simpsonville Thursday Run Group before I realized URC was behind so much of the local scene. Once I discovered the annual race series, I got hooked. I wanted to be on that podium at the end-of-year party, even if it meant stringing together enough 9th-place finishes to get there on points. That mix of competition and community reeled me in, and I’ve been all-in ever since.

What got you into running, and what keeps you coming back?

It started with physical therapy. On my “graduation day,” my PT knew how much I’d connected with the team, so she gave me an extra assignment: train for three months and run a 5K with them. I couldn’t say no after everything they did for me, so that was my first real race. What keeps me coming back is simple—I owe a lot of my health and happiness to that push. Running became more than exercise; it’s community, progress, and proof that I can keep pushing limits.

Do you remember your first group run with the club? How did it go?

After finishing our first 5K, Alicia and I thought we were done with running. Then one night at 1885, by total coincidence, a friend spotted us—someone who used to bartend for us. She’d just done her first 5K too, and she’d also just run with the Thursday group. She didn’t even recognize us at first because we’d lost so much weight. Once she did, she basically strong-armed us into showing up the next Thursday. The run itself was hard, but afterwards everyone hung out, welcomed us in, and made us feel like we belonged. That one night locked me into the community for good.

What is your proudest running moment—club-related or personal?

My proudest moment isn’t a single race or PR—it’s the fact that the running community completely turned my health around by welcoming me into something I never even knew existed. I went from thinking running was lonely and impossible to being part of this huge family. Now I get to pay that forward with our own Fountain Inn run group. Helping new runners discover that they’re not alone—that they actually belong here—means more to me than any medal.

What’s your favorite local route or trail to run in the Upstate?

Definitely our Tuesday night route in Fountain Inn. We start from The Mill and run 4.4 kilometers—a nod to our city’s 29644 zip code. We’ve nicknamed it names like “4.4 in the 44” (etc.) and it’s become something special to me because it’s not just a run, it’s a community tradition.

Are you more of a Swamp Rabbit cruiser or a Paris Mountain climber?

Recently it’s become clear to me that trail running is exciting (and dangerous), but I run where my people run. Currently that means mostly road. I suspect I’ll have a different answer to this question every year. 

How do you balance running with work/life?

A lot of people are smart and get their runs done in the morning. I probably should do that too, but my schedule is built around evenings. All my runs are with groups—Tuesday at The Mill, Wednesday at Double Stamp when it’s not bowling season, Thursday in Simpsonville, usually a race on Saturday, and sometimes trails on Sunday. It actually makes balance easy. Running gave me the excuse to leave work on time, instead of being the guy who always came in early and stayed late (for no extra pay). Now I have a healthier balance, and all I had to do was claim it.

What does a typical training week look like for you?

Simple: I run with groups. Tuesday 5K, Wednesday 5K (unless it’s bowling season), Thursday 5K, a Saturday race, and occasionally a Sunday trail run. I rarely train solo—community is my training plan.

Do you have a favorite race or event you’ve done in the region?

The Sadler’s Creek Stumble, hands down. It was my first ultra, and my brother—who had only ever run a 5K—came down and did it with me and Alicia. We pushed ourselves way past what we thought was possible, and it became a family milestone. It’s so meaningful that I think it’ll stay a yearly tradition. He just took the week off work to fly out and do it again this year! 

What is a running goal you’re working toward—whether it’s pace, distance, or consistency?

I just want more.

My real long-term goal is simple: stay healthy. That’s the reason I started running, and it’s the reason I keep going. That said, I’ve been leaning into slower, longer runs lately, and I have friends who’ve earned their 100-mile belt buckles. I know chasing one of those isn’t exactly the healthiest thing—it almost contradicts my whole purpose for running—but I’ll admit it: I kind of want a belt buckle.

Any race on your bucket list—local or global?

I just checked one off that I didn’t even know belonged there: Hood to Coast, the 197-mile relay. I got a last-minute invite to join the charity “MS Run The US” team, jumped in without much prep, and it turned out to be one of the coolest running experiences I’ve ever had. Definitely a bucket list race—whether you know it’s on your list yet or not.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone new to Upstate Run Club?

When I first started, I was intimidated. I assumed everyone would be faster, that I’d come in last, and people would be laughing at me. What I’ve learned is the opposite: new runners are the ones people are most excited about. The whole community lights up when someone new shows up, because they see themselves in that moment. So if you’re worried about being judged, don’t be—you’re actually the highlight of the night.

What gear, shoes, or gadgets can you not live without?

Zero-drop, wide-toe-box shoes are non-negotiable. I want footwear that lets me run naturally and for the long haul, not something that squeezes my toes or encourages heel striking. Beyond that, I’m a data junkie. After every run I want to see heart rate, pace, power output—all of it. As an engineer, I like connecting the numbers to how I felt, so I can confirm whether my perception matched reality. For some people, all that data can cause anxiety. For me, it’s grounding. More facts, more science, more clarity.

Morning runs, sunset miles, or post-run coffee crew—what’s your vibe?

Morning runs are probably easier, but I’m obsessed with getting good sleep, and I won’t sacrifice that just to run early. Running isn’t about squeezing in “optimal training” for me—it’s about community. All the group runs I do happen in the evenings, usually in the heat, and I wouldn’t trade that. The people matter more than the time of day.

Got a favorite local post-run hangout or snack spot?

Two traditions: after the Thursday Run-In group in Simpsonville, we always head to 1885. And for our own Tuesday run in Fountain Inn, we start and finish at The Mill, which has become home base.

What’s on your running playlist—or are you a no-music purist?

I almost never use music, because group runs are about being with people, not tuning them out. When I do use it—usually on a solo long grind—it’s a mix of 2000s hip-hop, classic rock, and anything upbeat. But 90% of the time, I’d rather hear conversations than headphones.

Any quirky running habits or superstitions?

I’m very anti-superstition in general—I could rant about it all day. But I do have one running joke that probably counts. I own multiple pairs of the same socks, but the ones with bright colors are “fast socks,” the dull ones are “long-distance socks,” and the everyday ones are just black. Before runs, Alicia or I will ask, “What socks do you need today?” and I’ll say, “Fast socks” or “Long socks.” It’s a joke, but I always do it—so maybe that makes it superstition.

If the club gave you a custom shirt, what would it say on the back?

Our Tuesday group is the Fountain Inn Run Group, which we shorten to “F-Inn Run Group.” It sounds like “effin run,” and I think that’s exactly what the back of the shirt should say: F-Inn Run.