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Replicating a group he had seen at the University of Tennessee, he created the Greenville Track Club in 1972 with eight members, mainly Furman professors and a few friends he’d recruited.

“The running scene was very limited at that point,” Keesling says. An early race in 1972 attracted just two participants, each of whom paid 50 cents to enter. 

Within a couple of years, there were 200 members and a full slate of events, including Green Valley Road Race and a grueling 20K up Paris Mountain — both still on the calendar and more popular than ever. 

As the group celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, Greenville Track Club has more than 1,200 members and puts on 14 running events — road races, trail races, summer track meets — along with six Corporate Shield races focused on the business community. The club has added numerous events and programs, including Asics GTC-Elite, which trains post-collegiate Olympic hopefuls. 

But the ever-humble Keesling, who still competes in 100- and 200-meter races at age 81, says he isn’t sure why the group grew so quickly and achieved such longevity. 

Photos: Greenville Track Club Paris Mountain Road Race

“I didn’t have a blueprint,” says Keesling, who was Furman’s coach until 1978. “It just happened. Obviously, you hope when you start something like this that it will continue. I’m pretty amazed it has been going for 50 years and has done all that it has done.”

The organization celebrated this week at Pangea Brewing, bringing together the elder statesmen who cobbled the group together as well as younger members who are increasingly taking on leadership roles. 

Robin Walter, GTC president, is motivated by the leadership of the people who kickstarted the Upstate running movement, and wants to do her part to keep its legacy alive. “That’s my reason, after hearing about 50 years of this, is how do I keep the momentum going for the next 50 years, and keep it going for 50 more? They set the tone and we need to keep it going.” 

Adrian Craven, who was part of the group from its earliest days (and recently competed in a cross-country 8K in Florida at age 85) says much has changed since the young, hardcore group would gather for fast miles in thin-soled shoes, followed by a lot of eating, a bit of drinking, and sometimes dancing on tables at Gimbo’s on Duncan Chapel Road. 

A variety of pursuits came and went over the years, including the Great Road Relay, a regional 25-mile race that gathered up to 100 teams of five, who ran five miles each and then celebrated with a beer and spaghetti picnic at Cleveland Park. For several years, a GTC group ran the entire state of South Carolina, from the North Carolina state line to the coast. It took about 38 hours, Craven says, and one year, they were greeted at the finish by Sen. Strom Thurmond. 

Other events were formed and stuck around for the long haul. The Reedy River Run got its start in 1978 and will be held for the 44th time on April 23 with a 10K and 5K. Hundreds of runners will take to the streets, from elite athletes to mid-level goal-setters to those seeking a casual stroll through downtown Greenville and a new t-shirt. 

For everyone

Embracing all types of runners, joggers and walkers has been key to the group’s expansion and continued appeal. Kerrie Sijon, administrator and a member since 2000, says she was too intimidated to join at first. “I thought it was only fast people,” she says. “I never felt like I was worthy of joining.”

Then she met several members and got invited to run the Reedy. She did it, and then another race, and before she knew it, she “got the fever.” She went on to become social coordinator and volunteered at races, and soon, the joy of volunteering outweighed the joy of running, though she loves both.

“My new goal in life is to embrace the community, giving back and clapping and watching them have fun and being proud,” she says. 

Walter’s story is similar. She moved to Greenville in 2013 and “had never run in my life,” she says. Many of her new friends and neighbors were runners, and signed her up for the Big Pumpkin 5K at Spinx Run Fest, a popular, costume-filled event held each October. Quickly hooked on running and racing, an injury led her to volunteer at a race instead of competing, and before she knew it, she was on the GTC board, then vice president, then president of the club. “I just love it,” she says. “It’s so rewarding. I love being a cheerleader.”

Mike Burchett, who joined in 2004 and has served as president several times, says he joined because he loved running (and wanted the race discount members receive), but has stayed involved because of the people and because of the good the group can do in the community. “We want to get more people running, but also volunteering and in the leadership cycle as well,” he says. 

Photos: 2021 United Community Bank Reedy River Run

The group has worked on numerous charitable efforts, including raising funds for the American Cancer Society, working with Meals On Wheels, assisting high school cross country teams, partnering with elementary schools, and funding features on the Swamp Rabbit Trail like water fountains and benches. 

“We all remember that feeling we had (as new runners),” Burchett says. “The physical changes, breathing better, and the emotional high, and that feeling you get when you are nervous and don’t think you belong, but then you realize, this is where I belong,” Burchett says. “As long as we don’t lose sight of those experiences we had early on, we’ll be successful at bringing people in and growing.”

GTC Mile Markers

1971: The first Paris Mountain Road Race (won by Jeff Galloway, 1976 Olympian and famed running author)

1972: The first recorded GTC meeting at the Oxford House cafeteria on Poinsett Highway

1974: Marty Vaughan becomes the first female member in 1974

1978: First Reedy River Run organized by Gally Gallivan

Late 1970s: Run Jane Run, sponsored by Liberty Life, attracts hundreds of female runners

1978: Relay across the state raises $12,000 for the American Cancer Society

1979: GTC Corporate Shield program established to promote running among companies and organizations.

2005: Spinx RunFest adds marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and kids’ run; becomes one of the group’s most popular events each October

2011: GTC earns the Guinness World Record for fastest 100 x 5k relay; 30 hours, 1 minute, 15.3 seconds. (Since beaten by a group in Des Moines)

2012: GTC Hall of Fame introduced

2012: Asics GTC-ELITE established; a post-collegiate Olympic development program

2016: “The Runner” sculpture and bench dedicated to Darrell Jennewine, former GTC administrator, unveiled on the Swamp Rabbit Trail

2022: GTC celebrates 50 years

Upcoming races: Run, walk, volunteer or spectate

• Reedy River Run, April 23 
• Zoom through the Zoo 5K, May 7
• Freedom Flyer 5K, May 30
• Sunrise Run 8K, June 11
• Red, White & Blue Shoes 5K, July 4
• Spinx Runfest, Oct. 29
• Paris Mountain Road Race, Dec. 3
• Santa Run, TBD

Sign up or get more info at greenvilletrackclub.com.

