DFW Running Talk

Brent Woodle didn't run competitively in high school or college—he was too busy playing World of Warcraft. But after moving to Dallas at 25 with no friends and a bucket list goal to run a marathon, he joined every running club he could find. Fast forward to today, and Brent is one of the fastest masters runners in DFW, with a 2:28 marathon PR.

In this episode, recorded before the Dallas Marathon (where Brent would go on to run 2:39:05), we dive deep into what it takes to run at an elite level as a masters athlete. Fresh off running 2:28:26 at the Indianapolis Marathon, Brent shares his high-volume training philosophy—100-mile weeks, running twice a day six days per week, tempo-focused workouts over VO2 max intervals, and the importance of making running a daily habit. He opens up about the mental battles of goal-setting, recovering from burnout after Houston Marathon, and the sacrifices required—giving up alcohol during training cycles and prioritizing eight hours of sleep every night.

Whether you're chasing your own PR or curious about what separates good runners from great ones, Brent's story offers candid insights into the discipline, routine, and mental approach needed to compete at the highest level while balancing a 16-year career as a software engineer and raising two young kids.

Episode Highlights:

• How Brent went from casual runner to 2:28 marathoner without running in high school or college
• His high-volume training approach: doubles six days per week, prioritizing frequency over intensity
• Why running two 5-milers is better than one 10-miler for injury prevention and recovery
• Race fueling strategy: consuming 900+ calories during marathons with Maurten gels and mix
• The mental challenge of pacing and avoiding the trap of starting too fast
• Plans for Paris and Chicago marathons in 2026 at age 41
• The importance of running community and lifelong friendships built through the sport

Ruth Atkinson is helping runners of all levels achieve their own breakthroughs as a coach with McKirdy Trained.

In this episode, Ruth shares her unconventional path to running, starting with a spontaneous decision to go for a run instead of watching Grey's Anatomy one night in 2018. With a background in music education and drum corps, Ruth brings a unique perspective to coaching that emphasizes patience, curiosity, and building durable runners through strength training.

We dive deep into her coaching philosophy, including why new marathoners shouldn't set time goals for their first race, the critical importance of fueling (hint: one gel isn't enough), and why single-leg strength training is essential for injury prevention. Ruth also shares practical advice for runners at every level and her powerful message about not counting yourself out, no matter your pace or experience.

Whether you're a beginner contemplating your first 5K or an experienced runner chasing a PR, Ruth's insights will inspire you to stay curious and keep pushing your limits.

Connect with Ruth: McKirdy Trained

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Paul Box is the embodiment of running as adventure. Starting his serious running journey at age 30 with a 3:29 marathon, Paul has become a 12-time Boston Marathon finisher, ultrarunning enthusiast, and two-time World Marathon Challenge finisher (7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days).

As a board member of the Dallas White Rock Marathon, Paul is helping elevate the race by bringing in approximately 150 NAIA Championship athletes and restarting the partnership with Sendai, Japan. He shares his passion for FKTs (Fastest Known Times), running from the Caribbean to the Pacific in Panama, organizing the Waxahatchee 50-miler for 500 runners, and why the 50-mile distance might be the perfect ultra.

Whether you're chasing a BQ, curious about ultras, or dreaming of your next running adventure, Paul's philosophy is simple: go out and find your adventure in this beautiful world.

In this inspiring episode, Chris sits down with Shirley Barbaro, founder of Plano Running Club, to hear one of the most remarkable late-bloomer running stories you'll ever encounter. Shirley didn't run a single mile until 2010, and what started as a reluctant journey at Russell Creek Park in the freezing dark turned into something extraordinary—she won her age group and Boston qualified in her very first marathon just a year later.

But this episode isn't just about personal achievement. Shirley shares the heartwarming story of how she built Plano Running Club from 12 people in 2013 to over 5500 members today, all founded on the same kindness and community support that kept her going as a brand-new runner. From their signature early morning coffee runs to traveling across the country as mobile cheer squads, this club embodies what running community is all about.

Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or someone who's never laced up running shoes, Shirley's story proves it's never too late to start—and that the best reason to build a running club might just be selfishness (you'll have to listen to understand!).

