The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts. Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy’s Coaching Page HERE You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠. Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods. Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE⁠ In this episode, Troy Meadows talks with Cal Gates, a trail runner from Australia.  Cal shares his journey into trail running and his involvement in the Blood Run, a fundraising initiative for leukemia. He discusses the challenges of balancing running, work, and family, and the importance of community in the trail running world. The Blood Run, a 250-kilometer trail run, raised over $80,000 for leukemia research. Cal also plans to organize other fundraising events, including a last person standing event and a vertical 5k challenge. In this conversation, Cal Gates discusses his upcoming adventures, including the Mansion and Tassie Trail. The Tassie Trail is a 480km trail that climbs about 30,000 feet in elevation. Cal and his friends plan to run it as a tag event, showcasing the joys and benefits of trail running. Cal emphasizes the importance of sharing the adventure and inspiring others to pursue their own challenges. He encourages people to overcome the fear of failure and lean into discomfort.  Takeaways Trail running is a community-driven sport that fosters a sense of support and generosity among its participants. Balancing running, work, and family requires sacrifice and prioritization. The Blood Run, a 250-kilometer trail run, raised over $80,000 for leukemia research. Cal Gates plans to organize other fundraising events, including a last person standing event and a vertical 5k challenge. Consider organizing tag events to create a shared experience and promote the lifestyle of trail running. Don't let the fear of failure hold you back from pursuing your goals and adventures. Lean into discomfort and embrace the challenges that come with pushing your limits. Find your passion and pursue it with purpose, inspiring others along the way. Cal’s [email protected] Blood Run Links Website- www.thebloodrunfilm.com Sydney Showing- https://events.humanitix.com/the-blood-run-sydney just happened! Melbourne Showing- https://events.humanitix.com/the-blood-run Brisbane Showing- https://events.humanitix.com/the-blood-run-brisbane Last Person Standing- https://events.humanitix.com/tbr-last-person-standing Donation Link- Leukaemia Foundation - 250 reasons - The Blood Run Things we talked about on the show Pat Farmer - Pole to Pole The Blood Run  Leukemia Foundation Last Person Standing The Tassie Trail 480km If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below. Sponsor Links:  ⁠Run Trail Life⁠ - Run Trail Life Brings you casual apparel that lets you show off your love of trail running and ultrarunning while giving back to ensure that everyone has access to the beauty of nature for generations to come. With each item purchased, we donate $1 to Runners for Public Lands. 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 - Bring Trail Culture with you everywhere you go and join an amazing community of extraordinary trail runners. Freetrail Pro membership is just $96 a year, giving you access to the Freetrail Slack community, training plans, weekly office hours, and so much more.  Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today. MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠ Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube