The Midpacker Podcast

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.

Join the Newsletter at:⁠ ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠

Join the Free Newsletter or
Become a supporting member: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribe

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  
KILA - $50 off your order
⁠GO BREWING⁠ - 20% off your first order

USE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS

RENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directly

JOIN THE APP STATE INJURY LAB: TRAIL RUNNING STUDY
HERE : 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 stability

Proprioception, attention, and cognitive load

Alan's "parking lot theory" and why runners may get hurt when they let their guard down

Balance and strength training for ankle stability

Burnout and Alan's decision to work with a sports psychologist

Trading work-life balance for "work-life rhythm"

Building longevity through rest and self-kindness

Alan's birthday run to Grandfather Mountain and Run Raft adventures

After 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 State

App State Injury Lab + Trail Running StudyMost Recent Trail Running Study - this is paywalled if interested in reading I can get you a PDF

Relevant Links
Alan Needle | Appalachian State

App State Injury Lab + Trail Running Study

Tanawha Adventures

Fonta Flora 50K & Half Marathon

Dirty Wolf Racing

Black Copperhead Sting

Iron Mountain Trail Run

Partner Links: 

KILA - https://kilarun.com
Run Longer In Custom Insoles
Use MIDPACKER for $50 off your order
⁠
Go Brewing⁠ - ⁠https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER⁠
NA 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

Rendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadowsCheck out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly

⁠Vacation Races⁠ - ⁠https://www.vacationraces.com⁠
Epic 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 Trailfest
⁠⁠
Run Trail Life⁠⁠ - ⁠https://runtraillife.com⁠
Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!
Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.
⁠⁠
Freetrail⁠⁠ - ⁠https://freetrail.com⁠
Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.

Alan Needle, Appalachian State, Injury Lab, trail running, ultrarunning, chronic ankle instability, ankle sprains, proprioception, neuroscience, nervous system, injury prevention, balance training, trail running injuries, attention, cognitive load, Fonta Flora, Tanawha Adventures, Dirty Wolf Racing, burnout, sports psychology, work-life rhythm, running longevity, 100 milers, Western North Carolina

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.

Join the Newsletter at:⁠ ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠

Become a paid member: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribe

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  
KILA - $50 off your order
⁠GO BREWING⁠ - 20% off your first order
USE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS

RENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directly

HELP CHRIS RAISE MONEY FOR FREE TO RUN
Free 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: @farmlosophy
Sub Stack: Farmlosophy https://farmlosophy.substack.com
Free to Run Fund Raiser: https://runsignup.com/christopherpeterson

Relevant Links
Farmlosophy Substack: https://farmlosophy.substack.com

Free to Run: https://freetorun.org

Cocodona 250 / Aravaipa Running: https://www.aravaiparunning.com/cocodona

Outdoor 76: https://www.outdoor76.com

Hellbender 100: https://www.hellbender100.com

Standing Indian Loop FKT: https://fastestknowntime.com/route/standing-indian-loop-nc

SCAR FKT: https://fastestknowntime.com/route/scar-tn-nc

Franklin Farm Hub: https://www.franklinfarmhub.org

Partner Links: 

KILA - https://kilarun.comRun Longer In Custom Insoles
Use MIDPACKER for $50 off your order

⁠Go Brewing⁠ - ⁠https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER⁠
NA 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

Rendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadowsCheck out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly
⁠
Vacation Races⁠ - ⁠https://www.vacationraces.com⁠
Epic 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 Trailfest
⁠⁠
Run Trail Life⁠⁠ - ⁠https://runtraillife.com⁠
Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!
Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.
⁠⁠
Freetrail⁠⁠ - ⁠https://freetrail.com⁠
Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.

Christopher Peterson, Chris Peterson, Farmlosophy, Western North Carolina, Franklin North Carolina, ultrarunning, trail running, 200 mile running, Bartram Trail, Bartram Trail FKT, Bigfoot 200, Hellbender 100, Cocodona 250, SCAR, Double SCAR, Standing Indian Loop, fastest known time, FKT, Free to Run, Stephanie Case, Outdoor 76, Franklin Farm Hub, sustainable agriculture, farming, fatherhood, parenting, running community, SNARK, Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains, Southern Appalachia, endurance running, community, fear, resilience, adventure

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.

