The Midpacker Podcast Freetrail - Hosted by Troy Meadows

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



FREETRAIL MEMORIAL DAY FUNDRAISER



You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.



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 HERE



Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE



"You can't do everything. And I've, it's been a hard learning for me to sort of acknowledge that with my own life and reality"



"Trail running will save the world."



Dylan Bowman, co-founder of Freetrail, discusses his journey as a professional athlete and entrepreneur. He shares his transition from competitive running to focusing on his family and building Freetrail, a media and events company dedicated to trail running. Dylan emphasizes the importance of his team members, Harmony and Ryan, in the success of Freetrail. He also highlights the value of community and the support they receive from the trail running community. Dylan talks about the challenges and rewards of organizing events, such as the Gorge Waterfalls and Big Alta races. In this conversation, Dylan and Troy discuss Dylan's recent experiences in running and fatherhood. Dylan reflects on the challenges of balancing running with building a business and being a father. He shares his realization that he may never be a focused professional athlete again, but he can still push himself and be inspired by the new generation of athletes. They also discuss the joy and challenges of being a father and the special moments they share with their children. Dylan talks about his upcoming race in Austria and his role in the Western States broadcast.



Dylan’s Links

IG - @dylanbo

IG - @runfreetrail



Things we talked about on the show.

FREETRAIL MEMORIAL DAY FUNDRAISER

Ari Sonnenberg - MPP Episode #9

Ryan Thrower

Travis Loncar - MPP Episode #20

Fantasy Freetrail

T.R.O.Y.

Hannah Allgood

Freetrail Experts

The Big Alta 

Gorge Waterfalls

Hardrock 100

Motzart 100k 

Tillamook Burn

Broken Arrow Skyrace

Western States

Corrine Malcom

Billy Yang

Toffer Gaylord

Mountain Outpost

Open - Aundre Agacy book

Marin County - Queen Stone Fire Road



If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below.



Sponsor Links: 



⁠Run Trail Life⁠

Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase. 

Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.



⁠Freetrail⁠ 

Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.



MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠

Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠

Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube









Dylan Bowman, Freetrail, professional athlete, entrepreneur, trail running, family, media, events, community, Gorge Waterfalls, Big Alta, running, fatherhood, balance, professional athlete, business, coaching, training, race, Western States, broadcast

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



You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.



Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.



Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE⁠

Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy’s Coaching Page ⁠HERE⁠



"I'm all about chasing dreams and defying odds, pushing thresholds and capabilities."



In this episode of the pod Troy Meadows talks with Bethany Taylor, an outdoor athlete and educator that just recently moved back stateside from a 1.5 year stint in Japan. 



Bethany shares her journey into the outdoor space and the creation of her business, Iron Soul Trailblazers. She discusses the importance of being adaptable as an entrepreneur and the challenges of balancing her business with her husband's military deployments.



Bethany also emphasizes the need for women's empowerment in the outdoor industry and the importance of safety and preparedness when participating in outdoor activities. Bethany Taylor shares her passion for trail running and adventure trips, discussing the importance of safety and preparedness. She talks about her experiences hosting all-women adventure workshops and the joy of helping others overcome their fears and try new things.



Bethany also mentions her upcoming trips to Iceland, Colorado, Yellowstone, and Kilimanjaro. She highlights the value of her safety course, Solo Summit's Blueprint, and the comprehensive training and information it provides.

Bethany emphasizes the camaraderie and support of the trail running community and the joy of sharing experiences with fellow runners.



In this conversation, Bethany and Troy discuss their love for coffee and the importance of strength training for runners. They share their favorite coffee beans and brewing methods, as well as the benefits of strength training for endurance athletes.

Bethany emphasizes the need for proper fueling and protein intake, while highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong base fitness level.



Bethany’s Links

IG: @bethanycorataylor

Website: https://www.ironsoultrailblazers.com/



Things we talked about on the show



Solo Summit BluePrints - 6 week Women's Safety Course

No Business 100

Hellbender 100 

Moka Pot 

Pisgah Coffee Roasters

Ground Works 

Counter Culture Coffee

Mt Futago - Kanagawa Prefecture

If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below.



Sponsor Links: 



⁠Run Trail Life⁠ - Run Trail Life Brings you casual apparel that lets you show off your love of trail running and ultrarunning while giving back to ensure that everyone has access to the beauty of nature for generations to come. With each item purchased, we donate $1 to Runners for Public Lands.

Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase. 

Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.



⁠Freetrail⁠ - Bring Trail Culture with you everywhere you go and join an amazing community of extraordinary trail runners. Freetrail Pro membership is just $96 a year, giving you access to the Freetrail Slack community, training plans, weekly office hours, and so much more. 

Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.



MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠

Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠

Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube



outdoor space, outdoor athlete, outdoor educator, Iron Soul Trailblazers, entrepreneurship, balance, military deployments, women's empowerment, safety, preparedness, trail running, adventure trips, safety, preparedness, workshops, fear, travel, solo adventure, training, community, coffee, French press, brewing methods, favorite beans, strength training, endurance athletes, fueling, protein intake, base fitnes

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



You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.

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 ⁠HERE⁠

Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE⁠



“You guys are capable of so much more than what you think you are.”



On this episode Troy Meadows talks with Jackie Hunt-Broersma, a professional ultra runner and cancer survivor, shares her journey of becoming an amputee and finding her passion for running. She discusses the challenges she faced in getting the right prosthetics and the need for better support and accessibility for adaptive athletes. Jackie also talks about her experience running 104 marathons in 104 days and the mental and physical resilience required for such a feat. She emphasizes the power of the mind and the importance of listening to your body. Jackie also shares her 21 km streak to celebrate being 21 years cancer-free and to support others going through cancer. Jacky shares that during her 250-day run streak, she ran more than the planned 21 kilometers per day, often running ultras instead. She ran races like YETI and UMSTED, as well as random 50Ks as training runs. After completing a 100-mile race, she would still run 13 miles the next day. Jacky explains that the mindset of an ultra runner is to have a mission and a goal, and even if it's painful, they push through and keep going. She emphasizes the importance of problem-solving in ultra running and how each race presents unique challenges.



Jacky's Links

IG - @ncrunnerjacky

X - @ncrunnerjacky

Website - https://www.ncrunnerjacky.com/



Want to support Adaptive Athletes consider making a donation to these organizations

Amputee Blade Runners

@moveforjenn - IG

Challenged Athletes Foundation - CAF



Things we talked about on the show

Altra

104 marathons in 104 days

The 21KM run streak

Freetrail Article - Runs Because She Is Alive by Herbert Krabel

Javelina

Yeti

Across the Years

Moab 240

UTMB

Santan Mt Regional Park

If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below.



Sponsor Links: 

⁠

Run Trail Life⁠

Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase. 

Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.



⁠Freetrail⁠ 

Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.



MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠

Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠

Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube



ultrarunning, cancer survivor, amputee, prosthetics, adaptive athletes, support, accessibility, mental resilience, physical resilience, marathon streak, cancer, run streak, ultras, 100-mile race, mindset, problem-solving

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



Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy’s Coaching Page HERE



You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.



Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.



Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE⁠



"If I say, okay, I'm not going to take on this race because I'm just going to wait for this to stop. I don't know when it's going to stop. So there's no point."



In this episode Troy Meadows talks with Jen Laughlin.

Jen is a mom, marketer, trail runner, and social media manager for Aravaipa and Squirrel's Nut Butter. She shares her journey into trail running and ultra distances, as well as her passion for engaging with the trail running community. Jen's work with social media started with Dirtbag Runners and Squirrel's Nut Butter, where she offered her services for free. She later joined Aravaipa and Run Steep Get High as a social media manager. Jen's enthusiasm and genuine support for others have made her a valuable asset to these brands. Jen discusses her experience as a mother and how she balances parenting with her running goals. She shares that while she is a competitive person by nature, she prioritizes being present for her children and doesn't focus on achieving top race times. Jen also opens up about her physical challenges due to perimenopause, including weight gain, sleep issues, and pain. Despite these challenges, she remains determined to continue running and participating in races. In this final part of the conversation, Jen and Troy discuss the challenges of menopause and how it affects running. They talk about the importance of giving oneself grace during this time and the need for more research on hormone replacement therapy. Jen shares how her running has changed and how she has embraced a slower pace. They also discuss their favorite craft beers and trails in the Phoenix area.



Jens Links

IG - @jenlaughlin_18

@squirls_nut_butter

@aravaiparunning



Things we talked about on the show

Coldwater Rumble

Javelina Jangover

IG - @DirtBagRunners

Black Canyon 100k

Squirrel’s Nut Butter

Chris Thornley

Aravaipa

Run Steep Get High

Mogollon Monster

Tusheers 100k 

Altitude RX

Church Music From the Shop

Hazy Little Things

Made West Hazy 

Burial Bear

Find Your Burial Bear Name

Fonta Flora Brewery

Skyline Regional Park

Verrado Stairs - Victory Steps

If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below.



Sponsor Links: 



Run Trail Life⁠

Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase. 

Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.



⁠Freetrail⁠ 

Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.



MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠

Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠

Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube





Jen Laughlin, marketer, trail runner, social media manager, AeroVipa, Squirrel's Nut Butter, Dirtbag Runners, Run Steep Get High, engagement, community, motherhood, parenting, balancing responsibilities, running, competitive mindset, perimenopause, physical challenges, menopause, challenges, running, grace, hormone replacement therapy, slower pace, craft beer, Phoenix area

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



Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy’s Coaching Page HERE



You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.



Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.



Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE⁠



"I got to run a Horton race while it's still a Horton race and Promised Land is kind of his baby."