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Suddenly, a quick movement, a rush of water, a deep inhale of oxygen — Agripino is upright again, bobbing near a lane line. He had learned one of the most important aspects of kayaking, and is one step closer to his next big adventure with Team River Runner, an organization dedicated to helping veterans experience the thrills — and spills — of kayaking.

“Flipping back over is harder than I thought it would be,” says Agripino, an outdoor recreation coordinator with Upstate Warrior Solution. “It takes core strength, the correct paddle movement, and then you just cross your fingers and hope you get upright.”

Last time, he struggled to flip, and Volt didn’t intervene, but let him do a “wet exit”— as in, abandon ship and swim out. “It was a learning thing,” Agripino says.

Agripino knows the importance of helping veterans learn new skills and form bonds after their service is complete. In addition to being a veteran himself, he helps plan outdoor activities through his role at Upstate Warrior Solution, including skiing, archery, biking and fly fishing. 

“Camaraderie is a huge part of outdoor recreation,” he says. “All of the events we do, that’s the number one reason vets come out.”

Rolling on the river with Team River Runner

Team River Runner was founded at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda, MD) in 2004 with the goal of offering injured veterans the opportunity to learn to kayak. While adaptations can be implemented as needed, the group strives to offer more: camaraderie, healing, immersion in nature, goal-setting and a sense of community involvement. Plus, as several participants point out, it’s just fun. 

The organization now has more than 60 outposts across the nation, including a new one here in the Upstate, founded last November by Coast Guard veteran Chad Jones. 

Jones first learned about the group when he served as a guide kayaker for veterans who were taking an 80-mile trip down the Salmon River in Idaho.

“I saw the powerful influence the trip had on them,” said Jones, including veterans with physical injuries as well as those with post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological challenges. “It forced me to want to do something more.”

When he settled in Greenville in 2019, he knew a chapter could benefit Upstate veterans. The national TRR organization donated boats and gear, and he built partnerships with Upstate Warrior Solution, Prisma Health and Foothills Paddling Club.

“We’re in a growing phase right now,” he says, with five or six veterans showing up at each practice so far. They are working toward a paddling trip to the U.S. Whitewater Center in Charlotte this spring, followed by a bigger trip out West.

He hopes that Vince Fee, who he met through Team River Runner, will join the Greenville chapter’s trip. Fee, a veteran who lost his eyesight, has had a profound impact on Jones. “He talked to me about how kayaking helped him get some of his independence back,” Jones says. “Seeing his development, the enthusiasm he acquired, and how it propelled him to do other things, that really planted a seed.”

According to Fee, who lives in Oklahoma, his paddle trips with Team River Runner offer “the perfect opportunity to get out of my bubble and try something new.” The trip showed him what he was capable of despite his disability after he set goals “and ended up exceeding them by far.”

Teamwork

Ross Alewine, who has several injuries from his time in the Army, has not let that slow him down, often competing in Department of Defense Warrior Games and even winning Ultimate Warrior, defeating representatives from all of the services. 

He gets plenty of physical activity, including rowing, swimming, cycling and track, but says the draw of an activity like Team River Runner is the camaraderie. “It comes with being with guys like I’m used to being around when I was in the service,” he says.

Jones adds that people in the military learn to be responsible for their own actions, but also align with others to get through hazards, developing deep bonds. Kayaking is a natural fit for people with this mindset. 

“Anything that’s outdoors, you reduce life to very simple terms, living in the present tense,” Jones adds. “You only focus on the task at hand, and the other veterans are there with you.”

Volt started helping out with the national Team River Runner organization in 2005, and it was a natural fit for him; he’s been a professional kayaker for 25 years. “I was traveling around the world kayaking, and when the opportunity arose, I wanted to give back to those who have given me the freedom to do what I do,” he says.

Volt, who competed in the World Freestyle Kayak Championships in 2009, is sponsored by Greenville-based Dagger Kayaks, which brought him to the area. He values how accessible kayaking can be, and fondly remembers a moment in Colorado when a group of injured vets was mistaken for his kayak buddies.

“The smirks that came on the faces of those vets,” he says with a laugh. “They rolled out of their boats, some with missing legs, and pulled out their prosthetics. It’s cool to do activities where people don’t even know you have a disability.”

Need to know

https://www.teamriverrunner.org

Founded: 2004; Greenville chapter: 2021

Organizer: Chad Jones, chad.jones@teamriverrunner.org

Partners: Foothills Paddling Club, Prisma, Upstate Warrior Solution

Up next: Trip to U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte

Opportunities: pool and open water sessions, quarterly local trips. Qualified paddlers can participate in national trips to Colorado, Idaho and the Caribbean. 

Included: boats, outfitting, safety gear, instruction, transportation, food and lodging for trips

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Her neighbor emailed me almost 20 years ago, when I worked right here at the Greenville Journal. The girl, just 7 or 8 years old, had collected less than $100, nowhere near enough to buy a protective vest, which can cost more than $2,000. I couldn’t resist writing her story. 

Soon, funds were pouring in from around Greenville County, and she ultimately bought not one, but two protective vests. I was a small part in this story — it was the girl’s idea, her parents’ help, her community’s support — but, as a young journalist, that feeling stuck with me. I had been able to shine a spotlight on a person’s effort to help, allowing other people to join in. The dogs were better protected, but beyond that, the community rallied together, and a girl recognized her power to create change by putting a noble idea into action. 

I knew then that I didn’t need to move to a big city or work for a huge daily newspaper to make a difference.

Working at the Greenville Journal back then — my title was Community Editor — gave me the opportunity to see my hometown in a new light. I wrote about everything: cigarette taxes, buskers, parking lot ordinances, bagels, farmers, triathletes, cancer survivors and so many more. I began to understand what a former mentor meant when he told me that there were no boring stories, only poorly told ones. 

We even did a project where we randomly selected readers and called them, saying, ‘What’s your story?’ Invariably, the person we called had a great one. 

