For more than four decades now, Tom Carr, a retired school counselor living in Hillsborough, has been recording the results of his near-daily runs.

• Turns out you can get pretty far by the time you're 75.

Why it matters: Carr is a testament to the power of consistency and the longevity that can come from showing up every day without fail.

• Carr has now run more than 60,000 miles in his lifetime, all of them outside in the elements and all of them, he says, are vital to keeping his head on straight.

Driving the news: Later this month, Carr will attempt his longest run yet — a 100-mile ultramarathon that most people wouldn't dream of completing, let alone in their eighth decade.

• The race, called A Race for the Ages in Tennessee, will give him exactly 75 hours to finish the 100 miles. It starts Aug. 28.

Zoom in: Carr is one of the founding members of the Hillsborough Running Club, embracing the sport before it was a mainstream pursuit and helping organize races in Orange County.

• He chalks up his longevity to the power of consistency and to what he believes are the therapeutic effects of breathing in fresh air and listening to the soundscapes of the woods. He also never embarks on a run without eating a peanut butter and jelly bagel. (The jelly has to be sugar-free Smuckers; the peanut butter could be anything.)
• No matter what, he never listens to music or a podcast, which he believes can stop the flow of creative thoughts when running alone.

Yes, but: Running has also helped manage some of the hardest moments of Carr's life, including losing Carlye, his partner of 53 years, last year to the effects of Alzheimer's.

• Carr's hoping to use the 100-mile race to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association in her honor.
• "If I wasn't able to get out of the house and go running, I don't know how I would have survived that difficult period of time," Carr said of his wife's health.
• "I think about her a whole lot when I'm when I'm out on the run, and I'm still struggling with it", he added. "With Alzheimer's, you know, her reasoning and her thinking, it wasn't there, so we didn't have any closure."
• Now, in a period where research funding is being cut, Carr believes the "Alzheimer's Association needs all the help they can get."

Stop by: Hillsborough Run Club meets Wednesday at 6pm and Sunday at 8am at Weaver Street Market, Hillsborough.

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Michael Whatley, the chair of the Republican National Committee, officially joined the race to fill North Carolina's open Senate seat next year.

Why it matters: The Gastonia resident, who previously led the North Carolina GOP, has the backing of President Trump and will likely face former Gov. Roy Cooper in one of the most expensive races of the cycle.

Behind closed doors: National Republican leaders had given Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law and a North Carolina native who had considered running, the right of first refusal.

• But after Lara Trump indicated she was leaning against entering the race, attention turned toward Whatley, who President Trump handpicked to lead the Republican National Committee, Axios previously reported.

Between the lines: A month ago, it seemed as if Republicans were headed toward a divisive primary before Sen. Thom Tillis dropped out of the race.

• Now, both the Democrats and Republicans have seemingly consolidated the fields to avoid competitive primaries.
• Former Rep. Wiley Nickel dropped out of the Senate race this week and endorsed Cooper.
• In the Republican race, other candidates include Andy Nilsson, a former candidate for lieutenant governor, and Don Brown, who previously ran for Congress.

🐐 The city of Durham is using goats to reclaim "paper streets," areas that have been labeled streets on paper, but have been left undeveloped. (INDY Week)

🏘️ Pittsboro is set to experience explosive growth in the next decade. Some residents worry that it will lose its small-town charm in the process. (News & Observer 🔒)

🦟 The first West Nile virus case of 2025 has been detected in a resident in Durham County, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. (WRAL)

There's a lot going on around the Triangle this weekend — and hopefully a chance to enjoy some temperatures under 90°.

Here are some select events to check out across the region:

🎨 Attend the Uproar Festival of Public Art's kick-off party on Friday at Eno River Brewing before checking out 60 works of art spread throughout Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

🐷 Chow down at the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Friday and Saturday.

🤖 Watch the Giant Robot Fight Club at Motorco in Durham on Friday night.

🎁 Head to the North Carolina Museum of Art on Saturday for Triangle Pop-Up's local artist market series.

☕️ Shop local vendors and listen to live music at Left Hook Coffee's Knock Your Block Off Party on Saturday.

🎥 Take part in the inaugural Triangle Native American Film Festival at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday, featuring several films, including "Lumbeeland" by North Carolina filmmaker Malinda Maynor Lowery.

⚽️ Cheer on the NC Courage as they host San Diego FC at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Sunday.

🍽️ Visit one of more than 50 restaurants participating in Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, featuring special menu items and deals.