Music City Memories

I’m headed to Nashville this week for the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon. I can’t wait. I lived just outside of Nashville for 8 years so going back is always something of a homecoming. I’ll see old running buddies that were there with me at the very beginning. Many of them remember me from the first few years of my running career, long before any of us had ever heard of the Penguin.

I ran the old Music City Half Marathon a few times when I lived there. It was very much of a local race. Nearly everyone knew everyone else. All the fast people already knew who was going to win – and they knew what place they would get in their age group even before they left their house.

No one could have imagined that what was in store for the city or the event. This year there will be over 30,000 people lining up at the start. And they will all be having a great time.

If you’re headed to Nashville this year – or if you’re ever going to Nashville – let me give you just a few tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

1] Nashville is more then just the center of Country Music. It’s a vibrant community with a rich history. Although it’s solidly in the Southern culture it is not a back-water Appalachian village.

2] Take in as much live music as you can. There are street musicians in Nashville that have more talent than some of the biggest names in the music industry.

3] Nashville is casual. The richest people in the area will go to dinner in jeans and cowboy boots.

4] Meat and 3 is a local staple. It means some kind of meat with 3 vegetable sides, nearly all of which will be deep fried.

5] ” Y’all”can be singular or plural. “All Y’all” is plural.

6] The Civil War is referred to as “The Great War of Northern Aggression”.

Nashville truly is a magical city. The people are friendly, the surrounding area is beautiful, and the culture and history of the city make it one of the most interesting places to visit – and run – in the world.

See you there.

John “the Penguin” Bingham, Competitor Magazine columnist Author, The Courage to Start, No Need for Speed, Marathoning for Mortals and Running for Mortals.

Have a question for John? E-mail it to thepenguin@johnbingham.com.