My love of journalism has only grown in the ensuing 20 years. Though I left the Greenville Journal to go out on my own as a freelancer while raising my children, I missed the camaraderie of the newsroom, and I always hoped that when the time was right, I’d be back.

Last year, I was excited to accept a new position with the company, working with TOWN magazine and vive, our new offering curated for active adults 55-plus. And I also get to stay involved here at the Greenville Journal, where I cut my teeth as a journalist two decades ago.

In some ways, journalism is a different world now. The news cycle never ends, and we are constantly updating stories online, sharing information on social media and employing all manner of new technology. 

But some things haven’t changed at all. At its core, journalism is still very simple: it’s telling people’s stories. That can be a governor, a CEO or a little girl going door to door to help police dogs. Big or small, heart-warming or heart-wrenching, the best stories remind us of what’s important, and that we’re all in this together. 

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Every year, without fail, she hosts a huge holiday party at her Chanticleer home, open to anyone and everyone. For many regular attendees, it’s become the main event they look forward to year after year. Now, a third generation is piling into Farr’s magically decorated basement, eager for stories, songs, punch and cookies, always with Mrs. Claus at the center of the action.

“They line up to sit on the floor and listen to me,” she says. “I just love to bring happiness to children. That’s my goal. It’s fun to look out and see them. They know Miss Betty will have a party.” 

Her oldest granddaughter, Riley Dannelly, says her grandmother has a special talent for connecting with children. “She is just able to captivate them,” Dannelly says. “Parents tell me that their kids who never sit still will just be hanging on her every word.”

It all started at Betty’s School of Dance, which Farr owned for several years when she was in her 20s. “I sold it after I had five kids, and then had two more,” she says.

After each class during the holidays, she’d sit the children in a circle and the storytelling would begin. Their response inspired her to take the performance to the next level.

 “I invited myself to Augusta Circle Elementary,” where her children were students, she says. She cobbled together a Mrs. Claus costume, and Bette Waters provided piano accompaniment for holiday songs. Soon, they were going to nursing homes, children’s hospitals — any place that might need some holiday joy.

Eventually, her husband Judd Farr, who passed away in 2008 after 56 years of marriage, asked what she wanted for Christmas, and she told him all she wanted was a “real” Mrs. Claus costume. 

“Costume Curio designed me an original costume,” she says, guessing that she had it made 40 to 50 years ago. She still wears the same one. “It means a lot to people,” she says. She jokes that she has stayed in shape all these years to make sure it still fits. 

A growing audience

Later, the Mrs. Claus show headed even further afield, with Farr and Waters traveling to schools in Columbia and the Myrtle Beach area. 

The party also evolved over the years, starting with family, neighbors and friends and then expanding with the community. “Everyone is invited, I don’t limit it,” she says. “There are no invitations, it’s just word of mouth.”

She doesn’t keep an exact head count, but the event has grown each year and has taken on a life of its own. Sometimes as early as summer, people start asking, “When’s the party?”

Farr has missed just one Christmas in 60 years; only being in the hospital could keep her away. That year — she thinks it was 2017 — she asked Dannelly to fill in as Mrs. Claus. “I called her from the hospital and said, ‘You have to do this!’ And she said, ‘What?!’” Farr recalls. “She had heard me tell the story for so many years … she went to my house and put the costume on and it fit perfectly.”

Dannelly, the oldest granddaughter, had thought the event might be canceled just this once, but of course, the indefatigable Farr was determined to keep the tradition going. 

Dannelly was intimidated. “She’s got big shoes to fill,” she says. She tried to do her grandmother justice, but was thrilled when Farr was back in front of her adoring crowd the next year. 

In 2020, due to COVID-19, her event went virtual, with a professional videographer streaming the performance. She had Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman on hand, and told stories as if the children were there. Requests for the video poured in, and Dannelly says the family is thrilled to have the performance captured for posterity. 

This year, Farr was back in her happy place: in front of a crowd of children (and their parents, and grandparents). For Farr, spreading joy is what Christmas is all about. “I hope I don’t ever have to give it up, but I know I will one day,” she says. “But it’s natural for me to do it no matter what.”

Two of her biggest fans are Dannelly’s two kids, ages 5 and 2. “They think they are very special at the party,” Dannelly says with a laugh. “My kids think Mrs. Claus is their great grandmother.”

The inside scoop on Betty Farr, Greenville’s Mrs. Claus

The inspiration 

When Farr was a little girl, she often went to the Greenville County Library, where a woman named Margaret Mahon read stories to children. “She had children’s hour, and I sat in a little brown chair, and I’d go every chance I got,” Farr recalls. “I always looked up to her. I wanted to be just like her and read stories to children.”

Reading vs. storytelling

While Mahon read the stories, Farr decided she would tell the stories instead, “because I can get the kids’ attention more if I’m more animated.” She always uses props to make sure the children can see what is happening. 

The story

Farr tells the story of “Miss Flora McFlimsy’s Christmas Eve,” by Marian Curtis Foster, every year. The book, first published in 1949, is no longer in print, but she scoured eBay to find enough copies to give to her seven children. The story centers around a doll that comes to life on Christmas Eve. 

Relationship status: A widow who was married to her late husband, Judd Farr, for 56 years, Betty Farr has been in a relationship with Dick Riley, former governor of S.C. and former U.S. Secretary of Education, for 11 years. “He never misses my parties,” she says. “He listens like a little kid.”

Her family: Farr has seven children, 15 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Business bona fides: Judd Farr bought Greenco Beverage Co. in 1965, and Betty Farr became CEO when he retired in 2004.

Around the community: A recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s most prestigious award, Greenville is dotted with evidence of how Farr has made a difference in the lives of children. A room is named for her at the Ramsey Family Branch of the Greenville Library System off Augusta Road. Grandma Betty’s Farm at the Children’s Museum of the Upstate was named in her honor, as is a costume room at The S.C. Children’s Theatre.

Fun fact: Farr won Dancing with the Carolina Stars, a fundraising event for Senior Action, at age 77, beating out contestants half her age. 