Join the Newsletter at:⁠ ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠

Support the Pod Directly: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribe
⁠
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  
KILA - $50 off your order
⁠GO BREWING⁠ - 20% off your first order

USE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS

RENDEZVU.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 Episode
Discovering endurance sports through competitive rowing

Falling in love with trail running in the Southern Appalachians

Why ultrarunning feels more like solving puzzles than simply running fast

Balancing motherhood, training, and entrepreneurship

Returning to running after pregnancy and postpartum

The mindset behind "careful but not afraid"

Building an art business inspired by adventure and wild places

How creativity and trail running fuel one another

Preparing for another Bartram Trail FKT attempt

Why having "no Plan B" became a source of freedom

Abigail’s Links
IG: @upinthewoods
Website: Abigail West Studio

Relevant Links
Bartram Trail

Partner Links: 
KILA - https://kilarun.com
Run Longer In Custom Insoles
Use MIDPACKER for $50 off your order
⁠
Go Brewing⁠ - ⁠https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER⁠
NA 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

Rendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadows
Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly

⁠Vacation Races⁠ - ⁠https://www.vacationraces.com⁠
Epic 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 Trailfest
⁠⁠
Run Trail Life⁠⁠ - ⁠https://runtraillife.com⁠
Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!
Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.
⁠⁠
Freetrail⁠⁠ - ⁠https://freetrail.com⁠
Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.

Abigail West, MidPacker Pod, trail running, ultrarunning, artist-athlete, printmaking, entrepreneurship, motherhood, postpartum running, Bartram Trail, Bartram Trail FKT, Southern Appalachians, Athens Georgia, Tuscany, Italy, University of Georgia, Cortona, creativity, endurance sports, trail art, running community, Megan Roche

In This Episode

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.

Join the Newsletter at:⁠ ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠

Become a paid member: https://troymeadows.substack.com/subscribe
⁠
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  
KILA - $50 off your order
⁠GO BREWING⁠ - 20% off your first order

USE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS

RENDEZVU.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 episode
Finding trail running through a search for identity

Going from a first marathon to Tahoe 200

Why quality training matters more than junk miles

Balancing motherhood, family, and ultrarunning

The value of coaches, mentors, and a strong support system

Training for Tahoe 200 with Havelina 100 and Quicksilver 50K

Lessons learned from first-time 200-mile racing

Foot care, recovery, and the reality of post-race brain fog

Why becoming a better person matters more than becoming a faster runner

Ekta’s Links
IG: @ekta_runs
Strava: Ekta Basu

Relevant Links
Tahoe 200 by Destination Trail

Javelina Jundred by Aravaipa Running

Aravaipa Running

Partner Links: 

KILA - https://kilarun.com
Run Longer In Custom Insoles
Use MIDPACKER for $50 off your order

⁠Go Brewing⁠ - ⁠https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER⁠
NA 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

Rendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadows
Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly
⁠
Vacation Races⁠ - ⁠https://www.vacationraces.com⁠
Epic 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 Trailfest
⁠⁠
Run Trail Life⁠⁠ - ⁠https://runtraillife.com⁠
Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!
Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.

⁠⁠Freetrail⁠⁠ - ⁠https://freetrail.com⁠
Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.

Ekta Basu, Tahoe 200, trail running, ultrarunning, 200 miler, Destination Trail, Candice Burt, Javelina 100, Quicksilver 50K, American River 50 Mile, Rio Del Lago, Brazen Racing, Inside Trail Racing, Coastal Trail Runs, Bay Area trail running, strength training, mobility, coaching, motherhood, family, support system, resilience, personal growth, endurance, recovery, brain fog, ultramarathon

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.

Join the Newsletter at:⁠ ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠
⁠Support 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 order
⁠GO BREWING⁠ - 20% off your first order

USE MIDPACKER TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS

RENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly

Field 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 Highlights
Western 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 Takeaways
Consistency 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     
@Midpackerpod
RTL Ultra Coaching
Lead Fōrj

Relevant Links
Western States Endurance Run

Laurel Highlands Ultra

Hellbender 100

Barkley Fall Classic

Hardrock 100

Partner Links: 

⁠PlayOn Relief⁠ - ⁠https://playonrelief.com⁠
All Natural, Fast Acting, Long Lasting, Targeted Relief
Use MIDPACKER for 20% off your first order

⁠Go Brewing⁠ - ⁠https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER⁠
NA Beers for people that enjoy brews that taste great and are better for you.
Use MIDPACKER for 20% off your first order

Rendezvu.Co - https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadows
Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly
⁠
Vacation Races⁠ - ⁠https://www.vacationraces.com⁠
Epic 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 Trailfest
⁠⁠
Run Trail Life⁠⁠ - ⁠https://runtraillife.com⁠
Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!

⁠⁠Freetrail⁠⁠ - ⁠https://freetrail.com⁠
Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.

MidPacker Pod, Field Notes, Troy Meadows, Western States, Hardrock 100, Laurel Highlands, Barkley Fall Classic, Hans Troyer, Vincent Bouillard, Jenn Lichter, Zack Miller, Hellbender 100, Lead Forge, entrepreneurship, summer running, trail running, ultrarunning, Pitchell, FKT, Asheville, HOKA, Go Brewing, Play On Relief, Rendezvu