The Midpacker Podcast

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 TRAINING PEAKS - Sign up to start your 14day free trial ⁠GO BREWING⁠ - Use MIDPACKER for 20% off your first order RENDEZVU.CO - Check out the Gear I love your purchases support me directly "I came because it's not guaranteed. I came because every year the course changes. I came because every single year, regardless of the outcome, I've had to push myself." What happens when finishing isn't the most important thing? Andrea Kooiman has lined up at the Barkley Fall Classic ten consecutive years. With five coveted Croix finishes, three marathon finishes, and two DNFs, she knows better than most just how unforgiving Frozen Head State Park can be. But during this year's race, Andrea faced a decision that tested something deeper than her endurance. After reaching Laz's infamous decision point with time remaining, she could take the marathon finish or turn around and chase the full 50K. Despite struggling with nutrition and knowing the odds were stacked against her, Andrea chose to keep going. The result wasn't what she wanted, but the experience revealed plenty about why she keeps coming back. Andrea joins Troy Meadows to share the highs, lows, and wonderfully absurd traditions of the Barkley Fall Classic, along with the experiences that have shaped her life beyond racing. Andrea's story reminds runners that the lessons, relationships, and experiences along the way can matter more than the finish line. Andrea’s Links WeROCK | We Run Orange County's Kids: https://werunockids.org/ Andrea on Instagram (@runcoachkrun): https://www.instagram.com/runcoachkrun/ Road Runner Sports: https://www.roadrunnersports.com/ Relevant Links Barkley Fall Classic: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=131025 Students Run LA: https://srla.org/ Cascade Crest 100: https://www.cascadecrest100.com/ Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB: https://kodiak.utmb.world/ Rock 'n' Roll San Jose: https://www.runrocknroll.com/san-jose Los Angeles Marathon: https://www.lamarathon.com/ Partner Links: Training Peaks - https://trainingpeaks.com Best Training App in the game, period. Sign up and get a 14day trial of their premium product ⁠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. Andrea Kooiman, MidPacker Pod, Troy Meadows, Barkley Fall Classic, BFC, Barkley Marathons, Laz Lake, Frozen Head State Park, Rat Jaw, Zeke's Ridge, Chimney Top, Croix, Barkley decision point, ultrarunning, trail running, 50K, 100-mile ultramarathon, Cascade Crest 100, running motivation, mental toughness, perseverance, DNF, motherhood and running, family and ultrarunning, WeROCK, We Run Orange County's Kids, Students Run LA, youth marathon training, Road Runner Sports, race announcing, Kodiak by UTMB, running community, women in ultrarunning, endurance coaching, Orange County running, ultramarathon training, finding purpose through running

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