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“I had the hardest time in high school,” says Powell, who grew up in Anderson. “I would try to hide [my vision loss]. I could fake it. I tried not to let anyone know.”

Doctors found retinoblastoma, rare cancerous tumors in her eyes, when she was just 6 months old, and the radiation treatment that eliminated the cancer had long-term damaging effects to her vision. She slowly lost her vision throughout childhood, with the biggest changes occurring in high school, when she was no longer able to drive or read most textbooks.

“It was definitely a big adjustment when I was trying to be cool and normal,” she says.

Now, at age 27, she is legally blind, with no vision in her left eye and about 20/200 vision in her right.

“I can see colors and big shapes and shadows,” she says.

She realized it was time to stop hiding her disability. “I had to get comfortable accepting it and owning it,” she says.

That transition switched into high gear when she enrolled at Clemson University in 2011 and, as a lifelong gymnast, decided to go out for the cheer squad.

“I was just open and honest about my disability when I made the team,” she says. “They were 100% accepting.”

She credits her parents with encouraging her to chase her dreams as a kid. “They were adamant about putting me in everything I wanted,” she says. “Even though I was a cancer survivor and had this disability, I was totally integrated and became a level-10 gymnast.”

Those coordination and body-awareness skills, honed early on in her vision-loss process, carried over onto the sidelines of Clemson games, where she tumbled and stunted with the best of them.

Soon, the story broke that Clemson had a blind cheerleader.

“I realized it was a great platform to educate people on blindness, breaking down stereotypes,” she says. “I realized it was an opportunity to use my story to empower others.”

She began speaking to media outlets as well as to organizations and groups, targeting middle- and high-school girls. She spoke in January at In Her Shoes, a program at Bon Secours Wellness Arena designed to inspire young women to be future leaders.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurship was always on her mind, especially in the fitness space. She and her cousin Casey Brown recently opened The Booty Shop on Main Street in Greenville, a female-focused fitness studio with five types of classes, including high-intensity interval class, boot camp, barre, dance cardio and power yoga.

“We opened six months ago, and there has been an amazing response,” says Powell, who occasionally jumps in to teach a class but mainly sticks with her role as owner.

If she doesn’t make it to class, she still gets plenty of workouts as she trains for her next big athletic goal: the Paralympics to be held this summer. With no history in track and field, she started running the 100 and 400 meters and throwing javelin in March 2019 and has already caught the eye of Team USA, finishing her first season as No. 10 in the world. She’s also qualified for the Olympic trials in late June, where she’ll fight for a spot on the Paralympic team.

“I like to stay competitive,” she says, adding that the discipline she learned as a gymnast carries forward to her new athletic endeavors. “It sets you up for everything.”

Mixed in with her packed schedule of business decisions, Olympic training and keynote speeches, she is planning her wedding, set for June, and even finds time for the occasional modeling gig — something she does primarily to educate others and inspire young girls who may feel different or abnormal, as she once did.

“I like to do anything that can break barriers for people with disabilities,” she says. “My eyes are shrinking, and one is bigger than the other, and my face is constantly changing. I had a couple of modeling opportunities, and I wanted to take those opportunities to show that differences aren’t a bad thing.”

 

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Why is it that accepting ourselves for who we are and what makes us unique is such a challenging journey? We easily pick out all the reasons why models and insta famous celebs are beautiful and successful, yet we look at ourselves with an intensely critical lens. I’ve never met a successful person who was not confident in themself. Who didn’t believe in themself. Who did not accept and appreciate themself. And I know I definitely wasn’t happy, beautiful, or successful when I was living with those negative beliefs. So that’s why I do the work that I do. That’s why I share my story of cancer, blindness, radiation damage, my physical appearance changing, and the slow process of learning to appreciate all of those things. Everyone is worthy of success, and the vehicle to success (in business, in relationships, in physical goals, etc) is self love. In this podcast we talk about everything from disability pride to opening up @bootyshopfitness with my partner @caseyjewellbrown , and honestly SO much more! Go listen to my episode of @therealphaeton4kast ‘s podcast and let us know what you think in the comments below. Link in his bio! #yeahthatgreenville #thebootyshop #bootyshopgirlgang #blindness #disabilitypride #blindathlete #gymowner #businessowner

A post shared by Erica Powell | Fitness (@blindfitgirl) on Feb 20, 2020 at 9:18am PST

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“Sleep really keeps you young,” said Morse, an internist at PartnerMD. “It keeps you feeling younger and looking younger. It’s beauty sleep and it’s smart sleep.”

Unfortunately, most people aren’t getting the seven to eight hours per night they need, and even if they try to get to bed early, falling and staying asleep can be a challenge, she said. Finding underlying reasons for sleep difficulties and following an effective sleep-hygiene plan can help people wake up looking, feeling, and functioning their best.

“The purpose of sleep is to empty what’s full and to fill what’s empty,” Morse said. “Sleep empties out waste products from the day’s metabolism and restocks the neurotransmitters for the next day’s work.”

In addition to feeling foggy and working inefficiently, lack of sleep can wreak havoc on health. Tired people become more stressed, are more prone to dementia, and are at greater risk for high blood pressure. Weight gain is common because “we feed fatigue, and we feed it junk,” Morse said.

The first clue that you need to reassess your sleep routine? If you sleep in much longer on weekends than on weekdays, you didn’t get enough sleep that week, Morse said.

Several techniques have been proven to help people ramp up their sleep and reap the benefits. Proper sleep hygiene starts several hours before bedtime.

• Avoid heavy, carb-rich meals and exercise in the three to four hours before bedtime. “Carbohydrates in the evening really warm the body up, and you want to be cooling down,” she said.
• Next is to prioritize sleep over screen time or even work. She often reminds people who work late at night that sleep makes them more efficient, which will allow them to do more work, and likely of a higher quality, the next day.
• Following a routine can prime your body for sleep. “You can condition your body to expect to fall asleep, like Pavlov’s dogs,” Morse said. “Get a routine and stick to it.”
• Going to bed at the same time every night, reading or doing another calming (screen-free) activity, and spraying a scent like lavender are all good options. She said the lavender may not actually help people fall asleep, but by spraying it before bed, the body begins to associate the scent with sleep.
• The most crucial aspect, in her experience, is deep breathing, which not only helps people fall asleep but can improve sleep quality. She suggests breathing in for five seconds, and then out through the mouth for five seconds, which stimulates the vagus nerve, in turn releasing sleep hormones.
• She also suggests scanning the body for tension, relaxing tight muscles, and thinking about relaxing memories.

