EPISODE 1 – Hurricane Trail Racing

BG: THIS IS THE LOCAL IMPACT PODCAST EPISODE NUMBER ONE WELCOME TO THE PODCAST GLAD YOU COULD BE WITH US TODAY

MATT  STEVENS: YEAH AWESOME THANKS FOR HAVING ME I REALLY APPRECIATE IT

BG: WELL LET’S UH START WITH GETTING TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER UM TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT MAYBE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HOW YOU GOT TO WEST VIRGINIA JUST A LITTLE PERSONAL HISTORY ABOUT MATT STEVENS SO WE CAN KIND OF GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER

MATT STEVENS: YEAH RIGHT ON SO I’LL TRY TO SUM IT UP AS FAST AS I AS I CAN I I FEEL LIKE BEING 35 YEARS OLD I’VE DONE A LOT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN LIFE BUT UM WE’LL START WITH THE LAST SAY 17 YEARS OR SO UM SO I JOINED THE MILITARY UH THE US AIR FORCE IN 2004 UM I ACTUALLY JOINED AS A C-130 CREW CHIEF REALIZED THAT IT JUST WASN’T MY THING SO I DECIDED TO CROSS TRAIN OR RETRAIN TO BE A SEER SPECIALIST AND SYRIA’S SURVIVAL EVASION RESISTANCE AND ESCAPE SO MY MAIN JOB HERE IS TEACH AIRCREW SURVIVAL AND THEN I WORK ALSO WITH PERSONAL RECOVERY AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT MISSIONS THAT THE AIR FORCE HAS AS FAR AS PERSONAL RECOVERY GOES UM SO I WAS ACTIVE DUTY FOR 15 AND A HALF YEARS GIVE OR TAKE AND THEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE ACTIVE DUTY AND THEN JOIN THE GUARD AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MILITARY YOU DON’T WANT TO EVER HAVE A BREAK IN SERVICE AND YOU WANT TO GET TO THAT 20-YEAR MARK BECAUSE THAT’S YOUR MAGIC NUMBER TO RETIRE AND AND REAP THE BENEFITS OF RETIREMENT SO I WAS LIKE WELL CAN I STILL DO THIS AND AND STILL GAIN THAT YOU KNOW 20 YEARS AND RETIRE AND THEY’RE LIKE YEAH ABSOLUTELY AND I’M LIKE SO YOU’RE TELLING ME THAT I CAN LEAVE ACTIVE DUTY NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PCSING OR MOVING AGAIN AND I CAN CHOOSE WHERE I WANT TO GO AND NEVER LEAVE THERE AND RETIRE THERE AND LIVE THERE FOREVER AND THEY’RE LIKE YEAH AND I WAS LIKE WELL THIS IS KIND OF A HIDDEN GEM SO LIKE WHERE’S THE PAPERWORK AT WHERE’S THE DOTTED LINE I’LL SIGN TODAY SO FAST FORWARD A FEW MONTHS UM THE PAPERWORK TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND WE FINALLY GOT THE PAPERWORK SET WEST VIRGINIA WAS SET IN STONE UM THEN IT WAS PROCESSING THE TIME TO MOVE FROM LAS VEGAS TO WEST VIRGINIA WE HAD NO IDEA OF THE AREA I GREW UP IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT OUTSIDE OF RALEIGH SO I KNEW OF WEST VIRGINIA BUT I’VE ACTUALLY NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE SO MY WIFE AND I UH WE TOOK A TRIP OUT HERE WE SAW KIND OF THE AREA THE BASE LOOKED AT A FEW HOUSES AND OF COURSE LIKE YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN AN OFFER ON A HOUSE UNTIL YOUR OTHER HOUSE IS SOLD AND YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU’RE GONNA COME HERE SO WE’RE KIND OF A LIMBO STATUS AND THEN EVENTUALLY UH THINGS KIND OF WORKED IN OUR FAVOR TO WHERE UH WE FOUND A HOUSE THAT WE LIKED UM WE PUT DOWN AN OFFER AND EVERYTHING JUST LINED UP PERFECTLY FOR OUR TIME FRAME OF MOVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO UH HURRICANE WEST VIRGINIA WHERE WE ARE NOW THAT PROCESS WAS KIND OF COOL BECAUSE IT’S ACTUALLY THE TRAILS THAT LED US TO WHERE WE LIVE NOW SO UH MY WIFE WAS ON ON GOOGLE UH AND SHE WAS LOOKING UP DIFFERENT AREAS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO UM IN THIS SIDE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND UH THE TWO FIVE FIVE TWO SIX PLAN CAME CAME UP ON GOOGLE AND THAT WAS UH BRANDON DORNER’S PLAN TO BUILD THE TRAIL SYSTEM OUT OF MEEKS ESSENTIALLY 26 MILES WITHIN THE FIRST LIKE FIVE YEARS UM SO THAT BEING SAID LIKE OH COOL THERE’S SOME TRAILS OUT BY THE THE HOUSE THAT WE WE CHOSE YOU KNOW OR ABOUT TO MOVE INTO SO WE MOVE HERE AND WE’RE SEARCHING FOR THE TRAILS AND YOU KNOW WE’RE OUTSIDERS WE DON’T KNOW ANYTHING WE DON’T KNOW WHERE ALL THESE LANDMARKS ARE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT SO UM IT TOOK US A LITTLE BIT OF DIGGING UH GETTING ONTO DIFFERENT STRAVA ACCOUNTS AND DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PEOPLE’S YOU KNOW RUN ACCOUNTS AND BIKING ACCOUNTS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THESE TRAILS TRAILS WERE AND IT’S FUNNY IT WAS IT WAS BRANDON WHO WE KIND OF STALKED ON STRAVA TO FIGURE OUT WHERE HE WAS GOING TO GET TO THESE TRAILS SO WE GO OUT TO THESE TRAILS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON OUR MOUNTAIN BIKES AND I’M SITTING OUT THERE AND I’M IN THE BOWL AREA OF OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM AND I LOOK AROUND AND I TOLD EMILY I SAID I’M GOING GONNA PUT ON A RACE OUT HERE ONE DAY AND SHE KIND OF KNOWS WHO THE PERSON I AM OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW SHE’S MARRIED TO ME SO IT’S JUST LIKE ALL RIGHT COOL YOU KNOW BABE I I’LL SUPPORT THAT LIKE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO GO AHEAD AND YOU KNOW I’LL SUPPORT YOU BECAUSE SHE KNEW AT SOME POINT THAT IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE THAT’S THE WAY I GO IF I SEE SOMETHING IF I WANT SOMETHING I WILL WORK TO THAT TO GET IT AND OBTAIN IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN SO SHE’S LIKE ALL RIGHT COOL SO I MEAN NOT EVEN SIX MONTHS LATER WE THREW THE VERY FIRST RACE ON MEEKS MOUNTAIN TRAILS UM WITH THE COMPANY THAT I STARTED JUST RACE DIRECTING AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING JUST OUT OF NOWHERE CAME TO THIS BIG THING AND NOW WE’RE A NON-PROFIT UH DOING PRETTY GOOD THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY I THINK SO THAT’S KIND OF THE GIST OF WHERE IT ALL STARTED AND KIND OF FAST FAST FORWARDS TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW

