MidPacker Pod - Field Notes 04 | Western States Takeaways, Entrepreneur Life, & Chasing the Right Goals

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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.

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Relevant Links

• Western States Endurance Run

• Laurel Highlands Ultra

• Hellbender 100

• Barkley Fall Classic

• Hardrock 100

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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