If these tips don’t lead to improved sleep, cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective option, she said.

“We get into ruts of negative thoughts, and these practitioners can help get your brain out of ruts. They can help you retrain your brain so you can direct yourself out of it,” she said.

Medication should be used as a last resort, and ideally in the short term.

The benefits of sleep are worth the effort, said Morse, who once struggled with it before finding she had sleep apnea — despite not fitting the profile of the older, overweight man who typically has it. Addressing the problem has made a world of difference in her work and life.

“When you aren’t getting adequate sleep, you’re never getting the car in gear,” she said. “You’re just spinning your wheels. Now, I feel so much more energized.”

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Katie Nascarella, a health coach at PartnerMD, often works with patients on how to handle the inevitable stresses in their lives.

“Every single person is affected by stress, so the challenge is to keep it at bay,” Nascarella says. “It’s about how people handle it.”

The biggest concern is an increased risk of heart attack due to constantly elevated blood pressure, she says.

“Stress can also increase risk for diabetes, and lead to sleep issues, colds, and infections,” Nascarella says. “The immune system is weakened by chronic stress.”

In addition, she says patients need to look at the behaviors that often stem from stress, such as skipping meals or overeating, social isolation, drugs, alcohol, or other coping mechanisms.

New research shows that how people perceive stress may be more important than the stress itself. People who perceive the stress as a negative factor in their lives are at increased risk for high blood pressure and heart attack, while those that view the stress in a more positive light don’t experience those negative health effects.

“If people think of it as rising to the occasion, that the stress is helping them meet the demands of their job or something else, then people can cope with that stressful moment,” Nascarella says.

—

Stress-fighting steps

Nascarella suggests a number of ways to minimize the effects of stress. Her tips include many of the steps we know we should take, but often don’t.

She suggests taking small steps and paying attention to the positive effects, which will provide motivation to keep going.

“That’s your No. 1 stress-relieving tool,” she says. The best activity to participate in is “the one that makes you happy.”

Walking, yoga, running, golf, tennis, hiking — choose anything that takes you away from your stresses, releases endorphins, and makes you feel good, Nascarella says.

Exercise goes a long way toward increasing sleep quality, she says. Disconnecting from technology and doing something calming like meditation or journaling can also help.

Eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water can help reduce the inflammation and high blood pressure that stem from stress. These top three all work together, each making the other two easier to accomplish, so tackling them all together can triple the benefits, she said.

Social support is also important.

“Make sure you have people you can rely on to get through tough times,” she says.

Anyone who listens and helps you talk through your stresses can be a huge help.

Nascarella says she often asks patients about their hobbies and suggests options that don’t have to take up much time, like playing piano or guitar, sewing, crafting, or taking 10 to 15 minutes to write down thoughts or listen to music.

“Hobbies that involve several of the five senses tend to further boost happiness and reduce stress,” she says.

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Physicals can uncover important information about what patients can do to improve or maintain their health. But for some people — especially those with certain risk factors — an advanced physical is the only way to get a full and revealing picture.

Dr. Jack Durham, who has been in practice for 35 years, the last five with PartnerMD, said some patients are asking for a more advanced physical. It is something he recommends to those with a high risk for coronary artery disease.

“People at higher risk would be smokers, those with a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, obesity, a lack of exercise,” he said. “And we see people who don’t have those risk factors but have a family history.”

Routine physicals include complete blood count, a metabolic panel to check kidney and liver function, and tests for cholesterol and other health indicators. These all provide excellent information, Durham said. Advanced physicals go above and beyond by adding less common tests such as an expanded lipid panel, genetic testing, and a critical vessel screening.

The expanded lipid panel can find people who may have heart disease but have normal cholesterol levels.

“It checks subfractions of cholesterol, and can give us a heads-up — the subfractions can show if they are at greater risk for heart attack or stroke, and we can talk about changes they can make, through lifestyle or medication, that would do them good,” Durham said.

Genetic testing is another important component, and can show whether people are more susceptible to certain diseases, he said.

“For people with a family history, it’s another thing we can add that tells us how aggressive we need to be to prevent future problems,” Durham said. “Half of people who have issues with their heart never realized that there was something that predisposed them to have the issue.”

The genetic testing allows doctors to do the job of preventing disease, rather than waiting to diagnose and treat it, he said.

Critical vessel screening tests the carotid arteries, which provide the blood supply to the brain. The test looks for developing plaque or blockages there, as well as the abdominal aorta and the ankle brachial index, or ABI, which checks for different blood pressure in the hands and feet, which can point to blockage. Understanding the results of these advanced tests often leads to lifestyle changes for patients, such as quitting smoking, adding exercise, or boosting nutrition.

“We always start with lifestyle changes,” Durham said. “Losing weight can help a lot, but as they say, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Some patients, it strikes a chord, and they walk out of here and they are on board with it.”

Other people find they need medication, such as statins, which can help reduce cholesterol.

If risk factors cause the doctor to suggest the test, insurance companies will often cover it, he said. While every patient doesn’t need the advanced physical, for those who do, the information can be life-altering.

“It gives you a path to follow,” he said. “The earlier you do it, the better.”

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There are plenty of ways to get fit on the cheap, but Mike Worley, an exercise physiologist with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, says your first step should be visiting your doctor. “See a primary-care physician to address any contraindications to activity,” he said. He also suggests seeing a trainer if you’re getting started on an activity for the first time.

After that, free and cheap options abound. Worley, who recommends four to five days of exercise per week for about 30 minutes, says walking or jogging are great options. “Go hiking, go to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, or a lot of neighborhoods in the area almost have a resort feel,” he said.