BG:  FANTASTIC WELL THAT’S GREAT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT THAT’S UH I I ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE HOW PEOPLE GOT TO THE AREA AND I THINK THAT’S A PRETTY COOL COOL STORY ABOUT HOW HOW YOU ENDED UP HERE I READ IN YOUR BIO THAT OBVIOUSLY AS A A AS A YOUNGER PERSON YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF ATHLETICS AND SPORTS UH YOU WERE A HOCKEY FAN AND UH I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING WHEN YOU YOU TALKED ABOUT UH ROOTING FOR THE HURRICANES HURRICANES UH WHEN UH IN YOUR BIO WHICH WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING POINT

MATT STEVENS: YEAH IT’S FUNNY UM SO WHEN I GREW UP IN NORTH CAROLINA I WAS A HUGE HOCKEY FAN LIKE I WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN IN ILLINOIS UH RIGHT OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO AND I STARTED PLAYING HOCKEY WHEN I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD I PUT SKATES ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ACTUALLY PLAYED AND YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS SIX AND THEN WE MOVED FROM THE CHICAGO AREA TO BOSTON AND THAT’S WHERE IT REALLY PICKED UP I WAS ABLE TO YOU KNOW SKATE ON PONDS UP THERE AND REALLY GET INTO HOCKEY AND THEN MY DAD TRANSFERRED TO NORTH CAROLINA WHEN I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 10 9 OR 10 AND THERE WASN’T MUCH HOCKEY THERE THAT WAS BEFORE THE HURRICANES MOVED DOWN FROM HARTFORD AND NOBODY REALLY KNEW ABOUT HOCKEY AT ALL SO UH I STARTED GETTING INTO HOCKEY A LOT MORE TRAVELING TEAMS BECAUSE THERE THERE WASN’T ANYBODY ELSE TO PLAY WITH IN THE STATE AT THE TIME SO WE WOULD GO GO BACK UP TO BOSTON PLAY TEAMS IN BOSTON MARYLAND VIRGINIA ALL UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST AND I WAS ALWAYS A HARTFORD WHALERS FAN I WAS A RON FRANCIS FAN BACK IN THE DAY UM HARTFORD HUGE HARTFORD FAN SO IN 97 THEY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HARTFORD WAS GOING TO MOVE DOWN TO RALEIGH AND BE THE CAROLINA HURRICANE SO UH AT THAT MINUTE MY DAD ENDED UP GETTING UH SEASON TICKETS AND EVER SINCE HE’S BEEN A SEASON TICKET HOLDER SINCE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME SO UM CAROLINA HURRICANES IS IN MY BLOOD IN A SENSE AND I’VE BEEN A FAN SINCE DAY ONE

BG: AWESOME THAT’S GREAT WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT YOU HAD A LOT OF PASSION AND AND LOVE OBVIOUSLY FOR FITNESS AND SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES UH FOR A LONG TIME CAN YOU PINPOINT THE TIME IN YOUR EARLY LIFE WHEN BEING ACTIVE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT IT BECAME LIKE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR YOU WHAT WHAT YEAH WHAT WHAT WHERE WAS THE WHERE DID YOU GET THE BUG BITE FOR THAT FOR THE FITNESS

MATT STEVENS: I MEAN I THINK IT WAS I MEAN STRAIGHT FROM FROM THE WOMB I MEAN I WAS I CAN AS FAR AS BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER I WAS DOING SOMETHING WITH COMPETITIVE SPORTS UH WHETHER IT WAS ON THE RINK PLAYING HOCKEY OR ON THE BASKETBALL COURT BUT I THINK THE PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR ME UM WAS THIRD GRADE WHEN I WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA SO THAT WAS MY FIRST YEAR LIVING THERE UM THEY HAD A TRACK TEAM AND YOU KNOW IT WAS THIRD GRADE SO THE TRACK TEAM IS LIKE NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT TO YOUR FRIENDS BUT IT WAS SOMETHING FOR KIDS TO DO ON THE OUTSIDE OTHER THAN YOU KNOW YOUR REGULAR OTHER SPORTS SO I REMEMBER RUNNING THE MILE AND THEN JUST LOOKING BEHIND ME AND I WAS LIKE I BLEW EVERYBODY OUT OF THE WATER THAT I WAS RACING AGAINST AND I THINK IT WAS THAT MOMENT AND I HAVE A PICTURE OF IT SOMEWHERE I’LL HAVE TO I’LL HAVE TO SEND THAT TO YOU YEAH AND I’LL SCAN IT IN BUT THERE’S A PICTURE OF ME RUNNING THIS MILE AND THAT THAT WAS THE KIND OF THE GAME CHANGER OF ALL RIGHT I NEED TO TAKE THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL BECAUSE SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME IS OBVIOUSLY I I’M FOR ONE COMPETITIVE AND TWO I’M LIKE DECENT AT THIS STUFF SO I MIGHT AS WELL TRY TO PUSH IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND I THINK THAT WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT COOL EVERYTHING I DID I WANTED TO DO BETTER I’VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING BETTER THAN THE FIRST TIME I DID IT SO OR THE LAST TIME I DID IT

BG: WELL FOR OUR LISTENERS AND FOR THE VIEWERS NOW UH THIS TIME AROUND FOR OF OF OUR PODCAST I REACHED OUT TO MATT BECAUSE I GOT ON THE WEBSITE AND LEARNED ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED HURRICANE TRAIL RACING AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AROUND I I SAW THIS MEEKS TRAIL MAP AND I WAS LIKE AMAZED BY WHAT I WAS SEEING AND I I I TO ME IT WAS A FIRST TIME I’D BEEN EXPOSED TO IT UH BUT I WENT TO THE WEBSITE LOVED THE MISSION I LOVED THE GOAL AND I LOVE THE ORGANIZATION AND OBVIOUSLY I CAN DO NO JUSTICE AND AND SHARING WHAT THE HURRICANE TRAIL UH UH RACING IS ALL ABOUT SO MATT OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB WITH THE PASSION FROM YOUR HEART WHAT IS THIS ORGANIZATION THIS NON-PROFIT HURRICANE TRAIL RACING AND UH TELL US WHAT HIS PURPOSE IS

