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by Freetrail - Hosted by Troy Meadows
The Midpacker Podcast follows middle and back of the pack trail runners and ultra runners at the heart of the trail running community. Join host Troy Meadows as he talks through what it takes to balance life and running with everyday runners doing extraordinary things on and off the trails.
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- Sep 29, 20261h 33m
#124 Alan Needle | The Brain-Ankle Connection, Injury Prevention, & Running for the Long Haul
The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: MidPack Musings SubStackJoin the Free Newsletter orBecome a supporting member: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribeCheck 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 Page STOKED TO PARTNER WITH KILA - $50 off your orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDSRENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directlyJOIN THE APP STATE INJURY LAB: TRAIL RUNNING STUDYHERE : https://forms.gle/iWRESvzk5Xkx3NJh6 “In order to treat these injuries, we need to treat the brain.”Dr. Alan Needle has spent more than a decade running ultras while building a research career around a problem most trail runners know all too well: rolling an ankle.In this episode, Troy talks with Alan about his work at Appalachian State studying chronic ankle instability and the surprising role the brain and nervous system may play in repeated injuries. Alan explains how changes in proprioception and the way the brain communicates with a joint can affect stability, and why treating an injury may require looking beyond the ankle itself.Now Alan is bringing that research directly onto the trails. His team is studying runners at races across the Southeast to understand why one runner falls or rolls an ankle while another doesn't.They dig into:The connection between the brain, nervous system, and ankle stabilityProprioception, attention, and cognitive loadAlan's "parking lot theory" and why runners may get hurt when they let their guard downBalance and strength training for ankle stabilityBurnout and Alan's decision to work with a sports psychologistTrading work-life balance for "work-life rhythm"Building longevity through rest and self-kindnessAlan's birthday run to Grandfather Mountain and Run Raft adventuresAfter 14 years of ultrarunning, Alan's perspective is refreshingly simple: fitness comes and goes, training ebbs and flows, and staying in the sport for the long haul sometimes means accepting that "that was what it needed to be."Alan’s Links IG: @eyeoftheneedle828@injurylabappstate Alan Needle | Appalachian StateApp State Injury Lab + Trail Running StudyMost Recent Trail Running Study - this is paywalled if interested in reading I can get you a PDFRelevant LinksAlan Needle | Appalachian StateApp State Injury Lab + Trail Running StudyTanawha AdventuresFonta Flora 50K & Half MarathonDirty Wolf Racing<a href="https://dirtywolfracing.com/races/the-black-copperhead-sting/?utm_source=chat
- Sep 11, 20261h 27m
Christopher Peterson | 200-Mile Adventures, Fatherhood, & Finding Community
The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: MidPack Musings SubStackBecome a paid member: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribeCheck 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 Page STOKED TO PARTNER WITH KILA - $50 off your orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDSRENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directlyHELP CHRIS RAISE MONEY FOR FREE TO RUNFree to Run Fund Raiser: https://runsignup.com/christopherpeterson“I focus most of my attention on being a father.”Christopher Peterson is a father, farmer, writer, husband, community builder, and ultra runner. Running might be a big part of his life, but this conversation is really about everything he has built around it.Chris found running while living in London and later used it as a way to keep his body healthy through the physical demands of farming. His introduction to ultras came at Man Against Horse 50 Miler, where a DNF unexpectedly started a much bigger adventure.Since then, Chris has fallen hard for the 200-mile distance. He finished Bigfoot 200, completed Hellbender 100, and took on a supported 224-mile out-and-back FKT on the Bartram Trail through his adopted home of Western North Carolina. That Bartram effort became something bigger than an individual goal as friends, pacers, his local running community, and Outdoor 76 rallied around him.Chris's story is a reminder that big goals don't require an empty calendar. Sometimes the real challenge is figuring out how adventure fits alongside the people, work, and community that matter most.Chris’s Links: IG: @farmlosophySub Stack: Farmlosophy https://farmlosophy.substack.comFree to Run Fund Raiser: https://runsignup.com/christopherpetersonRelevant LinksFarmlosophy Substack: https://farmlosophy.substack.comFree to Run: https://freetorun.orgCocodona 250 / Aravaipa Running: https://www.aravaiparunning.com/cocodonaOutdoor 76: https://www.outdoor76.comHellbender 100: https://www.hellbender100.comStanding Indian Loop FKT: https://fastestknowntime.com/route/standing-indian-loop-ncSCAR FKT: https://fastestknowntime.com/route/scar-tn-ncFranklin Farm Hub: https://www.franklinfarmhub.orgPartner Links: KILA - https://kilarun.comRun Longer In Custom InsolesUse MIDPACKER for $50 off your orderGo Brewing - https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKERNA Beers for people that enjoy brews that taste great and are better for you.Less alcohol, fewer calories, and more productive tomorrows.Use MIDPACKER for 20% off your first order<a href="https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-me
