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“The $hittiest mile in a hundred miler would still probably be better than the mile I could run at 85.”

This week on the MidPacker Pod, Troy Meadows sits down with Ryan Thrower for one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations the show has had in a while. Ryan opens up about his journey from bartending in Indianapolis and living out of his car while exploring the American West… to becoming one of the key creative voices behind Freetrail and modern trail running media.

The conversation dives deep into curiosity, creativity, and learning to say yes to opportunity before you feel ready. Ryan shares stories about discovering trail running through Born to Run and Eat and Run, volunteering at Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run, and eventually building a life around storytelling, mountains, music, and community.

The two also unpack Ryan’s unique approach to ultrarunning—especially his love for “step-for-step” adventures with friends at races like the Swiss Alps 100 and upcoming adventures filming Courtney Dauwalter at Cocodona 250 and running the Mammoth.

But the heart of this episode centers around a bigger topic: the fragility of life. Ryan reflects on gratitude, staying present, creative burnout, and why even the hardest miles are gifts when viewed through the right lens.

Topics Discussed

• Building a creative career in trail running media

• Music, photography, and storytelling

• Freetrail, TrailCon, and race-week chaos

• Step-for-step ultrarunning adventures

• The power of curiosity and learning in public

• Gratitude and the fragility of life

• Mammoth training and redefining “moseying”

Ryan’s Links

IG: @ryanthrower

@freetrail

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• Freetrail

• Cocodona 250

• Western States Endurance Run

• The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman

• Freetrail YouTube Channel

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Ryan Thrower, Freetrail, trail running, ultrarunning, Cocodona 250, Western States, Mammoth, storytelling, photography, music, creativity, gratitude, fragility of life, ultramarathon, trail culture, Dylan Bowman, community, endurance sports, trail media, curiosity