MATT STEVENS: YEAH SO WE LIKE I SAID BEFORE IT’S LIKE WHEN WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY IT WAS JUST MY WIFE AND I TRIED TO JUST RUN A FEW RACES AND SEE WHAT WE COULD DO UH YOU KNOW GET SOME PEOPLE TO COME BASICALLY OFF THE COUCH AND RUN A FEW RUN A RACE ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE I MEAN IT’S AMAZING WHAT WHAT EVERYBODY’S BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER SO IT STARTED OUT AS THAT AND THEN I KIND OF GOT AN IDEA OF LIKE YOU KNOW I’M NOT TRYING TO PERSONALLY MAKE ANY GAINS FROM THIS LIKE I’M NOT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY IN FACT I DON’T WANT TO MAKE MONEY LIKE YOU KNOW EMILY HAS A GOOD JOB I’M STILL IN THE MILITARY SO LIKE I JUST WANT TO DO THIS FOR FUN IT’S MY PASSION IT’S MY DRIVE AND I’D RATHER SEE OTHER PEOPLE SUCCEED AND AND YOU KNOW WATCH THEIR JOURNEY OF SUCCESS AND RUNNING TRAILS MOUNTAIN BIKING WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT TO DO SO IT KIND OF WENT FROM ALL RIGHT LET’S THROW A RACE MAYBE AND WE AND BY THE WAY THE FIRST RACE WE EVER HAD WE THREW 100 OF THE PROCEEDS I MEAN 100 OF THE PROCEEDS BACK TO A NON-PROFIT THAT THAT BENEFIT BENEFITED A WEST VIRGINIA ARMY UH NATIONAL GUARDSMEN SO WE WE DIDN’T CARE ABOUT MAKING MONEY IT WAS JUST ABOUT MAKING THINGS HAPPEN AND DOING IT BEING THE DOERS BEING THE HANDS AND FEET OF PEOPLE AROUND US UM SO BUT THEN IT TURNED INTO LIKE ALL RIGHT WELL IF WE’RE GONNA DO THIS LET’S DO IT RIGHT AND WE NEED TO MAKE A COMPANY OUT OF IT SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE COMPANY IT WAS A FOR-PROFIT AND I’M THINKING LIKE WELL ALL THE PROFIT THAT WE MAKE IS GOING TO GO BACK STRAIGHT INTO EITHER THE TRAIL SYSTEM OR OUR RACING COMMUNITY SO I WAS LIKE I’LL JUST MAKE IT A NON-PROFIT SO IT WAS FUNNY IT’S SEPTEMBER 11 2020 IS WHEN WE SET ALL THE PAPERWORK INTO THE IRS FOR OUR 501C3 SO SEPTEMBER 11TH KIND OF A PRETTY UH I’D SAY AMAZING DAY BUT YOU KNOW ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT IT’S LIKE EVERYBODY KIND OF KNOWS WHAT SEPTEMBER 11TH IS SO ON THAT DAY EVERYTHING GOT SUBMITTED UP SO IT’S KIND OF LIKE YOU KNOW WITH MY PATRIOTISM AND YOU KNOW MY MILITARY STUFF IT’S LIKE KIND OF KIND OF COOL THAT IT WAS SUBMITTED ON SEPTEMBER 11TH BUT UH SO WE WE STARTED THIS NONPROFIT AND OF COURSE WITH ANY NON-PROFIT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VISION YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOALS YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE INVOLVED SO UM OUR OUR MAIN MOTTO UM OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS DEVELOPING COMMUNITY THROUGH FITNESS AND HOW WE DO THAT IS IS WE’LL TAKE ALL THESE RACES THAT WE PUT ON AND WE’LL FIND UH I SAY KIDS BUT REALLY ANYBODY WHO HAS A DRUG OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION TO COME OUT AND AND FOCUS SOME FOCUS THEIR YOU KNOW ALL THEIR NEEDS ON ON RACING OR BEING OUTSIDE AND AND WE USE THAT MONEY TO TO PUT ON SURVIVAL CLASSES WITH MY BACKGROUND UH BEING SURVIVAL LIKE I WANT TO PUT ON SURVIVAL CLASSES I WANT TO TAKE KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS OUT TO UH YOU KNOW WHITE WATER RAFTING TRIPS AND CAMPING TRIPS YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO CAN’T NOT NECESSARILY NOT AFFORD IT BUT AREN’T YOU KNOW ABLE TO TO GO DO THESE THINGS I WANT TO TAKE THEM BRING THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE SHOW THEM SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES KIDS JUST STRUGGLE WITH WELL I DON’T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT I DON’T HAVE THE AVENUES TO DO THAT BUT IF WE CAN GIVE THEM THOSE AVENUES IT WILL TAKE THEM HOPEFULLY OFF THE YOU KNOW FOCUS ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND GIVE THEM SOME SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS THAT THEY CAN USE FURTHER ON THEIR LIFE SO UH THAT’S KIND OF A BIG PICTURE OF WHAT WHAT THE DEAL IS AND WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IN FACT UH HERE IN A COUPLE WEEKS WE’LL HAVE OUR FIRST SURVIVAL COURSE THAT LITERALLY I SAY SOLD OUT I’M OFFERING THIS FIRST ONE UP FOR FREE BUT IT LITERALLY PACKED PACKED FULL MAXED OUT AT 20 PEOPLE IN LIKE 17 MINUTES IT WAS COMPLETELY FULL IN THIS CLASS SO UM COOL THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON VERY VERY NEAT THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON OF WHAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO OUT OF MEEKS BECAUSE THERE’S CAMPSITES OUT THERE UM I MEAN WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT I MENTIONED BESIDES WHITE WATER RAFTING UNLESS WE GET REALLY CREATIVE IN THE IN THE POND THERE BUT UM WE COULD PRETTY MUCH DO EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE OUT THERE AT MEEKS WHICH IS REALLY COOL SO IT ALL HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN HURRICANE IT ALL HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN PUTNAM COUNTY SO UH PRETTY NEAT THING WE’VE GOT GOING ON