- Aug 25, 20261h 31m
#122 Abigail West | Motherhood, Creativity, & Building an Artist-Athlete Life
The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: MidPack Musings SubStackSupport the Pod Directly: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribeCheck 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 Page STOKED TO PARTNER WITH KILA - $50 off your orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDSRENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directly"I don't think I'm a different person. I'm just a more expanded person."What happens when your passions stop competing with one another and start working together?In this episode, Troy Meadows sits down with artist, entrepreneur, trail runner, and new mom Abigail West. Abigail shares how an unlikely start in competitive rowing eventually led her to trail and ultrarunning, where she found the perfect blend of adventure, competition, and creativity.The conversation goes far beyond racing. Abigail talks about balancing motherhood with a return to training, what pregnancy and postpartum taught her about patience, and why she believes being an artist and an endurance athlete require many of the same qualities. She also shares how trail running transformed her artwork, why Southern Appalachia continues to inspire both her running and printmaking, and how she and her husband have built a life around creativity, entrepreneurship, and taking calculated risks.Whether she's preparing for another attempt at the Bartram Trail FKT, creating artwork inspired by the places she runs, or embracing life with a new baby while spending the summer in Italy, Abigail offers an honest perspective on building a life that reflects your values instead of someone else's expectations.In This EpisodeDiscovering endurance sports through competitive rowingFalling in love with trail running in the Southern AppalachiansWhy ultrarunning feels more like solving puzzles than simply running fastBalancing motherhood, training, and entrepreneurshipReturning to running after pregnancy and postpartumThe mindset behind "careful but not afraid"Building an art business inspired by adventure and wild placesHow creativity and trail running fuel one anotherPreparing for another Bartram Trail FKT attemptWhy having "no Plan B" became a source of freedomAbigail’s LinksIG: @upinthewoodsWebsite: Abigail West StudioRelevant LinksBartram TrailPartner Links: KILA - https://kilarun.comRun Longer In Custom InsolesUse MIDPACKER for $50 off your orderGo Brewing - https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKERNA Beers for people that enjoy brews that taste great and are better for you.Less alcohol, fewer calories, and more productive tomorrows.Use MIDPACKER for 20% off your first orderRendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadowsCheck out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly<a hr
- Aug 8, 20261h 41m
Ekta Basu | Finding Yourself, Tahoe 200, & The Power of the Right People
The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: MidPack Musings SubStackBecome a paid member: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribeCheck 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 Page STOKED TO PARTNER WITH KILA - $50 off your orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDSRENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directly"In search of finding who I am and what I want to do and who I want to be. That's how trail running happened."Ekta Basu didn't set out to become a 200-mile ultrarunner. She simply wanted to become a healthier, happier version of herself. What started with a pair of running shoes and a marathon six months later evolved into a journey of self-discovery that ultimately led her to the finish line of the Tahoe 200.In this episode, Ekta shares how trail running became her place of freedom and how years of showing up without a structured plan eventually gave way to purposeful training, strength work, and coaching. She talks candidly about balancing running with raising a family, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, and why finishing Tahoe 200 wasn't just about endurance. It was about becoming the person she was searching for all along.The conversation also takes listeners behind the scenes of preparing for a 200-mile race, from building drop bags and learning to use poles to dealing with blisters, brain fog, and the mental recovery that comes after crossing the finish line. It's an honest conversation about growth, community, and why sometimes the biggest victories happen long before race day.In this episodeFinding trail running through a search for identityGoing from a first marathon to Tahoe 200Why quality training matters more than junk milesBalancing motherhood, family, and ultrarunningThe value of coaches, mentors, and a strong support systemTraining for Tahoe 200 with Havelina 100 and Quicksilver 50KLessons learned from first-time 200-mile racingFoot care, recovery, and the reality of post-race brain fogWhy becoming a better person matters more than becoming a faster runnerEkta’s LinksIG: @ekta_runs Strava: Ekta BasuRelevant LinksTahoe 200 by Destination TrailJavelina Jundred by Aravaipa RunningAravaipa RunningPartner Links: KILA - https://kilarun.comRun Longer In Custom InsolesUse MIDPACKER for $50 off your order<a href="https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER" target=