This is a special episode of DFW Running Talk! Host Chris Detzel sits down with Marcus Grunewald (Executive Managing Director) and Jodi Jordan (Operations Director) of the Dallas White Rock Marathon Organization for an announcement you don't want to miss.

BREAKING NEWS Hosted by TUPPS Brewery: The Dallas Marathon organization is launching the McKinney Historic Half Marathon presented by BMW on March 28, 2026! 

Starting at McKinney City Hall and finishing at Tupps Brewery, this inaugural event will feature a half marathon, 5K, and Kids 100M Dash, with proceeds benefiting Scottish Rite for Children of Frisco. Expect around 4,000 runners and the same world-class organization that's made the Dallas Marathon a 54-year tradition.

In this conversation, you'll also learn:

• Marcus's incredible running journey from college beer gut to 50-mile ultramarathons to weightlifting and back to running
• Jodi's transformation from college partier to half Ironman finisher and marathon operations expert
• Behind-the-scenes insights into organizing the 54th annual BMW Dallas Marathon (December 12-14, 2025)
• How the Dallas Marathon team has grown to 5 full-time employees and continues to enhance one of Texas's premier marathons
• Course details, community partnerships, and what makes the Dallas Marathon special
• The unique McKinney course featuring historic downtown, new neighborhoods, and park trails

Whether you're planning to run the BMW Dallas Marathon this December or considering the new McKinney Historic Half in March, this episode gives you the inside scoop from the people who make it all happen.

McKinney Historic Half registration is now OPEN: Register here

In this powerful and candid conversation recorded just weeks before her wedding, Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Cait Keen Harris opens up about a journey that goes far beyond the finish line. Fresh off major surgery for an 11-centimeter fibroid—a condition that took seven years and four doctors to diagnose—Cait shares her story of advocacy, resilience, and what it means to be sidelined from the sport you love.

From her early days running cross country in high school (always the bridesmaid, never the bride at Texas state championships) to qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, Cait traces her evolution as a competitive runner. But this conversation goes deeper than PRs and race strategy. She discusses the physical and mental toll of undiagnosed health issues, the frustration of being dismissed by medical professionals, and how symptoms like extreme fatigue and low iron were too often chalked up to "just being a female runner."

Three weeks post-surgery and juggling wedding preparations, Cait reflects on canceling the Berlin Marathon, navigating recovery without her running community, and learning to slow down for the first time in her life. She shares insights on the psychological effects of major surgery, the importance of finding doctors who listen, and why 2026 might be her year of rebirth—focusing on health, stress management, and running without the gas pedal to the floor.

Whether you're dealing with your own health challenges, training for your next race, or simply love stories of perseverance, this episode offers hope, humor, and a reminder that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is rest.

In this inspiring episode of DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel sits down with Dr. Cornetta Mosley, Run Captain for Run It Up Dallas and professor of audiology at UT Dallas.

Dr. Mosley takes us through her evolution as a runner—from her days as a sprinter and hurdler at Lake Highlands High School, to discovering the meditative power of distance running around the lakes at LSU, all the way to becoming a marathon runner and community leader in Dallas.

But this conversation goes far beyond personal PRs. Netta opens up about the radical work Run It Up is doing to create space for Black and Brown runners in a sport that has historically lacked diversity. She shares the philosophy behind what she calls "the beautiful bait and switch"—attracting people with the energy and community, then watching them fall in love with running itself.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• How running became Netta's "most successful relationship" and mental escape
• The transition from competitive sprinting to finding freedom in distance running
• Why representation matters in running and on the podium
• The Run It Up Foundation's impact through health clinics, screenings, and literacy programs
• The transformative "Get Off the Couch" program and its life-changing results
• How community and leadership create sustainable change in people's lives

Whether you're a seasoned runner or just getting started, this episode will remind you why running is about so much more than miles—it's about building community, creating opportunity, and transforming lives.

Connect with Run It Up Dallas on Instagram and join a movement that's changing the face of running in DFW.

In this refreshingly honest episode of DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel sits down with Madeleine Rouse, a runner whose story defies every typical running origin story you've ever heard.