BG: SO WOULD IT WOULD IT BE OKAY TO ASSUME THAT IT’S NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE TRULY FIT UH YOU’RE ACTUALLY REACHING OUT TO A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE YOU KNOW STRUGGLING IN IN SOME WAYS YEAH AND THAT’S THE THE PRO-ATHLETIC PERSON YOU’RE LOOKING FOR FOR ANYBODY WHO’S LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN LIFE

MATT STEVENS: IT GOES BOTH WAYS EXACTLY SO IT GOES BOTH WAYS SO I WANT TO I WANT TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO AREN’T PHYSICALLY FIT AND WANT TO COME OUT AND RUN THESE RACES BUT ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING AND NOT FIT AT ALL WE’LL HAVE AVENUES FOR THEM TO GO DOWN AS WELL BUT FOR OUR RACE SERIES WE HAVE BOTH COMPETITIVE HEATS AND WE HAVE OPEN HEATS SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE YOU KNOW YOU CAN GO FROM THE COUCH TO A 5K EASILY WITH WITH OUR SERIES BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST SIGN UP FOR THE OPEN HEAT IT’S CHEAPER BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT COMPETING FOR THOSE AWARDS THAT WE HAVE AT THE END OF THE RACE SERIES BUT IT’S IT ALSO IT’LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO GO WITH OTHER PEOPLE UH MAYBE WALK WITH SOME FOLKS SO WE’RE NOT JUST RUNNING OUT HERE WE’RE HIKING WE’RE WALKING SO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT DOESN’T MATTER AS LONG AS IT TAKES YOU TO RUN WALK WHATEVER SHUFFLE UH 5K OR 10K OR EVEN A HALF MARATHON IF YOU’RE UP FOR IT LIKE WE’LL SIT OUT THERE AND WE’LL WAIT FOR YOU TO FINISH IN FACT I’LL PROBABLY WALK A FEW MILES WITH YOU IF THAT’S THE CASE SO UM THAT’S KIND OF THAT’S KIND OF WHAT WE STAND BY IS YOU KNOW IT’S THIS IS FOR EVERYBODY NOT JUST YOUR MOST FIT PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPETING AT A HIGH LEVEL

BG: YEAH THAT’S GREAT MAN I LOVE YOUR HEART I LOVE YOUR PASSION ABOUT IT I LOVE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU CARE FOR PEOPLE SO THAT’S YOU KNOW IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UM YOU KNOW SUPPORT THINGS LIKE WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT’S A POSITIVE TURNAROUND AND IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES THAT THAT REALLY MATTER SO THANK YOU FOR FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOU KNOW THE THE PASSION AND PUTTING IT SOMEWHERE WHERE UM YOU KNOW IT CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WE UM YOU KNOW WE DON’T SEE ENOUGH OF THAT SO WE’RE YOU KNOW YEAH WE’RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU

MATT STEVENS: WELL I APPRECIATE APPRECIATE THE WORDS YOU KNOW AND I STRUGGLED UH YOU KNOW YEARS AGO UM WITH ALCOHOL AND UM AND I I’VE BEEN SOBER NOW FOR APRIL FIRST IT’LL BE TWO YEARS SO IN FACT I’M DRINKING UH DRINKING A NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER RIGHT NOW UM ATHLETIC BREWING COMPANY IT’S CALLED RUN WILD SO THEY THEY’VE BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR MY WIFE AND I WITH HER RACING BACKGROUND WITH SPARTAN AND YOU KNOW WITH MY ENDEAVORS OF SOBRIETY AND PULLING PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER AND HAVING SOBER ATHLETES COME TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW HAVE PEOPLE ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TO COME IN AND RUN THESE RACES SO THEY HAVE SUPPORTED US 100 UM AND THEY’LL SEND US BEER FOR THE EVENTS AND THEY’LL POST OUR STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH OBVIOUSLY NOWADAYS IS PRETTY HUGE SO THEY HAVE BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR LIVES AND I COULDN’T SAY ANYTHING BETTER THAN THAT COMPANY IN ITSELF UM AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THAT COMPANY SO UM THAT’S THAT’S MY PLUG FOR ATHLETIC BREWING COMPANY BUT THEY’RE AWESOME THEY’RE AWESOME PEOPLE JUST GREAT PEOPLE

BG: YEAH IT’S GOOD GOOD TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT WITH YOU AS WELL SO YOU MENTIONED THE MEEKS MOUNTAIN TRAILS IN HURRICANE AND UM I SAW THE MAP OF THAT A FEW MONTHS BACK AND I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED BY THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF GROUND THIS YOU KNOW THIS COVERS SO TELL US ABOUT THOSE TRAILS HOW YOU’RE CONNECTED TO THEM UM HOW WE CAN ENJOY THEM AS A COMMUNITY AND MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT YOU’RE HOPING TO BE A PART OF WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE TRAILS BECAUSE THEY’RE A HUGE AND HUGELY IMPORTANT PART I THINK OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT COULD BE USED UH IN A GREATER WAY

