MidPacker Pod Field Notes – Ep 001 | Reset to Rise: VO2 Max, Intentional Rest & the Road to Hellbender

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 PageSTOKED TO PARTNER WITH  HYPERLYTE LIQUID PERFORMANCE - 10% off your orderTRAINING PEAKS - 20% off a premium annual subscriptionUSE PROMO CODE MIDPACKER FOR A SWEET DISCOUNT“It’s not weakness to rest. It’s part of the long game.”In the very first edition of MidPacker Field Notes, host Troy Meadows pulls back the curtain on his early 2026 training season, offering a raw, honest check-in on life, recovery, and what's ahead. Coming off a tough bout of sickness in January, Troy talks about the importance of intentional rest, easing back into structured training, and setting the tone for the Hellbender 100.Listeners get a peek into Troy's latest training block, complete with hill repeats, tempo intervals, and long endurance sessions, along with shoutouts to athletes in the MidPacker coaching community and updates on his race calendar.This is a solo episode with real talk, actionable insights, and a strong reminder: rest is part of the work.Training Highlights & TakeawaysTook a full week off due to illness—highlighting the value of rest as trainingWrapped a 6–7 week VO2 max block featuring uphill intervals and tempo workKicking off a new 14-week build toward Hellbender 100, with a heavy focus on tempoPlanning back-to-back races: Hellbender followed by Laurel Highlands 70.5Integrating TrainingPeaks to plan and forecast fatigue, fitness, and load managementDialing in race nutrition using Hyperlyte Liquid Performance:Half strength (50g carbs / 500mg sodium) for endurance runsFull strength (100g carbs / 1000mg sodium) for quality workoutsCommunity ShoutoutsSamantha crushed her first 50K, on the very trail that sidelined her a year agoPaul completed his first 50-miler in Tucson and is training for Sedona Canyons 125Troy’s LinksIG - @troyontherunTroy’s Ultra Coaching PageFind me on StravaFollow the ShowIG - @midpackerpodRelevant LinksHellbender 100Laurel Highlands UltraSedona Canyons 125Barkley Fall ClassicLooking Glass 100kPartner Links: Hyerlyte Liquid Performance - https://www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comMade by the ultra-endurance athlete, for the ultra-endurance athlete.More Carbs, More Dirt, More Miles.Check them out at hyperlyteliquidperformance.comUse the code MIDPACKER for 10% off your individual order and 10% off your first subscription order.“The Kid” Hans Troyer DocumentaryTraining Peaks - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/midpacker/A training app as versatile as you. Start your free trial at  https://www.trainingpeaks.com/midpacker/Use MIDPACKER at checkout for 20% off an Annual Premium Subscription⁠Run Trail Life⁠ - https://runtraillife.com/Find Official MPP Merch on RTL!!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 - https://freetrail.com/Visit Freetrail.com to sign up today.VO2 max, Hellbender 100, Laurel Highlands Ultra, TrainingPeaks, Hyperlyte, solo episode, ultrarunning, rest and recovery, tempo block, uphill intervals, Sedona Canyons 125, coaching, winter training, endurance, community shoutouts, pacing, fueling, running mindset