Name: Nathan John Terry or “Nate”

Where are you from, and what brought you to the area?  My first memories are from Martinez California in the Bay Area, but I’d say I grew up making movies, playing with fire, drumming and making art in South Charlotte compliments of the Bank of America corporation (my Dad’s job was the reason for the move). After college at UNCG (drawing and printmaking) I moved to Berlin Germany for three years, got back home to Charlotte and found it boring. So I up and moved to Durham in 2020 (perfect timing) and found out about Carrboro because of the Wednesday night Fleet Feet run club - which I would later take over and transform into Steel String Run Club.

Why do you run?  To grow. If I had to pick one answer it would be that, but since I’m much more of a long winded individual: I run for the people, for the challenge, for the lessons and because of how it makes me feel. I’ve shared so many amazing experiences and made friends running and I’m grateful for the people who have invited me to get deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole.

Why did you decide to join Carrboro Run Club, how long have you been running with us, and what keeps you coming back?  I was working for Fleet Feet and simply scouting out the compete-tish - just kidding. I mean I started coming just because the run always started with a monster hill (in the Craftboro days) and who wouldn’t love that?

OK serious answer now: I had maybe been to CRC once or twice before, but didn’t have super clear memories of it until one crisp spring day in which the colors were vivid, the air was clear and it was just perfect balance of running/body temperature. I just remember having such a great experience as a runner, making new friends of course, having some stimulating conversation en route and when I got back, after flying down the final hill, I realized there was a brilliant woman behind it all to thank-  Steph. I am not kidding when I say that she is my inspiration as a genuine and down to earth individual who has a huge heart for runners and sets the tone for an amazing atmosphere which I have always tried to emulate. Steph’s attitude and realness make me feel like we’re all just a bunch of kids meeting up at the tree fort  going on an adventure, and for that we are all indebted.

Tell us about your best/worst/weirdest running moment:  Gorsh, there have been so many good ones; last year I was in New York the weekend of the NY marathon. The Saturday before the race I just went on a little adventure running through central park and getting lost amongst the sunshine. It was one of those days in which no one could be sad or mad or anything but grateful to be alive and the park was bustling with soon to be marathoners shaking out before showtime. I didn’t look at my watch all day, stopped for bagels and pastries and just ran around to the sounds of hot jazz bands cook’n in the warmth of yellow autumn leaves. It was just so good and free. I ran 8 miles that day. The other good one was when I crashed the Berlin marathon in 2024 for the last little bit of the course - more runners than I’ve ever seen and seas of slippery blue disposable cups. After my run I got more sweaty high fives than ever before from finishers on the final stretch and almost lost my voice cheering.

Worst one, hmm I’ve been attacked by a pack of dogs, bit by a snake and I’m sure I’ve had a major chafing meltdown my subconscious has successfully suppressed. I’ll just go with the pack of dogs, they were actually off leash and in some sort of behavior reformation camp thing. I thought at first they were just jumping up at me for fun and then CHOMP one of em got me on the rip cage (fellas, run shirtless, no matter what - always.. or not). I turned to sprint away and slipped on the pine straw. The moment I saw those dogs coming for me as I was down ranks among the scariest in my life. Thankfully I used my most powerful weapon I had - my voice and cursed those hounds of hades back to the motherland and made an escape. They still had the last laugh as I had to foot my share of a $25,000 bill for rabies shots (ya win some, ya lose some). 

My weirdest run must have been when I was heading down a long dark highway in the wee hours of the morning by myself in Appalachia. I was taking part in the Blue Ridge Relay and there was just something spooky about the night. I came upon a stretch which was very wide open, country houses with giant lawns and long driveways. From a distance I caught the dim silhouette of a nativity scene which I thought was odd (it being September, but hey Lobby’s gonna Hobby, am I right?). As I got closer the figures looked a little bit strange and it wasn't clear until I was right next to it that this was a nativity scene consisting of skeletons. Very day of the dead and quite spooky. 

Describe the most recent (appropriate ☺) photo you took with your phone:  ALL OF MY PHOTOS ON MY PHONE APPROPRIATE IBYP! (I beg your pardon!) hmm looks like a bunch of runners, outside, in beautiful weather, hmm what’s this? It looks like they’re eating frozen custard in the bright saturation of a late July evening. P.S. in case you missed it, NOW is when your FOMO should be initiated for missing a once in a lifetime opportunity like the Dairy Dash (see ya next year).

If you could have any talent or skill in the entire world, without needing to practice and money was no limitation, what would it be?  I’ve thought about this a lot and feel pretty confident that it would be to sing. And yeah you might say “well heck Nate you sing already” and I know I can sing, but I mean like make ‘em weep at the national anthem level of singing, like so good I could just quit my job and pay for everything singing, I’m talkin change your life level of amazingness. (btw it’s actually not my dream to be a singer but I just want the superpower).

What is the best piece of advice you ever received, and who gave it to you?  I’m not sure if this is the best, but it’s one that’s always stuck with me: I did a summer art program in New York after getting my BFA and it consisted of interning for an artist and having studio visits with other artists for Q&A. I would read up on the artists ahead of time and feel like I had to get the most out of each visit and wanted people to be impressed with my questions. One day I was meeting with the director of the program and he told me in true NYC fashion that I should “shut up and leave space for others” and it kind of knocked the air out of me at the time, but I’m still grateful because he was honest with me and it did me well to think about balancing how much I add to any conversation and listen more.

What is something you want people to know about you? OR What is something most people don’t know about you?  Hmm I guess just my wacky portfolio of interests and hobbies so that you we can chat when we next meet, here it goes: Music, Dance, Painting, Drawing, German, Pottery (thats new), Poetry, drumming, films film/making, writing, ultra running, philosophy/theology, history (especially art history) and a bunch I’m sure I’ve forgotten about. Also people should know that homeschooling their child K-12 is may result in an endlessly curious person like myself - you’ve been warned!

What is something you have done recently, or are about to do, that you are proud of?  I have been writing about running, more specifically how I came to running and my journey over the last ten years or so for 15 weeks straight. Every week I just put it at the bottom of the Steel String Run Club email in case anybody wants to check it out. I’m proud of it because it has been a tangible way of getting my ideas and stories out into the world because sometimes I forget that I’m the only one who knows them. As a perfectionist it has been great to have a deadline and I can’t believe I’ve already written so much. You can also check the writings out at my substack: https://natewontstop.substack.com/