- Jul 10, 202636 min
MidPacker Pod - Field Notes 04 | Western States Takeaways, Entrepreneur Life, & Chasing the Right Goals
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 Page STOKED TO PARTNER WITH PLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDSRENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directlyField Notes is back after a short break, and Troy has plenty to catch up on. Fresh off Western States week, he shares the moments that have stuck with him most, from Hans Troyer's fearless front-running to Vincent Bouillard's emotional victory, Jenn Lichter's breakout performance, and why Zack Miller remains his favorite ultrarunner of all time.The conversation then shifts from the sport to real life. Troy opens up about the decision to skip Laurel Highlands, why launching a new business changed his priorities, and how entrepreneurship and ultrarunning have more in common than most people realize. Rather than chasing races, he's embracing a season of enjoying the trails, building fitness, and preparing for a few exciting adventures later this year.He wraps things up with an update on his upcoming plans, thoughts on Hardrock, and a look at where the MidPacker Pod is headed for the rest of the season.Episode HighlightsWestern States reflections beyond the results.Why Hans Troyer's race reminded Troy of the Icarus story.Vincent Bouillard's memorable win and what it says about today's sport.Jenn Lichter's incredible Western States debut and why she's one to watch.Why Zack Miller continues to embody everything Troy loves about trail running.Is 2026 an "asterisk year" at Western States because of the cooler weather?The decision to skip Laurel Highlands and prioritize family and business.Introducing Lead Fōrj, Troy's new B2B lead generation agency.Summer running without the pressure of chasing races.Plans for the Barkley Fall Classic waitlist and an unsupported Pitchell FKT attempt.Excitement surrounding Hardrock and the return of mountain racing.Training TakeawaysConsistency often matters more than constantly chasing races.Sometimes the smartest training decision is saying no to an event.Building a business and training for ultras require many of the same skills: patience, resilience, and long-term thinking.Enjoying running for its own sake can be just as valuable as structured race preparation.Troy’s Links IG: @Troyontherun @MidpackerpodRTL Ultra Coaching Lead FōrjRelevant LinksWestern States Endurance Run<a href="htt
- Jun 17, 20261h 31m
#120 Tim Tollefson | Betting on Yourself, Building Mammoth Trail Fest, & The Courage to Reinvent
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 Page Check out the Gear I love HERE on rendezvu.co your purchases support me directlySTOKED TO PARTNER WITH PLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderGO BREWING - 20% off your first orderVACATION RACES - 15% off any Ultra, Half Marathon, or TrailfestUSE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS"I basically didn't do it forever out of fear."Tim Tollefson has spent the last decade proving that growth often lives on the other side of discomfort.A two-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, UTMB podium finisher, physical therapist, trail running pioneer, and founder of Mammoth Trail Fest, Tim's journey has been anything but linear. In this conversation, he shares how a career built around performance eventually evolved into something much bigger: community, connection, and learning to define success on his own terms.Tim reflects on his transition from road marathoning to trail running, his years with Nike Trail, HOKA, and Craft, and the lessons learned from competing at the highest levels of the sport. The conversation also dives deep into confidence versus courage, the power of self-belief, and what it took to finally bring his long-time dream of Mammoth Trail Fest to life.Throughout the episode, Tim offers a refreshing perspective on reinvention, entrepreneurship, and why betting on yourself is often the hardest—and most rewarding—decision you'll ever make.In This EpisodeTransitioning from marathon running to trail runningThe early days of Nike Trail and racing in EuropeConfidence vs. courage and finding self-beliefWhy athletes need an identity beyond performanceBuilding Mammoth Trail Fest from an idea into realityLessons learned from Nike, HOKA, and CraftThe future of trail running and protecting its cultureCommunity, connection, and creating opportunities for othersThis episode is a reminder that growth rarely comes from playing it safe. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen when you stop waiting for permission and start leaning in.Timmy's Links:IG @timtollefsonMammoth Trail Fest - https://www.mammothtrailfest.comRelevant Links:The Mammoth 200 https://www.themammoth200.comCraft Sportswear https://www.craftsports.usUTMB Mont-Blanc https://utmb.worldBroken Arrow Skyrace https://brokenarrowskyrace.comThe Rut Mountain Runs https://runtherut.comBilly Yang https://billyyang.comPartner Links: PlayOn Relief - https://playonrelief.comAll Natural, Fast Acting, Long Lasting, Targeted ReliefUse MIDPACKER for 20% off your first order<a href="https://gobrewing