MATT STEVENS: YEAH I MEAN I’LL START OFF WITH SAYING THAT YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA DON’T EVEN KNOW THEY EXIST I THINK MORE MORE SO NOW THAN BEFORE LIKE WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET THE IDEA OF LIKE OH THERE’S TRAILS BACK HERE I DON’T I DON’T HAVE TO BIKE I DON’T HAVE TO RUN I CAN JUST WALK THESE TRAILS WITH MY DOG AND UH HAVE A GOOD TIME SO UH THE WAY I GOT STARTED WITH IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THROUGH BRANDON WHEN WE LINKED UP WITH STRAVA I FOUND HIM ON FACEBOOK AND THEN EVENTUALLY A COUPLE MONTHS WENT BY AND WE STARTED DOING THE TRAIL BUILDS ON TUESDAY IT WAS TUESDAY NIGHTS AND THEN IT MOVED TO SATURDAY MORNINGS SO A GROUP OF ABOUT 20 TO 25 OF US EVERY SATURDAY MORNING AT 8 30 WE MEET UP AT THE CELL TOWER PARKING LOT WE GO OUT AND WE CUT NEW TRAIL UM I I CAN’T TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR WHAT BRANDON HAS DONE OUT THERE I MEAN THAT THAT’S HIS LEADERSHIP THAT’S HIS DRIVE THAT’S HIS VISION TO CREATE MEEKS MOUNTAIN AS WHAT IT IS TODAY AND WHAT IT’S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE SO MMTA UM THEIR NONPROFIT UH THAT THAT’S ALL OF THEM THAT’S ALL THEIR VISION I’M JUST ONE OF THE YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A A HOE IN HAND AND START DIGGING TRAILS SO I’M JUST ONE OF THE VERY VERY FEW WHO GO OUT THERE EVERY WEEK AND AND JUST WORK OUR HARD HARD OUT EVERY EVERY SATURDAY TO UH CUT TRAILS SO THAT MAP THAT YOU UH BROUGHT UP EARLIER I MEAN THAT MAP I THINK WAS DATED JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND WE ALREADY HAVE MORE TRAILS CUT THAN WHAT’S ON THAT MAP JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO SO UM YOU KNOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED BY BUILDING TRAILS THEY CAN GET INVOLVED BY YOU KNOW THERE’S A COUPLE OTHER EVENTS OTHER THAN MINE AND IS THAT YOU CAN GET INVOLVED BY VOLUNTEERING OUT THERE VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME I MEAN EVEN PEOPLE JUST WALKING ON THE TRAILS JUST BY YOU WALKING ON THOSE TRAILS WILL HELP THE LONGEVITY OF THOSE TRAILS JUST BY PACKING IN THAT DIRT SO YOU KNOW PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK LIKE OH I’M NOT I’M NOT A PART OF IT I WISH I COULD DO MORE PHYSICALLY I WISH I COULD DO MORE MONETARILY WELL LIKE I SAID JUST BY YOU WALKING OUT THERE YOU BIKING THROUGH THERE UH SOMETIMES HELPS UNLESS IT’S REALLY MUDDY AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IT’S IT’S KIND OF A HINDRANCE BUT FOR THE MOST PART YOU KNOW JUST BY YOU WALKING OUT THERE IT COULD BE A HELP SO UH YOU KNOW THE FUTURE LOOKS GREAT I THINK UH WE’RE GONNA HIT THAT 26 MILE MARK WELL UH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE OF WHAT BRANDON’S ORIGINAL VISION WAS BECAUSE I DON’T THINK HE REALIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY WANT TO COME OUT AND HELP DIG THESE TRAILS I MEAN HE HAD TO BUY MORE TOOLS HE HAD TO YOU KNOW FIGURE OUT LIKE OH I I NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME AND START MARKING OUT THESE FUTURE TRAILS BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE STUCK WITH A TIME SAYING WELL I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO THIS WEEKEND NOT THAT BRANDON WOULD EVER SAY THAT BUT UH YOU KNOW IT JUST DOESN’T WANT TO COME AT A TIME WHERE IT’S LIKE WELL WHAT DO WE DO NEXT I MEAN HE’S ALWAYS GOT A PLAN ON WHAT WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING WHAT WE’RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON SO I COULDN’T SAY MORE ABOUT THAT GUY HE’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST MOST THOUGHT AFTER UH THOROUGH INDIVIDUALS I’VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE AND WE’RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SURE

BG: MATT STEVENS FROM HURRICANE TRAIL RACING IS OUR GUEST TODAY AND YOU’RE LISTENING TO THE LOCAL IMPACT PODCAST

BG: MAN I KNOW YOU UH MENTIONED I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF FUTURE EVENTS COMING UP THAT YOU WANT TO PROMOTE AND TALK ABOUT BUT JUST BEFORE WE DO THAT WOULD YOU MIND TALKING ABOUT A FEW OF THE PAST EVENTS I KNOW YOU BROUGHT ONE UP A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT WAS KIND OF UH SPECIAL TO YOU BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES OR HIGHLIGHTS OF OF EVENTS AND UM AND RACES THAT YOU’VE HAD IN THE RECENT YEARS OR RECENT MONTHS

MATT STEVENS: UM SO I’LL START WITH UH THE FIRST RACE THAT WE HAD AT MEEKS MOUNTAIN TRAILS WAS THE HURRICANE ON A TRAIL RACE AND THAT WAS A RACE THAT WE HONORED NICK SHEPARDY NICK WAS A SPECIAL FORCES MEMBER IN THE ARMY THAT SADLY LOST HIS LIFE IN PARACHUTE ACCIDENT SO WE DECIDED TO USE HIM AND HIS FAMILY TO PROMOTE THIS RACE AND TO HONOR NICK UH THROUGH RACING AND RUNNING AND LIKE I SAID WE UH GAVE 100 OF THE PROCEEDS BACK TO PROJECT 33 AND THAT WAS A A GROUP A NON-PROFIT THAT HIS UH DEPARTMENT OR HIS UH UH UNIT WANTED TO TO PUSH THE MONEY TOWARDS SO AND THAT’S WHAT WE DID UM SO SOME OF THE THE PAST STUFF I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT ALWAYS STICKS OUT IN MY MIND IS NOT THE FASTEST PERSON THAT RAN THE RACE NOT THE MOST ATHLETIC PERSON THAT’S OUT THERE BUT IT’S THE VERY LAST PERSON THAT COMES THROUGH THE FINISH LINE I MEAN THERE’S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE STORIES UM I HAVE A STORY YOU HAVE A STORY EVERYBODY LISTENING EVERYBODY WATCHING HAS A STORY UM AND THEY’RE ALL DIFFERENT BUT THERE’S SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE YOU KNOW A MORE A MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL STORY THAN A LOT OF OTHERS SO UH I REMEMBER ONE TIME THIS YOU KNOW THE LATE IN FACT WENT BACK UP SO UH THE MMTA THREW A RACE A CRUSH RUN AND I WAS OUT ON THE SIDE BY SIDES RUNNING SAFETY UP AND DOWN THE BACK SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND THERE’S THESE TWO LADIES UH ONE OLDER AND THEN ONE YOUNGER SO I COULDN’T TELL IF THEY’RE LIKE MOTHER DAUGHTER OR FRIENDS OR WHATEVER BUT ANYWAYS THERE’S TWO LADIES OUT THERE ON THE TRAIL AND UH I GOT UP TO THE LAST CHECKPOINT AND I ASKED HIM HOW ARE YOU DOING HOW YOU FEELING AND SHE’S LIKE WELL I’M I’M SORE I’M YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY’RE SLOWING DOWN IT’S LIKE MY FEET ARE WET IT WAS COLD MIND YOU IT WAS LIKE 20 DEGREES SNOW ON THE GROUND UM MUD IT WAS JUST NASTY SO FEET WERE COLD TOES WERE GOING NUMB I WAS LIKE WELL I CAN GIVE YOU A RIDE TO THE END OR TO THE NEXT CHECKPOINT AT LEAST THAT’LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE MORE MILES AHEAD OF TIME AND SHE’S LIKE NO I SET OUT TO DO THIS AND I WANT TO FINISH IT I DON’T CARE HOW LONG IT TAKES ME AND I SAID WELL JUST REALIZE THAT YOU KNOW WE’RE STARTING TO CLEAN UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN JUST WE’LL BE HERE BUT SOME OF THE ARCHES AND EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THE COOL STUFF THAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF RACE MIGHT NOT BE THERE AND SHE’S LIKE OH THAT’S FINE I JUST YOU KNOW I JUST HAVE IT IN ME TO FINISH SO I WAS LIKE OKAY WHATEVER THAT’S FINE THAT’S COOL LIKE MORE POWER TO YOU I RESPECT THAT SO I DRIVE BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND IT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE COOLEST MOMENTS THAT THAT I’VE HAD IN A WHILE WATCH HER RUN AND EVERYBODY KEPT THAT WE KEPT THE ARCH UP FOR HER WE KEPT THE COWBELLS OUT EVERYBODY STARE STAYED AND CHEERED HER ON IT WAS THE LOUDEST CHEERS OF THE DAY EVEN LOUDER THAN THE LAST MINUTE RACERS COME EARN YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE COMING IN FOR LIKE A FIRST AND SECOND PLACE TIME THEY’RE LIKE A SECOND APART I MEAN PEOPLE ARE CHEERING THEM BUT I MEAN SHE HAD LIKE A GRAND ENTRANCE TO THAT FINISH LINE UH AND THAT WAS COOL TO WATCH HER COMPLETE THAT AND TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS SO I THINK THAT’S THAT TO ME IS IS WHY I LIKE DOING THIS NOT FOR THE FAST GUYS ALTHOUGH IT’S COOL BUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO MAYBE HAVE NEVER RAN A RACE BEFORE I MEAN THERE’S PEOPLE WHO RAN UH OUR RACE LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER WHO HAVE NEVER RUN A 5K AND NOW TO COME OUT AND DO IT ON A TRAIL WHERE YOU’RE GETTING 500 600 FEET OF ELEVATION WITHIN THREE MILES LIKE THAT’S THAT’S A HUGE STEP FOR PEOPLE AND THEY JUST CONSTANTLY WANT TO COME BACK AND DO IT WHEN’S THE NEXT RACE WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET TO DO MORE OF THIS SO UM THAT’S THE PART OF THE JOB THAT I LIKE I CALL IT A JOB BUT THAT’S THE PART OF THE JOURNEY THAT I LIKE MOST IS IS WHEN THE PEOPLE LIKE FIEND FOR MORE AND THEY’RE LIKE I WANT MORE RACES SO

