DFW Running Talk

Chris Detzel
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Running
  • Updated Weekly

"DFW Running Talk" is a podcast dedicated to the vibrant running community in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Each episode features in-depth conversations with local running experts, including coaches, athletes, race directors, and dieticians. We explore training tips, upcoming events, nutrition advice, and inspiring stories from the DFW running scene. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or a casual jogger, tune in to connect with and learn from the diverse voices shaping our local running culture.

  1. 4d ago

    Pete Johnson: 1:05:11 Half Marathon Debut, Steeplechase Success and a 2:16 CIM Goal

    Pete Johnson ran 1:05:11 in his first half marathon, averaging roughly five-minute-mile pace at the Houston Half Marathon. Now, the former University of Tulsa and Central Arkansas runner is preparing for his marathon debut at the California International Marathon, where he hopes to begin chasing the 2:16 Olympic Trials qualifying standard. In this episode of DFW Running Talk, Pete joins host Chris Detzel to share his complete running journey—from discovering cross country at Plano West to competing in NCAA track, cross country and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Pete explains how an honest conversation with a college coach changed his mindset, pushed him to take training more seriously and helped him recognize his potential. He also discusses running 90–100-mile weeks, recording an 8:49 steeplechase, completing an 8K cross-country race in 23:39 and making the transition from collegiate racing to elite-level half-marathon and marathon training. The conversation covers:  How Pete ran 1:05:11 in his half-marathon debut  His Houston Half Marathon race strategy  Training at the University of Tulsa and Central Arkansas  The impact great coaches had on his development  Steeplechase, cross-country and track racing  High-mileage training and staying healthy  Preparing for his first marathon at CIM  His long-term Olympic Trials ambitions  Balancing a physical therapy career with competitive running This episode is for runners interested in half-marathon training, marathon preparation, elite running, NCAA cross country, steeplechase, high-mileage training and the California International Marathon. Follow DFW Running Talk for conversations with runners, coaches, race directors and the people shaping the Dallas–Fort Worth running community.  Website: www.dfwrunningtalk.com Newsletter: dfwrunningtalk.substack.com Instagram, TikTok and YouTube: @dfwrunningtalk

    Pete Johnson: 1:05:11 Half Marathon Debut, Steeplechase Success and a 2:16 CIM Goal

  2. Jul 21

    How Chris Shelton Found His Tribe with the McKinney Running Club

    Chris Detzel sits down with Chris Shelton of the McKinney Running Club for a story that starts with a competitive streak and turns into a full-blown love for running and community. Chris shares how it began in 2018 when his boss signed him up for the RAR 5K, why his very first training run (1.32 miles at a 16:23 pace) proves everyone starts somewhere, and how joining the McKinney Running Club in 2021 changed everything — from a bloody-shirt lesson on his second group run to jumping straight from a 10K to the Houston Marathon. We also get into running with a group to make the hard miles bearable, still chasing that sub-4-hour marathon, setting age-group PRs, what it actually takes to run a club, and the return of the McKinney Historic Half. Whether you're brand new or a seasoned marathoner, it's a reminder that the sport is about a lot more than pace. Subscribe to the newsletter: dfwrunningtalk.substack.com Rate, review, and let us know who we should feature next.

    How Chris Shelton Found His Tribe with the McKinney Running Club

  3. Jul 13

    From a 5-Hour Marathon to 2:34 in Berlin | Troy Castle’s Work-Ethic Blueprint

    How did former SMU football player Troy Castle go from a painful five-hour first marathon to a 2:34 finish at the Berlin Marathon? On DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel sits down with the Dallas runner and two-time Irving Marathon winner to explore the marathon training, Ironman endurance base, Boston-qualifying breakthrough, Texas heat preparation, threshold workouts, and relentless consistency behind his transformation. Troy also explains how he balances serious running with three young children, why the Dallas running community changed his training, and what runners can learn from his pursuit of a sub-2:30 marathon.

    From a 5-Hour Marathon to 2:34 in Berlin | Troy Castle’s Work-Ethic Blueprint

  4. Jul 6

    Miranda Hyvl: 7x Boston, 23 Marathons, and Why She Built The Run House in Rockwall

    Miranda Hyvl started running 14 years ago with a couch-to-5K program as a busy mom just trying to get in shape. Today she's run 23 marathons, finished Boston seven times, checked off five of the six World Marathon Majors, and become an RRCA-certified coach — all while raising five kids in a blended family. But Miranda's biggest impact might be off the racecourse. When Rockwall's running community found itself scattered across grocery store parking lots with no home base, she and her husband built one: The Run House, a membership-based recovery lounge and running club that's become the heartbeat of running east of the lake. In this episode, Chris and Miranda talk about: How she went from a couch-to-5K program to a 3:26 marathon PRBalancing training with five kids — and the scheduling system that saved her marriage milesWhy she tells first-time marathoners to throw out their time goalsThe origin story of The Run House and its recovery lounge (compression boots, sauna, and all)Her coaching philosophy: weekly customized plans, not 16-week templates from ChatGPTBoston rituals, chasing the 10-year streak, and the one major left before six starsThe Rockwall Mile and what's next for racing in RockwallSubscribe to the newsletter at dfwrunningtalk.substack.com and follow DFW Running Talk wherever you get your podcasts.

