By Tabitha Evans Moore, EDITOR & PUBLISHER

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It’s an average week in the Hill household. In addition to working full time jobs at Jack Daniel’s Distillery and the Moore County School System, busy parents Patrick and Lashonda Hill as well as their two sons, Braylynn and Grayson, seem to be constantly on the go. There’s work, of course, and both middle school and high school baseball practices and games. Both boys play, and Patrick volunteers as a middle school baseball coach. In between it all, Patrick – who’s been on a health journey for the past year – finds time to train for his very first Oak Barrel Half Marathon. The annual event will take place in Lynchburg on Saturday.

Since February of last year, Patrick’s lost 120 pounds by eating better and exercising. He’s also had a little help in the form of GLP-1 medication.

Patrick says the COVID-19 epidemic of 2022 planted the seed of his weight loss journey. When he started to notice reports of individuals much younger than him dying of heart attack and stroke, it got his attention. Over a year later, Lashonda went on her own weight loss journey – nudging him even further. Then around Christmas time 2023, he took a good, long look in the mirror and decided it was time.

“The idea developed slowly over time,” he says. “I was just 42 years-old and already on blood pressure medication. I just looked at myself and realized that’s just not who I am or who I used to be.”

So he sat down with his local health care provider, Lori Neal Russell, and discussed his options.

“Lori was great,” Patrick says. “She sat me down, and talked to me about it for a long time. She told me what to expect, and explained how GLP-1 medications are designed and how they work. But I understood from the beginning that if I wanted the weight loss to stick, it would require lifestyle changes too.”

Patrick says when there was a GLP-1 shortage, Amber Wooten at the Vital Care Clinic in Estill Springs helped him bridge the gap during the medication shortage with a compounded version.

There are several lifestyle change paths that GLP-1 patients can take and the one that resonated for Patrick was the low calorie, high exercise path.

“It’s been a game changer for me,” he says. “People I know who haven’t seen me in awhile don’t recognize me anymore.”

After over a year on the medication, Patrick is now on what’s considered a maintenance dose.

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Inching towards an eight-minute mile

Patrick says his exercise started with walks near his home, which eventually evolved into runs. It felt hard at first, because even though he’s in his early forties, he suffers from arthritis due to his previous military career. But as he lost weight, the joint pain lessened, and he started to gain both strength and cardiovascular endurance.

“When I moved back to Lynchburg, the Oak Barrel Half Marathon was relatively new, but employees at the distillery were always talking about it,” he explains. “As I continued to lose weight, I started to feel physically like I could do it.”

So despite his busy schedule, he began to carve out 30 minutes to an hour each day to run. What began as a 20-minute mile recently became around an eight-minute mile.

“I haven’t run under an eight-minute mile since my prime military days,” he says. “When my Apple watch told me I’d broken a mid-to-low eight-minute mile, I felt proud of myself. I’m 42. I’m not 24 anymore, so to hit that time felt really good.”

For those of you who don’t already know, the Oak Barrel is a 13.1 mile run through some of the most beautiful backroads in Moore County. About four miles into the race route, runners encounter Whiskey Hill, a mile long stretch along Goosebranch Road that starts as a gradual uphill run but doesn’t end that way. It’s so infamous that it even enjoys its own Facebook page. On it, survivors swap war stories.

“The course I run near my house includes a quarter mile hill that I run frequently. So, I feel like mentally I’m prepared for Whiskey Hill. Physically, I guess we’ll find out Saturday,” he says.

Patrick says he’s cautiously ambitious about his odds of running the whole Whiskey Hill, but prepared to walk it if necessary. It is his first time after all.

“I’ve talked to a ton of people about Whiskey Hill, people who are at around the same skill level as me and they’ve suggested walking it, so I don’t burn all my energy early in the race.”

Find what works for you

Patrick says if he could tell others who are considering embarking on their own health and wellness journey one thing it would be to find what works for them.

“What I’m doing and the way I’m training might not work for you. However, there is something that is out there that will work for you. Do your research. Do your homework. Talk to your physician. There is a plan out there that’s best in line for what your goals are.”

When he lines up on Saturday, Patrick says he’s not quite sure what to expect, but he says he’s just going to find his groove and enjoy the moment.

“There are all these people who work hard to put on this race … the Mach Tenn Running Club and all the locals who volunteer at the water stops. Lots of nonprofits raise money too. I just want to enjoy every part and soak it all in.”

When we ask him about his next goal, the one after the half marathon, the won’t-stop, can’t-stop father of two gives a typical answer.

“My next goal is to make my son’s noon baseball game, and then make it to my other son’s baseball tournament in Albertville, Alabama on Sunday,” he jokes. “If Saturday goes well, maybe I’ll try the Music City Marathon in Nashville next.”

In the end, Patrick says he wants readers to know that if he can do it, anyone can do it.

“Don’t be scared to talk to your doctors about GLP-1 drugs if you need assistance or need a boost because I know you hear so many horror stories about them, but and I can promise you both Lashonda and I have had overall good results.”

The Oak Barrel Half Marathon will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Around 1700 runners, including Patrick, will line up on the square near the gazebo then head down Main Street before turning on Old Fayetteville Highway, and then to Goosebranch Road – the location of the treacherous Whiskey Hill. They’ll then turn left on Lois Ridge Road to Highway 50, then right up another slight hill on Norman Wiseman Road before turning left on Tanyard towards Campbell Lane. The final stretch will be on Goodbranch Road until they loop around and turn left onto Highway 55 and back towards the finish line on the square. Local drivers should exercise extra caution until all runners clear around noon.

Registration for the 2026 event will take place in October. You can learn more about the Oak Barrel Half Marathon on their website. •

{The Lynchburg Times is a nonpartisan, independent community newspaper serving Lynchburg, Tennessee and the surrounding counties. We are dedicated to public service journalism for the greater good of our community. You can support us, by clicking here.}