Forget soccer. Madeleine's athletic background includes figure skating (where she admits she wasn't very good), horseback riding, swimming, and playing third-string field hockey while "running aimlessly up and down the field" to look busy. She never touched a soccer ball growing up and was "painfully uncoordinated in every area of my life."

Fast forward to adulthood, and Madeleine pulled off one of the most dramatic marathon progressions you'll hear: 3:25 to 3:19 to 2:50 in just three marathons. That's a 35-minute drop that she describes as her "magical season" - a breakthrough that seemed almost impossible.

But this isn't just another "I got really fast" story. Madeleine opens up about what comes after the breakthrough - the pressure, the expectations, and the reality of trying to maintain elite performance after having twins. She candidly discusses feeling like she's been "running into a brick wall," the temptation to retire after achieving her PR, and the slow process of rediscovering her motivation.

From choosing theater over track in middle school to training with "The Sloths" in Dallas, Madeleine's journey is equal parts inspiring and relatable. Whether you're chasing your first PR or struggling to recapture past glory, this conversation about resilience, self-compassion, and finding joy in running again will resonate deeply.

Tune in for an authentic discussion about the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

In this episode of DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel sits down with Kendall Rose, a rising star in the Dallas running community who's quickly making her mark as both an elite marathoner and certified running coach.

Kendall shares her inspiring journey from a burned-out college athlete who barely ran during her time at Texas A&M to a sub-3:05 marathoner with her sights set on breaking 3 hours at the 2025 California International Marathon (CIM). Along the way, she opens up about:

Running Highlights:

• Her unconventional return to running through a golden doodle puppy and F45 classes
• A breakthrough first half marathon (1:35) that led to marathon training
• The painful lessons from her first marathon at Irving (3:36)
• Earning her Boston Qualifier at Houston 2023 (3:22)
• The emotional experience of running Boston 2024
• Her stunning 18-minute PR at CIM 2024 (3:04:51) and the strategic race execution that made it possible

Coaching & Community:

• How she became RRCA certified and started coaching runners remotely
• Her role as a CIM Ambassador and what that means
• Leading the Not Your Average Run Club's half marathon training program with 34 runners
• The importance of building running community in Dallas and her connections with Pegasus, White Rock Running Co-op, and Frisco Running Club

Race Strategy Insights: Kendall provides fascinating insights into her strategic approach to racing, including how she studied the CIM course, executed a nearly perfect race plan, and made a bold mid-race decision at mile 13 to test her sub-3 hour potential. She discusses the art and science of coaching, the importance of trial and error in racing, and why sometimes you need to blow up at a 5K to learn how to pace properly.

Whether you're chasing your first PR, looking for coaching insights, or trying to find your running community in Dallas, Kendall's story offers valuable lessons about smart training, strategic racing, and the power of showing up consistently—even when you're shy and don't know anyone yet.

Connect with Kendall Rose: https://www.runstrongwithkendall.com/ 

In this inspiring episode, Chris sits down with Dustin Darakhshan, a Richardson-based runner and coach whose transformation story is nothing short of remarkable. After a 20-year hiatus from competitive running, Dustin went from 235 pounds and unable to run a mile in February 2020 to running a 2:34 marathon at St. George just three years later.

Dustin opens up about his early running career in high school, his journey through college and young adulthood where fitness took a back seat, and the pivotal moment after his son's birth that sparked his return to running. He shares the emotional connection to his late father, a Boston Marathon finisher, and how honoring his memory drove him to chase—and ultimately achieve—his own Boston qualifying time.

Throughout the conversation, Dustin discusses:

• His dramatic weight loss of 50+ pounds in six months
• Running three major marathons (Boston, Chicago, and New York) in 2022
• The power of running with faster people and the Dallas Sloths running group
• His transition into coaching beginners and first-time marathoners
• Dealing with an inguinal hernia injury and his comeback journey
• Balancing training with a full-time job and family life
• Why he believes in focusing on the process over the numbers

This episode is perfect for anyone looking for motivation, whether you're just starting your running journey or chasing your next PR.