To boost strength as well as cardiovascular fitness, he recommends body-weight exercises such as push-ups, crunches, and squats.

For a very low-cost option, he suggests apps or websites like 7 Minute Workout or Fitness Blender. Some workouts are free, with more-extensive options costing just a few dollars per year, he said. People can then add basic tools like tubing, dumbbells, or medicine balls to use along with the apps.

If the heat makes getting outdoors a challenge, Worley recommends spending a small amount on a Jazzercise or dance video, which you can do in the comfort of home. For a slightly larger outlay, you can join a gym on a month-to-month basis just for the summer.

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“People will spend a lot of time in the gym, pushing big, heavy weights or spending time on machines, but it doesn’t necessarily mimic day-to-day life,” she said. Functional-fitness exercises are designed to make it easier to do any activity, from weeding your garden to playing hide-and-seek with your kids or grandkids.

Smith, a personal trainer, massage therapist, fitness instructor, and avid cyclist, said functional fitness classes typically use body weight to do exercises that make life easier and make people less prone to injury. Participants can be ultra-fit athletes or those who have never exercised before, including seniors or those who are recovering from surgery or injury.

Smith teaches a weekly class at Carolina Triathlon and sees mountain bikers, high school athletes and their parents, and exercise newbies all looking to strengthen the body at the foundational level.

Because most of the movements are simple, participants can do them on the same day as other exercises and not be worn out, she said. Movements like multidirectional lunges or balance work help train the body to move sideways, backward, or diagonally, and help build balance by taxing the body equally on both sides.

Instead of focusing on one body part, functional exercises tend to use many, working the back, legs, glutes, and more in a coordinated way.

Smith likes to focus on core-specific exercises — and not the six-pack abs most people think of.

“The core is made up of nine specific structures in the deepest part of the body, and when they are worked they form a very good foundation for functional strength and injury prevention,” she said. “That six-pack is superficial. You can do crunches until the cows come home and still have a weak core.”

At her location near Cherrydale, Smith and her staff work one-on-one with clients to achieve their specific goals and address their particular weaknesses — often weak glutes that stem from days spent sitting. Once people are back to enjoying being active in their daily lives, the world opens up to them as far as additional activities they can pursue, she said.

“If you can prepare your body to be bulletproof on a day-to-day basis and have that strong foundation, you can build on that” in activities such as biking, running, tennis, or golf, she said. “People will start a program like this, and then they’ll realize how much it helps with the sport they love. I love keeping people doing what they love.”

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The lone exception: her own home, which sits tucked in a leafy neighborhood off Augusta Road. This classic white clapboard home, built in the 1940s but expanded and updated two years ago by the previous owner, is where her personal preferences sit front and center, showcasing a love of cozy spaces, traditional lines, unexpected lighting, and plenty of color supplied both by art and wallpaper.

With three kids ages 10, 8, and 3, Brackett and husband Whitney knew kid-friendly spaces were a must. The living area near the entry is mainly used by Chloe, a rescue springer-corgi mix “we think,” Brackett says. Chloe oversees the front yard from a perch on the daybed, while large portraits of Fin and Josie, by Coni Belleau Adams, flank the fireplace. The adjacent sunroom is a favorite cozy spot, with a desk for quiet time and Bible study, as well as a piano for the kids and for Brackett, who are all taking lessons.

In the two years since moving to Greenville from Charlotte where she still has many clients, “I did a lot of paint, wallpaper, ceilings and window treatments,” she says. Her goal being a creative combination of traditional and modern.

She also has added several prized pieces of art since moving south. “I’ve bought more art since living in Greenville than in my whole life, because the Greenville art scene is so spectacular,” she says. “You can never run out of walls. You can always find a place for art if you love it.”

A favorite piece in the family room, which opens to the kitchen, is a painting of koi by Joseph Bradley. “I have a thing for koi fish, and I love the gilding with the silver and gold leaf,” she says. White sofas and chairs seem like a bold choice for a busy family, but Brackett said the key is the ability to remove and wash the covers.

Formerly a room with a vaulted two-story ceiling, Brackett brought the family room ceiling down to match the kitchen, which accomplished two goals: making the room feel cozier and more intimate, while creating a spacious addition to the playroom upstairs. A wood-burning fireplace and tiny bunching stools make this a fun spot to gather around the coffee table for family gatherings.

Flanking the nearby powder room is a favorite painting by local artist Glen Miller depicting a peaceful scene of a man who seems to be waiting. “He makes me calm down,” she says. “What’s he waiting on? I just love it.”

The door to the powder room is also a conversation piece, added by the previous owner. Brackett believes it is an antique door from Europe, with unique, original hardware. She contrasted the aged appearance of the door with the powder room inside, which is wrapped in snakeskin-print wallpaper.

She showcases her love of cozy, intimate spaces in the master suite, which is painted a high-gloss earthy brown/gray tone (Dragon’s Breath by Benjamin Moore). “I don’t like big expansive bedrooms,” she says. “I feel secure and safe in this room.” The blush velvet headboard and footboard add contrast, as does art by Bethany Mabee, a Chicago artist who is represented in Greenville by Art and Light Gallery.

Mudrooms are key for keeping school-age kids organized, and Brackett updated hers with three separate benches, beadboard cubbies, and hooks for bags, sports equipment, and shoes. The laundry room adds more convenience, with a utility sink for washing dirty paws and kids, and a potting station for planting and flower arranging. She jazzed up the space with a mod chandelier, a large mirror, art by Kiah Bellows, and a blown-up photo of water by her friend and former boss, Sheryl Bucci.

The base of the stairs is home to several of her prized possessions, including a piece of plaster wall and wallpaper from her family’s ancestral home Fairfield in Lenoir, N.C., a piece her sister cross-stitched for her as a wedding present, and a painting by Kent Ambler.

Never one to enjoy a vast white space, Brackett papered the ceiling above the stairs with a starry print. “It’s just a bit of whimsy up here that no one sees but us,” she says.

She doesn’t display many family photos or children’s art downstairs, but on the second level, special family moments and the creative works of her children dominate the space. “I’m not big on personal pictures in the communal area,” she explains. The spacious playroom showcases large framed paintings and drawings by her children, and the kids customized their rooms to their liking.