BG: YEAH THAT’S GREAT I HOPE I HOPE ALL YOUR FUTURE EVENTS CAN BRING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE GREAT MOMENTS LIKE THAT TO SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE INSPIRED TO DO YOU KNOW TO FINISH TO COMPLETE SOMETHING IT IS ENCOURAGING AND IT’S UH I’M GLAD YOU HIGHLIGHTED THAT TODAY WELL THAT’S AWESOME LET’S TALK ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS SO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE NEXT WEEKS AND MONTHS AND THE SUMMER I AM TIRED OF QUARANTINE AND TIRED OF UH BEING INSIDE AND I’M ANXIOUS TO GET OUT AND DO SOME THINGS AS WELL YEAH I KNOW I KNOW THAT I KNOW OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES AND OUR CULTURE WE’RE JUST WE’RE READY BITING AT THE BIT TO GET OUT AND AND GET ACTIVE AGAIN SO HOW CAN PEOPLE BE INVOLVED AND WHERE CAN THEY BE INVOLVED AND WHEN AND HOW DO THEY GET A PART OF IT

MATT STEVENS: YEAH SO OUR FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR OR THE SEASON I SHOULD SAY BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A SEASON SINCE WE’RE RACING UH IT’S A RACE SERIES WE HAVE FOUR RACES UM IS IN LESS THAN A MONTH I THINK WE’RE 29 DAYS OUT 30 DAYS OUT IT IS APRIL THIRD SATURDAY 8 A.M UM THERE IS A CUT OFF IT’S GOING TO BE ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THAT DATE SO I DON’T HAVE A CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT WHATEVER THAT WEEK IS PRIOR TO IS GOING TO BE THE CUTOFF FOR T-SHIRTS MEDALS AND THEN RACE I GUESS WE’LL CALL IT SWAG IF YOU WILL UM SWAG STANDS FOR STUFF WE ALL GET BY THE WAY THAT’S RIGHT UH SO SWAG UH SO RACE SWAG HAS BEEN A WEEK FOR IT SO UH YOU CAN STILL RACE DAY OF I’M I’M TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT OUR RACE TIMING COMPANY IS TOTALLY FINE WITH PEOPLE COMING OUT PAYING THE MONEY UH AND RACING THE DAY OF JUST KNOW THAT YOUR T-SHIRT’S GOING TO GET DELAYED IF YOU WANT ONE UM AND YOUR MEDAL IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET DELAYED BECAUSE WE’LL HAVE TO REORDER STUFF BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY ORDER SO MANY THINGS OF EACH ITEM BUT APRIL 3RD TWISTED TWIGS RACE UM 8 AM START TIME WE’LL HAVE A 5K A 10K HALF MARATHON AND A KIDS K SO THE KIDS K IS ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF LOOP JUST LEAVING THE BOWL AREA IF YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT GOING THROUGH LOW FLOW BACK UP TO THE RED AND WHITE AND BACK DOWN TO THE BOWL TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE SO UM THAT’S SOMETHING NEW THAT WE ARE STARTING THIS YEAR AS A KIDS RACE BECAUSE WE WANT THE KIDS TO BE INVOLVED AND I’M TALKING ABOUT KIDS ANYBODY FROM LIKE AS LONG AS YOU CAN WALK TO ABOUT 12 OR 13 YEARS OLD THERE’S SOME FAST 13 YEAR OLDS IN THIS COMMUNITY THOUGH SO I MIGHT HAVE TO KICK SOME OF THOSE KIDS OUT TO THE ACTUAL BIG BIG BOY RACE BUT UM YEAH THERE’S SOME THERE’S SOME FAST YOUNGINS OUT THERE FOR SURE

