Boyd follows Alexander’s 1978 gubernatorial campaign walk across TN with 537 miles of running in 2017

(Tennessee history note: In 1978, Lamar Alexander made walking across the state – from Mountain City to Memphis, a distance along a somewhat wandering route promoted as covering of 1,022 miles – the centerpiece of his campaign for governor. )

News release from Randy Boyd campaign

Nashville, Tenn. – Combining his passion for long-distance running with his desire to meet and learn from as many Tennesseans as possible, while promoting a healthier Tennessee, Randy Boyd, Republican candidate for Governor, announced today that he will become the first candidate in Tennessee history to literally run the length of the state by running 537.3 miles from Bristol to Memphis.

“One of the things I have enjoyed most about campaigning is how inspiring it is to hear directly from the people of Tennessee about their hopes and dreams, priorities and concerns,” Boyd, a seventh generation Tennessean, said.

“I’m not a career politician, but as a business owner, I have always tried to listen carefully to my customers. Crossing the state this way will allow me to do a lot of listening while visiting as many counties and communities as possible on and along the 537.3 mile route.”

Boyd, who has already visited all 95 counties – and actively campaigned in over 80 counties, and in most multiple times, since he launched his campaign – will begin his approximate 100-day run at 8:30 am ET on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at the state line in Bristol, TN/VA, exactly one year from the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary.

Waking up early each morning and logging in his usual 6 to 10 miles on his daily run, Boyd will follow a linear path across the state, and will then spend the rest of each day at listening and learning events, and at various campaign stops in neighboring counties along the route. Friends and supporters will be invited to #RunWithRandy on various legs of the run, and there will be periodic “fun runs” with kids and families to enjoy along the way.

Boyd, who has completed 34 full marathons and 49 half-marathons, said his goals for the run were to meet as many people as possible, to have some fun while learning, and to promote a healthier Tennessee.

“While visiting every corner of our state, I was going to run every day anyway, and I wanted to promote a healthier Tennessee, so why not start at one end of the state and work my way straight across and combine all three,” Boyd said.

“I like to say that I’m in ‘Governors Training School,’ and I can’t wait to get going on the run and visiting with even more of my fellow Tennesseans,” Boyd said. “I hope as many folks as possible will join us along the way to share the issues most important to them in their hometowns and communities.”

Daily updates about the #RunWithRandy, as well as details about all related campaign events, can be found on Boyd’s website at RandyBoyd.com/RunWithRandy/, on his campaign’s social media sites, and on the campaign’s new app for volunteers and supporters, which can be downloaded at RandyBoyd.com/GetApp/.

A successful entrepreneur, business and philanthropic leader, Boyd is the founder and chairman of Radio Systems Corporation, which is headquartered in Knoxville. First started out of the back of Boyd’s van, the company today produces over 4,600 pet products under brand names such as Invisible Fence, PetSafe, and SportDOG, with more than 700 employees and annual revenues of $400 million.

Boyd previously served in Governor Bill Haslam’s cabinet as the state Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, and earlier while serving as the Governor’s Special Advisor on Higher Education was the architect of the state’s Drive to 55 workforce development initiative, and the tnAchieves and Tennessee Promise scholarship programs to help more young people go to technical or community college tuition-free.

Boyd is also owner of Boyd Sports LLC, owner of the Tennessee Smokies Baseball team, the AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, and the Johnson City Cardinals, a rookie league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Boyd and his wife Jenny have been married for 32 years and have two children, Harrison and Thomas, a daughter-in-law Lindsey, and a beloved dog, Oskar. They reside in Knoxville and are members of Erin Presbyterian Church.

For more information about Randy Boyd and his campaign for Governor, please visit RandyBoyd.com — like him on Facebook at RandyBoydTN, or follow him on Twitter @RandyBoyd.