Josie chose bunk beds and pastel bedding, while her mom added a sparkly chandelier, a bold rug, and a desk for homework. Fin, age 10, was hands-on with his room, adding his own drawings of monster trucks and a large bulletin board holding many of his favorite things, including supplies to build robots. Beau, who just turned 3, hasn’t prioritized his decor just yet, but his mom decked out his room in bold green-and-blue stripes.

Brackett may enjoy designing for clients of all tastes. But as she simultaneously picks up children’s clothing from the floor, answers the door, and tosses a toy to the dog, it’s clear that for her own family, a functional space that is both elegant and family-friendly is the perfect fit.

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“It’s always been a husband-and-wife company,” said Drew Brown, who is owner and vice president of marketing and sales. “And we’re all still married,” joked Julie Godshall Brown, owner and president.

Just like her parents, Godshall Brown and her husband have complementary skills that have helped them shift with the changing economic landscape. “The advice my mom and dad gave us was to focus on your own core strengths and stay out of each other’s way,” she said.

Wayne and Jessie Godshall have been retired for more than a decade, but enjoy attending events such as a recent party celebrating 50 years in business. “It was so much fun,” Godshall Brown said. “I so much wanted them to feel like it was a celebration of what they started, because it’s certainly a great foundation we’re standing on.”

The beginning

After working briefly for a franchise in the staffing industry, Wayne Godshall decided to open his own firm in Greenville. “My father was one of those people that, regardless of the type of business, he was going to run his own business,” Godshall Brown said. “He was an entrepreneur.”

The couple started in the Daniel Building (now the Landmark Building) and were the only two employees. A strong economy led to steady growth, and as staff members were added, the business eventually moved to Cleveland Street across from the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

“They had fairly smooth sailing, though with a lot of hard work, in those early years,” Godshall Brown said.

A key transition period began in 1981, when a recession transformed the industry. This was the beginning of what was called the temporary service, a diversification that allowed Godshall to weather economic highs and lows. “There is a balance between the temporary, or what we call contract staffing, and the direct-hire side of our business, and it ebbs and flows,” Godshall Brown said.

When the economy is strong and the job market is tight, direct hire makes up a larger percentage of the company’s work. In more recessionary periods, and recovery from those periods, contract work shifts to the forefront.

The Browns say adding temporary staffing in response to customer need set the tone for the company going forward, and now there are key points every few years where “we identify a client need, and then we have to decide if we are best equipped to match that need,” Godshall Brown said.

A recent example involved health care staffing, which Godshall has done for decades, though they had focused on placing administrative staffers and not clinical posts. When clients asked them to place clinical professionals, the Browns had to weigh their ability to fill that need, and realized they should add it to their offerings.

“We’ve had to change as Greenville has changed,” Drew Brown said. In the early years, the focus was on placing executives and management at textile and manufacturing firms because those dominated the Upstate workforce. Now, the company still works with niche textile companies, but has responded to the changing workforce, working with automotive and plastics companies, health care, banking, engineering, IT, and more.

A new generation

Julie Godshall Brown always loved the family business, and as a teenager worked answering phones on holidays or evenings. She and her parents agreed that after college, she would work elsewhere in the industry to gain experience before joining the firm, so she earned a master’s degree in human resources and worked in technical recruiting at AT&T before returning in 1995.

Drew Brown began as an engineer but had spent almost a decade in sales before he was brought on board at Godshall in 2002.

Two years later, Wayne retired, and Julie and Drew purchased the business and moved to the current site across from County Square. And it all occurred during a jam-packed three-month span.

The next major challenge occurred with the recession in 2008 and 2009, when many competitors struggled to survive after focusing on one business sector or just a few large clients. The diversity at Godshall carried them through.

“Health care stayed strong, and several niche industries related to education. We were fortunate,” Godshall Brown said. “We are blessed to partner with the largest companies in our area, but we are also pleased to work with companies that might hire one or two people per year. Working with so many small companies and so many different industries has really been a blessing that has allowed us to weather the hard times.”

Today, the company employs 21 core staff, with thousands of field associates placed at more than 500 companies each year. Staffing firms aren’t often considered a large employer, but Godshall Brown said her company provides benefits, matches taxes, and creates W2s for each contract staffer. “They are all Godshall employees, and we take care of them as such,” she said.

Looking forward

The Godshalls plan to continue focusing on relationships and a diverse client roster. “The biggest challenge for us will be to recognize those opportunities the way my parents did,” Julie Godshall Brown said. “We want to recognize the opportunities to serve our clients in different ways based on their needs.”

Drew Brown adds that the company will continue building on the foundation laid by Wayne and Jessie Godshall. “Mr. Godshall has made the comment to me that he’s extremely proud of Julie especially, for taking over the company and not only just running it, but improving it,” he said.

The Brown’s children are 18 and 16 and have enjoyed pitching in, but it’s too soon to say if they will bring a third generation to the family business. The couple said they will follow her parents’ example and allow the kids to make their own decisions.

No matter where the future leads, the Browns have learned to build new client relationships and offerings while also working closely with clients that have been with them for generations. “Technology may change, our market focus may change, our offerings may change completely, but hiring the top talent we can hire, keeping an eye on your business levers like cash flow – those kinds of things don’t change, and they haven’t changed since 1968,” Godshall Brown said. “Those core things that make a business successful will be the same 50 years from now.”

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“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Johnson, who earned a BFA in fashion design this spring from Kent State University in Ohio. Though she didn’t take the top prize, “It was a really good experience and it pushed me in a new direction.”

Johnson got her start sketching at school and sewing small projects with her mom, and soon began taking classes with Eileen Bunch at Sew Creative on Laurens Road. “For Sarah, there has never been a fabric too difficult to sew or a skill too demanding to conquer,” Bunch said. “She’s always been up for the challenge.”

After graduating from high school, she headed off to Kent State, one of the top schools in the nation for fashion design. During her time there, she was able to do internships in Paris and New York, and by her senior year, she decided to submit a sketchbook for the prestigious Supima Design Competition at N.Y. Fashion Week.

