#108 Kirk Cherep |Building Trail Blaze Running, Trail Golf, & Building Trail Community in the Midwest

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠Support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.⁠Check Out MPP Merch Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy’s Coaching PageSTOKED TO PARTNER WITH  HYPERLYTE LIQUID PERFORMANCE - 10% off your orderTRAINING PEAKS - 20% off a premium annual subscriptionPLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderVACATION RACES - 15% off any Ultra, Half Marathon, or TrailfestUSE PROMO CODE MIDPACKER FOR A SWEET DISCOUNTWAHOO FITNESS -  Use Code MIDPACK: When you pick up a Wahoo KICKR RUN get a free TRACKR Heart Rate Monitor chest strap. Remember to add the TRACKR to the cart and the code will apply to discount.“I just wanted it to exist, so I made it exist.”In this episode, Troy Meadows talks with Kirk Cherep.Kirk shares how a Spartan Race on his college graduation day lit the spark that eventually led him deep into trail and ultra running, and ultimately into race directing. After falling in love with the community through films by Billy Yang and The Ginger Runner and reading Born to Run, Kirk now directs multiple events through Trailblazer Running in Indiana.False Spring Trail Runs Okadoke Trail Runs Trail Golf Knobstone 50 Kirk also co-owns Tempo Run Timing, timing over 50 events a year, and partners with Runners for Public Lands to give back through trail work at Indiana Dunes National Park .Kirk talks honestly about balance, or the lack of it, and accept that sometimes you’re just “really good at faking it” while juggling family, work, and big goals .This year, he’s lining up for Hellbender 100 and planning big adventure runs like Painted Rocks Lakeshore and a Grand Canyon R2R2R.Kirk's LinksIG: @trailblazer.running      @kirkcherepWebsite: Trailblazer Running – https://www.trailblazerrunning.coRelevant LinksRunners for Public Lands – https://www.runnersforpubliclands.orgHellbender 100 – https://hellbender100.comTrail Running Film Festival – https://trailfilmfest.comPartner Links: Hyerlyte Liquid Performance - https://www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comMade by the ultra-endurance athlete, for the ultra-endurance athlete.More Carbs, More Dirt, More Miles.Check them out at hyperlyteliquidperformance.comUse the code MIDPACKER for 10% off your individual order and 10% off your first subscription order.“The Kid” Hans Troyer DocumentaryPlayOn Relief - https://playonrelief.com Proven Pain Relief for People Who Refuse to Stop!All Natural, Fast Acting, Long Lasting, Targeted ReliefUse MIDPACKER for 20% off your first orderTraining Peaks - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/midpacker/A training app as versatile as you. Start your free trial at  https://www.trainingpeaks.com/midpacker/Use MIDPACKER at checkout for 20% off an Annual Premium SubscriptionVacation Races - https://www.vacationraces.comEpic Races on public lands near the most iconic National Park in the US.Use MIDPACKER at checkout for 15% the registration of any Ultra, Half, or TrailfestWahoo Fitness - https://www.wahoofitness.com KICKR RUN invites the rhythm, flow, and freedom of outdoor running inside.It’s not running indoors. It’s running, reimagined.Run Your WayBuy the Wahoo KICKR RUN use code MIDPACK to get a free TRACKR Heart Rate Monitor chest strap. Remember to add the TRACKR to the cart and the code will apply to discount.⁠Run Trail Life⁠ - https://runtraillife.com/Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!Use MIDPACKERPOD to double the donation from your purchase. Kirk Cherep, Trailblazer Running, Knobstone 50, Trail Golf, Midwest trail running, race directing, ultra running, Hellbender 100, Indiana trails, Runners for Public Lands, Indiana Dunes, community building, obstacle course racing, Born to Run, Billy Yang, tempo run timing, work-life balance, trail stewardship,