MidPacker Pod Field Notes – Ep 001 | Reset to Rise: VO2 Max, Intentional Rest & the Road to Hellbender
About this episode
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“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 & Takeaways
- Took a full week off due to illness—highlighting the value of rest as training
- Wrapped a 6–7 week VO2 max block featuring uphill intervals and tempo work
- Kicking off a new 14-week build toward Hellbender 100, with a heavy focus on tempo
- Planning back-to-back races: Hellbender followed by Laurel Highlands 70.5
- Integrating TrainingPeaks to plan and forecast fatigue, fitness, and load management
- Dialing in race nutrition using Hyperlyte Liquid Performance:
- Half strength (50g carbs / 500mg sodium) for endurance runs
- Full strength (100g carbs / 1000mg sodium) for quality workouts
- Samantha crushed her first 50K, on the very trail that sidelined her a year ago
- Paul completed his first 50-miler in Tucson and is training for Sedona Canyons 125
- Training Peaks - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/midpacker/
- A training app as versatile as you. Start your free trial at https://www.trainingpeaks.com/midpacker/
Community Shoutouts
Troy’s Links
IG - @troyontherun
Follow the Show
IG - @midpackerpod
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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