#60 Brandon Thrower | Old Fort Strong Endurance Fest, Tanawha Adventures, Building Ultra Community In The WNC

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts. You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠. https://www.patreon.com/TheMidPackerPod 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 Page https://runtraillife.com/pages/rtl-coaching-services On episode of the pod, Troy Meadows interviews Brandon Thrower, a prominent figure in the Western North Carolina trail running scene. Brandon shares his journey into trail running, the inception of Tanawha Adventures, and the evolution of his role as a race director. The discussion highlights the challenges faced in event planning, especially in the wake of natural disasters, and the adaptability required to ensure successful races. Brandon also provides insights into the Looking Glass 100K event, emphasizing the beauty and challenges of the course. In this conversation, Brandon and Troy discuss the challenges and updates surrounding the Hellbender race and the impact of natural disasters on the local community, particularly Old Fort. They explore the balance of incorporating old and new elements into the race course, the condition of Mitchell State Park, and the community's response through the Old Fort Strong Endurance Fest. The conversation highlights the economic impact of the disaster, the fundraising goals for recovery, and the importance of creating a festival atmosphere to engage the community. Brandons Links IG: @tanawha_adventures - https://www.instagram.com/tanawha_adventures/ Website: https://www.tanawhaadventures.com/ DONATE:  Old Fort Strong Endurance Fest - https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/NC/OldFort/OldFortStrongEnduranceFestival If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below. Sponsor Links:  ⁠Run Trail Life⁠ Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase.  Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's. ⁠Freetrail⁠  Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today. MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠ Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube trail running, ultra running, Tanawha Adventures, Brandon Thrower, race directing, outdoor events, Western North Carolina, endurance sports, community engagement, event planning, Hellbender, Old Fort, endurance running, community support, fundraising, natural disasters, trail running, economic recovery, event planning, outdoor events