    Miranda Hyvl: 7x Boston, 23 Marathons, and Why She Built The Run House in Rockwall

  5. May 25

    Neil Robinson: A 40-Minute PR and a Boston Qualifier at 52

    Neil Robinson started running seriously in his 40s, ran a 4:53 first marathon he swore would be his last, and then — at 52 — ran a 3:16:24 Boston Qualifier. This is the story of the slow build: years of run-walking, the nutrition and training lessons from the White Rock Running Co-op crowd, Pfitzinger plans, 1,960-mile years, and the mindset shift of learning to push through discomfort. A conversation about getting faster as you get older, the heart-health stakes that started it all, and why the running community is the real reason to keep showing up.  Subscribe at dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

    Neil Robinson: A 40-Minute PR and a Boston Qualifier at 52

  6. May 20

    FIFA World Cup Countdown to the Cup 5K: Inside Dallas' Last Big Race Before the World Cup with Cindy Solomon & Eric Lindberg

    Eleven days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North Texas, runners and soccer fans are converging on The Sound at Cypress Waters for the Countdown to the Cup 5K — and in this episode, I get the full story from the two people making it happen. Cindy Solomon of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee and Eric Lindberg of On Your Left Marketing & Events join me to break down the race: the cup-shaped finisher medal, the brand-new USATF-certified course with a downhill finish, age group awards featuring the official Dallas World Cup ball, the Flying Saucer after-party, and the virtual option that's pulling registrations from across the country. We also go way beyond the 5K. Cindy walks through everything the Organizing Committee is doing — the FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park (free, open to the public, 96 of 104 matches shown live), the Unity Cup youth soccer tournament, 26 mini pitches going into underserved communities, Dallas hosting nine matches including the July 14 semifinal, and why this is the first World Cup on U.S. soil since 1994. Eric also makes the case for why this is one of the last major DFW running events before the calendar goes dark for the summer — most races June through July moved their dates because of the World Cup. Register: https://www.countdowntothecup5k.com/ Save 15%: Code DFWRG Adults: $60 | Youth (12 & under): $30 Dallas 5K, FIFA World Cup 2026 Dallas, North Texas running events, Countdown to the Cup 5K, On Your Left Marketing, Cypress Waters race, USATF certified 5K Dallas, virtual 5K 2026.

  7. May 18

    Drew Martig: Self-Coaching to a 2:28 Marathon, Altitude Training in Flagstaff & Berlin Race Day

    Drew Martig started running at 27 — talked into a 5K by his CMO at Checkpoint Software. Less than a decade later, he ran 2:28 at the Berlin Marathon while self-coaching from his home in Flagstaff, Arizona. In this conversation, Chris Detzel and Drew (Tanium teammates and fellow distance runners) get into the nuts and bolts of building real marathon fitness on limited time. Drew opens up about leaving structured coaching to design his own plans, why he caps mileage around 70-90 per week, and how altitude in Flagstaff changes everything — including measurable shifts in red blood cell count and ferritin after just three weeks at 7,000 feet. We cover: → Drew's journey from no athletic background to 2:28 marathoner → Why "running by feel" beat structured pace-chasing for him → The Berlin Marathon: pre-race nerves, hip flexor niggles, negative splitting through 50,000 people → Self-coaching vs hiring a coach — the real tradeoffs → Why strength training prevents most running injuries → ChatGPT coaches, AI training plans, and the value of human mentorship → Coming back from September hernia surgery for a Chicago Marathon fall goal → Heat training in Texas vs altitude in Arizona → Why community matters even when you train alone A grounded, honest conversation between two working runners who balance demanding corporate careers, family life, and serious training goals. Subscribe to DFW Running Talk for new episodes weekly. Newsletter: dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

    Drew Martig: Self-Coaching to a 2:28 Marathon, Altitude Training in Flagstaff & Berlin Race Day

  8. May 11

    The DFW Running Legend: Nick Polito's 19-Year Journey From Nike+ iPod to Western States 100

    Nick Polito is a DFW running institution — 60 marathons, 30+ ultras, a 2:58 Boston PR, a Western States 100 buckle, and 19 straight years of high-mileage training. He founded Dallas Running Project, helped shape White Rock Running Club, and has paced 40-50 races for runners chasing their own goals. He's also the rare runner willing to tell on himself: in this episode, Nick shares the full story of banditing Boston, getting caught, and the suspension that followed — a cautionary tale he now uses to warn other runners. Chris Detzel and Nick cover everything from the early DRC days, the legendary "3:20 or Bust" Runner's World forum, training Nicole Bitter for her first 50-miler at Palo Duro, the super shoe revolution, and what it actually takes to stay motivated for two decades of running. If you've ever run at White Rock Lake, lined up at Plano Pacers, or wondered what the DFW running scene looked like before Pegasus existed — this is the episode. Listen, follow, and share with a running friend. 📬 www.dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

    The DFW Running Legend: Nick Polito's 19-Year Journey From Nike+ iPod to Western States 100
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

"DFW Running Talk" is a podcast dedicated to the vibrant running community in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Each episode features in-depth conversations with local running experts, including coaches, athletes, race directors, and dieticians. We explore training tips, upcoming events, nutrition advice, and inspiring stories from the DFW running scene. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or a casual jogger, tune in to connect with and learn from the diverse voices shaping our local running culture.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Detzel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © @ 2026 DFW Running Talk
  • Show Website
    DFW Running Talk