BG: UH SURE ANY OTHER EVENTS BEYOND THAT SO I GOT PLANNED YET

MATT STEVENS: YEAH SO WE’VE GOTTEN UH JUNE WE’VE GOT A RACE IN JUNE WE’VE GOT A RACE IN OR TWO RACES IN OCTOBER SO THAT’LL FINISH THE SERIES UM WE’VE GOT TWISTED TWIGS WE GOT OLD GLORY SO IT’S GOING TO BE ALL RED WHITE AND BLUE THEMED FLAG THEME AND THEN WE’VE GOT THE HURRICANE ON A TRAIL RACE AND THEN WE’RE DOING THE HAUNTED HALF SO THAT’S GOING TO FALL ON I THINK IT’S OCTOBER 30TH RIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN SO WE’LL HAVE LIKE PEOPLE DRESSED UP IN THE WOODS IT’LL KIND OF BE A FUN FUN WAY TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN AND THAT VERY LAST RACE THIS SEASON ASIDE FROM THE SERIES WE ALSO HAVE A NIGHT FUN RUN UM THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN JUNE LET’S GO LET’S GO BACK TO THAT DATE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PLUG THAT DATA IN IN THE PODCAST BUT UM IT’S A FUN RUN IT’S GOING TO BE A GLOW A GLOW THEME RACE SO WE’RE GOING TO HAVE GLOW STICKS WE’RE GOING TO HAVE HEADLAMPS IT’S A FUN RUN NO WINNERS NO LOSERS UM EVERYBODY’S A WINNER ON THIS ONE SO WE’RE JUST GOING TO GO HAVE FUN RACE IN THE DARK UM AND THEN PROBABLY HAVE SOME PIZZA OR SOMETHING ELSE AT THE END OF IT SO THAT’S WHAT WE’VE GOT PLANNED FOR THAT AND THEN FINALLY UM I FORESEE SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE AN OFF SCHOOL COURSE RACE BUT THERE’S A LOT OF LEGAL THINGS THAT HAVE TO GO INTO THAT UM BUT MAYBE NEXT SUMMER I PLANNED IT OUT FOR THIS SUMMER BUT I THINK IT’S GOING TO GET PUSHED TO NEXT SUMMER UM UNLESS WE CAN GET THE RIGHT SPONSORS TO COME IN AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND HELP US WITH ALL THAT PROCESS BUT UH LOOK FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE FOR SURE

BG: OKAY COOL WELL MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT UM LOCAL IMPACT ON YOUR MAILING LIST FOR ANY NEW EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES OR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND WE’LL MAKE SURE WE PUT IT OUT IN ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOU SO WE CAN LET ALL YOU KNOW OUR AUDIENCE STAY UP TO DATE WITH WHAT YOU’RE DOING BECAUSE WE ALWAYS LIKE TO KEEP IN IN CONTACT WITH OUR GUESTS AND AND MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE PROMOTING ALL THINGS UH IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AND I HOPE YOU’LL GET TO COME BACK SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE AND TALK MORE ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AS WE’RE GROWING AND EXPANDING UH SO

MATT STEVENS: YEAH ABSOLUTELY MAYBE AT THE END OF OUR SEASON TO TELL YOU GUYS HOW EVERYTHING WENT AND YEAH YOU KNOW TRY TO GET A PUSH FOR FOR MORE PEOPLE TO COME ON OUT

BG: THAT’D BE GREAT I KNOW YOU MENTIONED TO ME IN AN EMAIL THAT UH YOU HAVE A LONG-TERM GOAL TO BE A FULL-SERVICE RACING DIRECTING TEAM DID I GET THAT RIGHT A RACING DIRECTING TEAM

MATT STEVENS: YEAH SO BASICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT SO WE WANT TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE SENSE OF YOU KNOW I LOVE THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND LETTING US BORROW TENTS AND CHAIRS AND TABLES AND YOU KNOW HIRING RACE UH TIMING COMPANIES COME IN BUT I THINK THAT THE AREA THAT WE HAVE AT MEEKS AND THE AMOUNT OF RACES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO PUT ON THAT WE SHOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE SENSE OF WE OWN ALL OF OUR OWN EQUIPMENT WE OWN ALL OF OUR OWN YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT ON A RACE THEY CONTACT ME THEY CONTACT BRANDON AND WE HELP THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE HAVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT RIGHT THERE IN A STORAGE FACILITY NEAR NEAR THE MOUNTAIN AND WE CAN PULL IT OUT AND WE CAN SET IT UP AND WE CAN BE YOU KNOW SELF-SUFFICIENT LIKE I SAID WE DON’T HAVE TO CALL ANYBODY ELSE WE’RE JUST RIGHT HERE SO MY GOAL IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS IS TO HAVE YOU KNOW MULTIPLE TENTS UM MULTIPLE TABLES MULTIPLE SETUPS AND THEN YOU KNOW EVEN TO EXPAND OUTSIDE OF MEEKS MOUNTAIN IS JUST TO BE THE RACE DIRECTOR AND TO PUT ON RACES OF OUR OWN UH YOU KNOW THROUGHOUT PUTNAM COUNTY UH THROUGHOUT THE AREA HERE SO THAT’S JUST KIND OF BIG TERM GOALS THAT I HAVE FOR MYSELF AND FOR THE NON-PROFIT AND JUST TO EXPAND IS AS YOU KNOW THE BIGGEST FOOTPRINT WE CAN

BG: THAT’S FANTASTIC WELL I HOPE THAT WORKS OUT FOR YOU WELL AND I HOPE THAT YOU GET THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED AND AND SPONSORSHIP SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE YOU ARE A NON-PROFIT YOU GOT TO HAVE FUNDS TO MAKE THIS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE HOW CAN OUR LISTENERS AND OUR UH BUSINESS COMMUNITY UH SUPPORT YOU AND BE A PART OF UM ALL THAT YOU’RE DOING AT HURRICANE TRAIL

