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“Through endurance we conquer.”

In this special MidPacker Pod episode, returning guest Julio Palma flips the script and puts Troy Meadows in the hot seat to unpack Troy’s recent finish at the Hellbender 100. What unfolds is an honest and vulnerable conversation about setbacks, growth, mental toughness, and what it really means to keep showing up when things get hard.

Troy opens up about his running journey—from growing up around endurance sports, to rediscovering running after losing both his mother and his dog in the same week, to eventually falling in love with trail and ultra running after reading Born to Run. The conversation also dives deep into Troy’s first 100-mile DNF at Dark Divide and how that experience forced him to reevaluate his mindset, priorities, and relationship with chasing qualifiers for races like Western States and Hardrock.

The heart of the episode centers around Hellbender 100, one of the toughest races on the East Coast. Troy shares how this training block was the strongest of his life, the nutrition struggles and sleep deprivation he battled during the race, and how support from family, friends, and the trail community helped carry him through the darkest moments of the night.

Some key themes from the episode include:

• Using running as a tool for resilience and mental health

• Learning from failure and difficult race experiences

• The balance between chasing qualifiers and enjoying the sport

• Training consistency, durability, and strength work

• Managing low moments during ultras and continuing forward

• The importance of community in trail running

This one is raw, relatable, and full of those classic MidPacker moments where everyday runners chase extraordinary goals.

Relevant Links

• Hellbender 100

• Run828 Foundation

• Laurel Highlands Ultra

• Hellbender Participant Guide

• Hellbender Course Info

• Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

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Hellbender 100, Julio Palma, Troy Meadows, MidPacker Pod, ultra running, trail running, Hardrock qualifier, Western States, DNF, Dark Divide, Laurel Highlands, Run828, endurance, ultramarathon, mental toughness, resilience, Asheville trail running, strength training, ultra mindset, hundred miler, endurance sports, Appalachian trails, race recap, ultrarunning community