#118 Troy Meadows & Julio Palma | Hellbender 100, Battling the DNF Demons, & Through Endurance We Conquer

The MidPacker Pod is part of the Freetrail network of Podcasts.Join the Newsletter at: ⁠MidPack Musings SubStack⁠⁠Support the MidPacker Pod on ⁠Patreon⁠.⁠Check Out MPP Merch 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 PageCheck out the Gear I love HERE on rendezvu.coSTOKED TO PARTNER WITH  PLAY ON RELIEF - 20% off your first orderTRAINING PEAKS - 20% off a premium annual subscriptionVACATION RACES - 15% off any Ultra, Half Marathon, or Trailfest“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 healthLearning from failure and difficult race experiencesThe balance between chasing qualifiers and enjoying the sportTraining consistency, durability, and strength workManaging low moments during ultras and continuing forwardThe importance of community in trail runningThis one is raw, relatable, and full of those classic MidPacker moments where everyday runners chase extraordinary goals.Relevant LinksHellbender 100Run828 FoundationLaurel Highlands UltraHellbender Participant GuideHellbender Course InfoLaurel Highlands Hiking TrailPartner Links: PlayOn Relief - https://playonrelief.comAll Natural, Fast Acting, Long Lasting, Targeted Relief<p