“Each of the top seven design schools in the country choose one graduating senior to compete in this competition over the summer,” Johnson said. “All of spring semester I wasn’t sure it would be me, but they announced it at our final runway show of the year.”

In the competition, designers use the Supima brand of fine cotton to create a line of evening wear. The contest promotes the product while giving young designers an opportunity to experience Fashion Week and make contacts in the industry.

Johnson spent all summer on her five looks, developing color schemes, making sketches, and traveling to New York to do fittings. The show was held in September at Pier 59 Studios, a popular location for many top designers. “It was a pretty big show, and we were able to bring our family and friends,” Johnson said.

In late September, she headed to Paris for another show featuring two looks from her collection. One of her looks was featured in Vogue Italia online, and pieces from the show are gaining notice from several trade publications.

Johnson said participating as Kent State’s representative was an honor, and the experience helped her push herself during the creative and construction phases. Her collection, “Fortitude,” was originally inspired by a Buddha statue that was scanned and found to contain a mummified skeleton. She built on that to create a collection inspired by Japanese costume, flight suits, and wrapping. She incorporated her love of color – evident in her pink hair – as well as cording, pleating, and embroidery.

After spending most of September in the two fashion capitals of the world, she is recharging in Greenville with her parents, Sharon and David Johnson, and polishing up her portfolio before heading back to New York.

“I’m looking for a smaller company, so I can have my hands on more,” she said. “I like the really creative, raw energy part of designing, and then the construction and engineering stage that I also really like. It’s like two separate halves of the same thing, and I want to do both.”

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Short-term rental sites like Airbnb.com and Homeaway.com offer visitors accommodations at a range of price points, offering everything from entire homes to small attic rooms.

More than 300 accommodations are currently available in Greenville on Airbnb, with even more in the surrounding area. Homeaway, on the other hand, offers 44 results for Greenville lodging.

Though Airbnb was founded in 2008, local governments are still considering how to handle issues like taxation and regulation for short-term rentals. The Greenville city and county don’t collect taxes from these rentals, though the state gave local governments more power to enforce tax collection in 2014. In 2016, Airbnb said it would collect and distribute state sales and accommodations taxes and is looking into ways to help at county and city levels.

Though city rules say these rentals should be considered either bed and breakfasts or inns and should get approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals, only a handful of operators have gotten approval.

Jay Graham, city planning director, said the city is looking into ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, “and what we can do to improve the situation,” he said. “We don’t have anything in the works, but we’re sitting down and trying to figure out what we can do to improve things.”

Meanwhile, Greenville County spokesman Bob Mihalic said the issue hasn’t been addressed at the county level.

Thanks to these short-term rental sites, there is money to be made for homeowners renting out their homes. Here are few examples of the amount you might be able to make.

What: Private room with attached bath in a townhome
Where: One block from Main Street in Travelers Rest and two blocks from the Swamp Rabbit Trail
Cost: $45/night
bit.ly/2hqHnYg

What: Private room in new home with queen bed and bath
Where: Near Cleveland Park and less than 10 minutes from downtown. The Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail is a quarter of a mile away.
Cost: $65/night
bit.ly/2hu9fHJ

What: Private room in an upgraded unit in Orchard Park apartment
Where: Off I-85 and Haywood Road, minutes from Haywood Mall and dining options
Cost: $60/night
bit.ly/2fsER3c

What: Modern home on Paris Mountain, ideal for cyclists. Private room with access to living room, dining room, kitchen, and deck with firepit.
Where: On Paris Mountain, minutes from Travelers Rest or downtown Greenville
Cost: $60/night
bit.ly/2fMvfgV

What: Newly renovated condo overlooking the second tee at the Green Valley Golf Course. One bedroom and bath.
Where: Two miles from Furman and the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest. Seven miles from downtown Greenville.
Cost: $100/night
bit.ly/2wPbBv1

What: An entire 3,400-square-foot home with four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a finished basement
Where: Five minutes from downtown Simpsonville, 1 mile from I-385, and 15 minutes to downtown Greenville
Cost: $350/night
bit.ly/2hvjXxp

What: Your own tiny home in a woodsy setting, with living area, full kitchen, modern bath, and loft bedroom
Where: In a new tiny-home community in Greer, complete with half-mile nature trail and lake. Five minutes from downtown Greer.
Cost: $95/night
bit.ly/2wOM70L 

What: Bungalow with two bedrooms and one bath
Where: Near Main Street, Fountain Inn, with quick access to I-385
Cost: $55/night
bit.ly/2yCWqTd 

What: A private room with room for two, along with an exclusive bathroom. The home includes workout room, pool, firepit, and tiki bar.
Where: Near Stallings Road in Taylors and 12 minutes from downtown Greenville
Cost: $75/night
bit.ly/2y3P6Tr 

What: An entire cabin with one bedroom and one bath
Where: At Lakepoint on the Saluda, on Saluda Lake near Berea. A few minutes from Furman and Travelers Rest.
Cost: $122/night
bit.ly/2wfZjaE

What: Eco-conscious historic mill home that is dog-friendly. Private bedroom and large backyard with creek.
Where: Woodside Cotton Mill Village Historic District, 3 miles from downtown. Half a mile from the Village of West Greenville.
Cost: $35/night
bit.ly/2hui83Y

What: One bedroom with shared bath, two porches, and two patios. Free bicycle access.
Where: Two miles from downtown Greenville and 300 yards from Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery
Cost: $45/night
bit.ly/2wghNI5 

What: Second-story apartment in an updated single-family home. Two bedrooms and two baths, and an eat-in kitchen with new appliances.
Where: Five blocks from Fluor Field, less than two blocks from a downtown trolley stop
Cost: $149/night
bit.ly/2fmNMQj

What: Newly renovated three-bedroom townhome that sleeps up to eight. Deck with gas grill and firepit.
Where: One mile from downtown Clemson and campus with easy access to area lakes
Cost: $475/night
bit.ly/2xqQm28

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