
← The Midpacker Podcast10 jul · 36 min
MidPacker Pod - Field Notes 04 | Western States Takeaways, Entrepreneur Life, & Chasing the Right Goals
<p>The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.</p><p><br></p><p>Join the Newsletter at:<a href="https://troymeadows.substack.com/?r=2gjcgs&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> MidPack Musings SubStack</a></p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/TheMidPackerPod" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"></a></p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/TheMidPackerPod" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Support the MidPacker Pod on Patreon.</a></p><p><a href="https://runtraillife.com/collections/midpacker-pod-merch" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"></a></p><p><a href="https://runtraillife.com/collections/midpacker-pod-merch" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Check Out MPP Merch </a></p><p>Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.</p><p><br></p><p>Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? </p><p>Check out<a href="https://runtraillife.com/pages/rtl-coaching-services" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> Troy’s Coaching Page </a></p><p><br></p><p>STOKED TO PARTNER WITH<strong> </strong> </p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://playonrelief.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>PLAY ON RELIEF</strong></a> - 20% off your first order</p><p><a href="https://gobrewing.com/discount/MIDPACKER" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>GO BREWING</strong></a><strong> </strong>- 20% off your first order</p><p><br></p><p>USE <strong>MIDPACKER </strong>TO GET THAT DISCOUNT FRIENDS</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.rendezvu.co/troy-meadows" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>RENDEZVU.CO</strong></a> - Check out the Gear I love our purchases support me directly</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Field Notes</strong> 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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Episode Highlights</strong></p><ul><li><p>Western States reflections beyond the results.</p></li><li><p>Why Hans Troyer's race reminded Troy of the Icarus story.</p></li><li><p>Vincent Bouillard's memorable win and what it says about today's sport.</p></li><li><p>Jenn Lichter's incredible Western States debut and why she's one to watch.</p></li><li><p>Why Zack Miller continues to embody everything Troy loves about trail running.</p></li><li><p>Is 2026 an "asterisk year" at Western States because of the cooler weather?</p></li><li><p>The decision to skip Laurel Highlands and prioritize family and business.</p></li><li><p>Introducing Lead Fōrj, Troy's new B2B lead generation agency.</p></li><li><p>Summer running without the pressure of chasing races.</p></li><li><p>Plans for the Barkley Fall Classic waitlist and an unsupported Pitchell FKT attempt.</p></li><li><p>Excitement surrounding Hardrock and the return of mountain racing.</p></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Training Takeaways</strong></p><ul><li><p>Consistency often matters more than constantly chasing races.</p></li><li><p>Sometimes the smartest training decision is saying no to an event.</p><