- Jun 5, 20261h 37m
#119 Sara Duncan | First 100 Miler Lessons, Building Community, & Refusing To Quit
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 PageCheck out the Gear I love HERE on rendezvu.coSTOKED TO PARTNER WITH PLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderVACATION RACES - 15% off any Ultra, Half Marathon, or TrailfestUSE PROMO CODE MIDPACKER "Running is such an individual endeavor, but it is absolutely a community sport."Sara Duncan didn't take the traditional path into running. She wasn't a standout athlete growing up and could barely run a mile when she joined her first run club in her twenties. Fast forward a decade and Sara is a trail runner, community builder, volunteer, and newly minted Hellbender 100 finisher.In this episode, Sara shares how a canceled 30th birthday party during the pandemic turned into a 30-mile challenge that launched her ultra running journey. From her first half marathon to running the Cruel Jewel 50 as a qualifier, Sara's story is one of persistence, curiosity, and embracing the unknown.The conversation dives deep into her first 100-mile experience at Hellbender, where a perfect race quickly turned into a masterclass in problem-solving. Foot pain, blisters, shoe issues, and an unexpected reaction to wool socks tested her resolve, but quitting was never on the table. Sara talks openly about leaning on her crew, pacers, volunteers, and the larger trail running community to make it to the finish line.The episode also explores Sara's passion for community building through SNARC (Sylva and Neighboring Area Run Club), her one-for-one commitment to volunteering for every race she runs, and a fundraising effort supporting Vecinos, an organization serving farm workers and underserved communities in Western North Carolina.In This EpisodeGoing from non-runner to ultramarathonerThe Yeti 30-for-30 challenge that changed everythingRunning Cruel Jewel 50 to qualify for HellbenderBuilding SNARC from the ground upWhy welcoming new runners mattersLessons learned from a difficult first 100 milerThe importance of crew, pacers, and volunteersSupporting Vecinos through Hellbender fundraisingSara's Dirtbag Spinster SubstackKey TakeawaySometimes success isn't about having the perfect race. Sometimes success is simply refusing to stop moving forward.Sara’s Links IG: @dirtbagspinsterSubStack: https://substack.com/@dirtbagspinsterRelevant LinksHellbender 100 – https://www.hellbender100.comCruel Jewel 50 – https://dumassevents.com/cruel-jewel-50Trail Sisters – https://trailsisters.netVecinos Farmworker Health Program – https://vecinos.orgRaritan Valley Road Runners – https://w
- May 29, 20262h 0m
#118 Troy Meadows & Julio Palma | Hellbender 100, Battling the DNF Demons, & Through Endurance We Conquer
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 PageCheck out the Gear I love HERE on rendezvu.coSTOKED TO PARTNER WITH PLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderTRAINING PEAKS - 20% off a premium annual subscriptionVACATION RACES - 15% off any Ultra, Half Marathon, or Trailfest“Through endurance we conquer.”In this special MidPacker Pod episode, returning guest Julio Palma flips the script and puts Troy Meadows in the hot seat to unpack Troy’s recent finish at the Hellbender 100. What unfolds is an honest and vulnerable conversation about setbacks, growth, mental toughness, and what it really means to keep showing up when things get hard.Troy opens up about his running journey—from growing up around endurance sports, to rediscovering running after losing both his mother and his dog in the same week, to eventually falling in love with trail and ultra running after reading Born to Run. The conversation also dives deep into Troy’s first 100-mile DNF at Dark Divide and how that experience forced him to reevaluate his mindset, priorities, and relationship with chasing qualifiers for races like Western States and Hardrock.The heart of the episode centers around Hellbender 100, one of the toughest races on the East Coast. Troy shares how this training block was the strongest of his life, the nutrition struggles and sleep deprivation he battled during the race, and how support from family, friends, and the trail community helped carry him through the darkest moments of the night.Some key themes from the episode include:Using running as a tool for resilience and mental healthLearning from failure and difficult race experiencesThe balance between chasing qualifiers and enjoying the sportTraining consistency, durability, and strength workManaging low moments during ultras and continuing forwardThe importance of community in trail runningThis one is raw, relatable, and full of those classic MidPacker moments where everyday runners chase extraordinary goals.Relevant LinksHellbender 100Run828 FoundationLaurel Highlands UltraHellbender Participant GuideHellbender Course InfoLaurel Highlands Hiking TrailPartner Links: PlayOn Relief - https://playonrelief.comAll Natural, Fast Acting, Long Lasting, Targeted Relief<p
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About The Midpacker Podcast
The Midpacker Podcast follows middle and back of the pack trail runners and ultra runners at the heart of the trail running community. Join host Troy Meadows as he talks through what it takes to balance life and running with everyday runners doing extraordinary things on and off the trails.
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