In this episode, Troy Meadows and Matt Van Delsem AKA MVD discuss Troy's preparation for the Promised Land 50K race and the history of the event. 

They also highlight the Annual Freetail Memorial Day fundraiser that is centered around Freetrail member Ari Sonnenberg and the Endurance Feat he does every year on Memorial Day Weekend to honor the fallen soldiers in his life.  The fundraiser supports the Wounded Warrior Project and this year there is a big focus to align with running brands that are doing Memorial Day sales to support the cause.

In the second part of the show they unpack all things Promise Land. The race is known for its old-school vibe and challenging course, with over 7,000 feet of elevation gain. They mention the legendary race director, David Horton, who has a long list of accomplishments in the ultra running world. The conversation covers past winners and course records, and Troy expresses his excitement for participating in the race. Troy discusses the Promise Land 50K race and his goals for the event. He talks about the technicality of the course and the challenges it presents. Troy shares his training approach and his plan to enjoy the race as a long training run for future events. He discusses his nutrition strategy and the importance of staying hydrated.

Success for Troy is defined by enjoying the race, engaging with the ultra running community, and finishing in good shape.



MEMORIAL DAY FUNDRAISER LINKS

DONATE HERE

Ari’s Links 

Episode #9 of the Midpacker Pod

Apple

Spotify

Freetrail Articles:

Remembrance

Austerity and Endurance: Dutch Mt Trail FKT

Sitting With Consciousness



Things we talked about on the show.

Promise Land

Hell Gate

GrindStone 100 miler



Dave Horton

Clark Zealand



Troy’s Nutrition for Promise Land

Gu Roctane Sumit Tea

Precision Hydration

Torq

Spring Awesome Sauce



If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below.



Sponsor Links: 

⁠Run Trail Life⁠

Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase. 

Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.

⁠Freetrail⁠ 

Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.



MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠

Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠

Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube



Promised Land 50K, race preparation, Wounded Warrior Project, fallen soldiers, old-school vibe, challenging course, David Horton, race history, past winners, course records, Promise Land 50K, race goals, course technicality, swag, training approach, nutrition strategy, hydration, success

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

Looking for 1:1 Ultra Running Coaching? Check out Troy’s Coaching Page HERE

You can now support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.

Make sure you leave us a rating and review wherever you get your pods.

Want to leave Troy some feedback, recommend a guest, or make a suggestion? ⁠LINK HERE⁠



"I started getting messages from a lot of other guys and dads who were like, hey man, I love seeing somebody who looks like me."

Today on the pod Troy Meadows sits down with Chris Morrison, a stay-at-home father, ultra runner, and content creator, shares his journey of sobriety and how running has played a role in his recovery. He started running in 2012 after completing rehab for alcoholism and found it to be a healthy goal to pursue. Initially focused on road races and PR times, Chris eventually discovered the world of ultra running and trail running, which allowed him to prioritize the joy of running and being in nature over performance. 

As a content creator, Chris documents his running journey on Instagram, where he has built a community of like-minded individuals, particularly fathers and larger runners, who appreciate his relatable and authentic content. In this part of the conversation, Troy and Chris discuss the relatability of Chris's running videos and the experiences of being a runner. They also touch on the topic of women's safety while running and the different perspectives and experiences that people have. 

Chris shares his experience of being voted the best pacer in the world and talks about his role as a pacer in races. They also talk about the Man Against Horse race and the unique format of humans and horses competing against each other.

Chris Morrison shares his experience of running ultras and his upcoming goal of running his first 100-mile race. He discusses the challenges and rewards of trail running, the importance of training and preparation, and the mindset needed to overcome low points during a race.

Chris emphasizes that ultra running is accessible to everyone, regardless of their athletic background or time constraints.

He encourages others to pursue their goals and reminds them that it's never too late to start.



Chris’s Links

IG - @chrismorrison_runs



Things we talked about on the showUltraSignup Best Pacer

Michelle Schroff - @waddellrunninglady

Aravaipa 

Pass Mt 50k

Whiskey Basin

Man Against Horse 50 miler

Pete Mortimer - @pjmortimer

Burro Days

Saddles 100

If you are enjoying the content, please consider supporting our sponsors using the links below.

Sponsor Links: 

⁠Run Trail Life⁠

Use code: midpackerpod to double the donation from your purchase. 

Visit RunTrailLife.com to check out our line of Hats and Organic cotton T's.

⁠Freetrail⁠ 

Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.



MidPacker Pod Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠

Troy Meadows Links: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Strava⁠

Freetrail Links:⁠ Freetrail Pro⁠ | ⁠Patreon⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠YouTube



Chris Morrison, stay-at-home father, ultra runner, content creator, sobriety, running journey, road races, PR times, ultra running, trail running, nature, Instagram, community, relatable, authentic, running, relatability, women's safety, pacer, Man Against Horse race, ultra running, trail running, 100-mile race, training, preparation, mindset, accessibility