MATT STEVENS: YEAH YOU KNOW IT DOES IT DOES COST MONEY IT UH COSTS MONEY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANYTHING THAT YOU DO UNFORTUNATELY NOWADAYS BUT UM YOU KNOW FOR THE NON-PROFIT SIDE OF THE HOUSE UM WE ARE A NON-PROFIT OR WE’RE IN THE MEANS OF BECOMING A NON-PROFIT WE’RE STILL WAITING ON THE PAPERWORK FROM THE IRS BUT UH IN THE MEANTIME YOU KNOW YOU CAN DONATE UH THERE’S A LINK ON OUR WEB PAGE THAT YOU CAN DONATE AND THEN I’LL COME STRAIGHT TO UM OUR BANK ACCOUNT WE HAVE SET UP AND THEN UM YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH DONATING MONEY MONETARILY YOU CAN VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO HELP US OUT SOME OF THESE RACES YOU CAN VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO COME OUT AND HELP OUT WITH SOME OF THE COURSES AND CLASSES THAT WE PUT ON UM EVEN TO BE LIKE A CHAPERONE IF YOU WILL ON SOME OF THESE EVENTS THAT WE’RE DOING LIKE UH WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIPS SUMMER UM YOU KNOW SOME OF THE OTHER CAMPING TRIPS THAT WE HAVE SET UP UH FOR THE FUTURE SO DEFINITELY MONEY ALWAYS HELPS UH IT’S HUGE AND THAT’S WHAT DRIVES A LOT OF THESE COOL THINGS WE’RE DOING BUT YOU KNOW BEING THE HANDS AND FEET ALSO HELPS AS WELL SO AT ANY IN-KIND DONATIONS UM SO IF YOU WANT TO DONATE ANYTHING YOU KNOW SERVICES ANYTHING LIKE THAT WE’RE WE’RE TOTALLY OPEN TO TO DO THAT AS WELL SO UM WE HAVE A LOT OF AWESOME SPONSORS THAT CAME TO THE TABLE THIS YEAR WHICH HELPED THUS FAR WE GOT A PRETTY SWEET TENT THAT UH BRIAN GERALD CREATED AND AND WE WE ORDERED THAT SO WE’VE GOT SOME COOL THINGS COMING AND I THINK OUR GOALS ARE GETTING REACHED UM SO YEAH WE’RE OFF TO A GOOD START FOR 2021.

BG: GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD I KNOW GUYS LIKE YOU WHO GIVE SO MUCH AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES AND OF COURSE PEOPLE ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS SOMETIMES FOR YOU GUYS TO DO IS TO ASK FOR SOMETHING TO ASK FOR DONATIONS THAT’S ALWAYS SOMETIMES A DIFFICULT THING TO DO YEAH I’M HAPPY TO I’M HAPPY TO GET ON THIS MICROPHONE TODAY AND SAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD STEP UP AND HELP YOU TODAY AND BE A PART OF UH OF THIS GREAT MISSION BECAUSE UM UH YEAH JUST SPENDING A FEW MINUTES WITH YOU I’VE I’VE CAUGHT THE BUG AND I I I SEE THE I SEE THE NEED FOR IT AS WELL AND UM THIS WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE TO GET YOU ON OUR UH INITIAL UH PODCAST THIS SEASON UH LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT

MATT STEVENS: YEAH AND THEN YOU’RE LIKE OH MAN THIS GUY LIKES TO TALK I DON’T KNOW HOW I’M GONNA GET THEM TO SHUT UP AND CUT OFF A PODCAST BUT NO NO IT’S FUNNY THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE LAST YEAR WHEN I FIRST RAISED I WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING MYSELF BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID I YOU KNOW I WAS BORN IN JULY SO I’M A CANCER SO I I DIDN’T WANT TO ASK FOR ANY HELP AT ALL LIKE I EVENTUALLY I I HAD TO ASK MY WIFE FOR HELP BUT I MEAN THAT DOESN’T REALLY COUNT BECAUSE SHE’S GOING TO HELP ME ANYWAYS WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT RIGHT BUT I HAD TO EVENTUALLY ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE IT WAS JUST GETTING TO BE TOO MUCH LIKE I HAD TO TO MARK THE TRAILS I HAD TO GET THE STUFF SET UP I HAD TO GET THE PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE I HAD TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE RACE TIMING GUY WAS ON TIME AND IN THE RIGHT SPOT AND LIKE ALL THESE THINGS HAD TO HAPPEN AND I JUST TRY TO DO IT ALL MYSELF AND I REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT LIKE I CAN’T DO THIS BY MYSELF I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO ASK FOR HELP AND I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO ASK FOR THINGS SO UH I’M GETTING BETTER BUT I’M STILL NOT TO THE POINT WHERE I NEED TO BE BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT MORE HELP AND WE HAVE UH FOUR AWESOME PEOPLE ON ON OUR TEAM TO IN ADDITION TO MYSELF TO HELP US OUT AND TO GET THINGS DONE AND GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO I’M GETTING BETTER

BG: WELL YOU I GUESS THAT’S THAT’S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND YOU KEEP CASTING THE VISION AND YOU’LL SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO DON’T MIND ASKING FOR MONEY THAT’S FOR SURE IT’S A IT’S PEOPLE WHO CAN BELIEVE IN IT LIKE YOU SO OKAY LET’S LET’S TALK ABOUT UH REACHING OUT GETTING CONTACTS AS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HELPING OUT BEING A PART OF IT IF WE NEED MORE INFORMATION MATT IF WE NEED TO REACH YOU IF WE NEED TO REACH THE ORGANIZATION HOW CAN OUR COMMUNITY FIND YOU CONTACT YOU GET CONNECTED TO HURRICANE TRAIL RACING

MATT STEVENS: WELL I’M A BIG ADVOCATE OF PUSHING PEOPLE TOWARDS OUR WEBSITE BECAUSE THE WEBSITE HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION HAS A LOT OF PICTURES IT HAS A LOT OF BACK STORIES UH PAST EVENTS FUTURE EVENTS SO I’D ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO TO UM HURRICANETRAILRACING.ORG OR IF YOU WANTED TO SEND US AN EMAIL YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY EMAIL FROM THE LINK ON THE WEBSITE BUT IF YOU DON’T AND YOU JUST TYPE IN HURRICANETRAILRACING GMAIL.COM IT’LL SHOOT AN EMAIL TO UH TO OUR TEAM MOST LIKELY I’LL GET BACK TO YOU BUT UH SOMEBODY WILL GET BACK TO YOU VERY QUICKLY SO THOSE ARE THE TWO WAYS THAT I TELL PEOPLE TO UH CHECK US OUT

BG: GREAT WE’LL PUT THAT INFORMATION IN THE SHOW NOTES TOO SO THE LISTENERS AND THE VIEWERS CAN FIND IT UM ALSO UH IF YOU’RE WATCHING OR WE’RE LISTENING TO UH THE PODCAST TODAY WE’LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU MATT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR LIFE GOALS WITH US FOR LETTING US YOU KNOW GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER AND YOUR PASSION FOR ALL THINGS FITNESS AND UH WHAT YOU’RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY WE REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE PODCAST

MATT STEVENS: YEAH THANKS FOR HAVING ME AND IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND I HOPE TO SEE SOME OF YOU GUYS OUT ON THE TRAILS AND OUT THERE ON THOSE RACES GREAT

BG: THANKS AGAIN

MATT STEVENS: YEP THANK YOU