Recorded live at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, Kevin Hebert joins Chris Detzel to talk about what it feels like to finally be here — at the Super Bowl of marathons. From his CIM debut to a tougher training block with double workout weeks, Kevin opens up about running with his wife Brooke and 10-year-old son Gus, the electric Boston energy, and chasing a sub-3:00 on one of the hardest courses in the world. 

Nick Pencil moved to Dallas knowing nobody, found Train Pegasus, and ran a 2:44 in his very first marathon. Now he's toeing the line at the 2026 Boston Marathon after battling an IT band injury that sidelined him for six weeks just months before race day. Chris catches up with Nick live from the Hilton Boston Park Plaza the day before the race. They talk about going from fourth-grade track meets to high school cross country to marathon running, how a running community became his social lifeline in a new city, and why his simple mindset — "there's always another race" — is what keeps the nerves in check. 

Jana Kizakova ran her first marathon in 2017 on a New Year's resolution dare — finished in 3:44 and swore she'd never do it again. She meant it. Five years went by with zero marathons. Then a quiet moment on a seawall in Vancouver changed everything.

Inspired by the memory of a former manager named Alex who ran alongside her on her worst training days, Jana set a single condition: if she was going to run again, she had to qualify for Boston. What followed was nine marathons, a pair of shoes that literally fell apart mid-race, a heartbreaking near-miss on the cutoff, and finally — a 3:19 at the Mountain to Beach Marathon in Ventura, California.

This is her first Boston, and she's running every mile with Alex's name on her shirt.

We sat down with Jana at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza the day before the race. Don't miss this one.

Recorded live at the Hilton Park Plaza in Boston, Chris sits down with Train Pegasus coach and Dallas running legend Alfonzo "Fonz" Gonzales on the eve of his 10th Boston Marathon. Fonz breaks down why he keeps coming back year after year (hint: it's not for himself), shares his race-day strategy for 2026 — a disciplined progression run targeting around 2:45 while using Boston as a tune-up for the Sendai Half Marathon — and drops timeless advice on how to survive the Newton Hills and attack after Heartbreak. If you've ever gone out too hot at Boston, this one's for you. 

Eli Rodriguez went from tearing his rotator cuff as a bodybuilder to qualifying for Boston — twice — in just a few years of running. In this live episode recorded at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza the day before the 2026 Boston Marathon, Eli shares how he went sub-3 in only his second marathon, what he learned from his first Boston, and why he's chasing a 2:49 this year. Plus, his take on how run clubs like Trained Pegasus changed everything. 

What does it take to go from nearly 200 pounds and no fitness routine to crossing the finish line of the world's most iconic marathon? For Kathy Smith, it took 16 years of walking, jogging, stress fractures, 100+ half marathons, two volunteer stints at the Boston finish line — and finally, a lottery win through her employer, Bank of America.

Recorded live at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza during 2026 Boston Marathon weekend, this conversation with Chris Detzel is raw, emotional, and deeply motivating. Kathy talks about what it meant to help wheelchair athletes at the finish line, why she never chased a BQ, and the corner near the medical tent she plans to run to the moment she crosses Boylston Street.

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start running or too big a dream to reach Boston — Kathy's story is your answer.

🎙️ DFW Running Talk | Part of the Boston Bound: DFW's Road to Hopkinton Series 📬 dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

The "Boston Bound: DFW's Road to Hopkinton" series ends here — with Alan Schonborn, one of the most beloved figures in DFW running. At 67, Alan is heading to his 11th Boston Marathon. He literally lives around the corner from the finish line. He guides blind runners with Achilles International.

And it all started with a mastiff who wouldn't let him quit. Alan opens up about finding community through Dallas Running Club and White Rock Running Co-op, getting his Boston Qualifier with the help of a stranger who took his watch mid-race, and what it truly means to run Boston year after year — not for the time, but for the people. This is the final episode before race day, April 20, 2026. If you're running Boston, chasing a BQ, or just love stories about why running changes lives — this one's for you.

Panther City Ultra (May 16 | Marion Sansom Park, Fort Worth) — Use code DFW for 10% off 
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DFW Running Talk | Hosted by Chris Detzel Subscribe at dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

Bobby Mack of Aubrey, TX didn't lace up his first pair of running shoes until he was nearly 40. Now he's a two-time Boston finisher, Abbott Six Star chaser, and Berlin PR holder (3:11) — and on April 20, 2026, he's heading back to Hopkinton with one goal: a clean, healthy sub-3:20. In this episode of our Boston Bound: DFW's Road to Hopkinton series, Bobby opens up about qualifying for Boston with a razor-thin margin, getting cut not once but twice, running two marathons in four weeks, catching COVID in peak week, and how running with the Endorphins group at White Rock Lake reignited his Boston fire. He even ran Tokyo — as a long training run — just weeks before race day. Perfect for: marathon runners,
Boston qualifiers, Abbott Six Star chasers, late bloomers, and anyone who knows the sting of being cut from the field you earned. 

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🏅 Panther City Ultra May 16 | Code: DFW for 10% off | Rise Racing Co. Register here: https://www.riseracingco.com/panther-city-ultra

Dr. Mark Denny has run Boston 11 times. He's completed 100+ marathons across all 7 continents. And he was on a bus to the starting line the morning the 2013 bombs went off. In this episode, the 67-year-old DFW runner opens up about the moment an 81-year-old doctor — on his 41st Boston — leaned in nose-to-nose and quietly dismantled everything Mark thought running was about. Heading back to Hopkinton for the 2026 Boston Marathon on April 20th, Mark reflects on a running life built on friendship, discipline, and learning to enjoy the journey over the finish time.

Part of our "Boston Bound: DFW's Road to Hopkinton" series — 10 episodes, 10 DFW runners heading to Boston.

Panther City Ultra | May 16 | Marion Sansom Park, Fort Worth | Code DFW = 10% off: Register here: https://www.riseracingco.com/panther-city-ultra

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Angela Awald didn't start running until her thirties — already a mom of six. After a miscarriage, postpartum depression, and seasonal depression, she turned to running to trust her body again. She pushed a double jogging stroller through her early miles, worked through an IT band injury, and still ran a 3:45:21 at the Philadelphia Marathon to qualify for Boston. Then she ran 3:39 at Buffalo. Then 3:37 at Wineglass. Now she's heading to her first Boston Marathon as a mom of seven.

In this episode, Angela talks about balancing marathon training with a big family, hiring a coach for the first time, and why investing in yourself is one of the best lessons you can pass on to your kids.

Part of the Boston Bound: DFW's Road to Hopkinton series — 10+ DFW runners, one iconic race.

Brought to you by Rise Racing Co. — Panther City Ultra, May 16th, Marion Sansom Park, Fort Worth. Use code DFW for 10% off. Register today https://www.riseracingco.com/panther-city-ultra 

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