DFW Running Talk – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special episode of New Blood: DFW's Young Gals Raising the Bar, Chris sits down with three remarkable athletes who proved that the best training partners are sometimes the ones you never actually train with.

Sisters Maddie Stier (32, Allen, TX) and Grace Chow (29, Washington, DC), along with their close friend Melanie Lassen (34, Casper, WY), came together at the California International Marathon to achieve something extraordinary—all three broke 2:50, finishing within minutes of each other after training separately in three different states.

Maddie stayed rooted in the DFW community, training with the Sloths Running Club by "chasing people faster than her" without a formal plan. Grace hired her first coach, Jordan Hogan (formerly Jordan Hassay), and navigated solo training in the cold, dark mornings of Washington, DC. Melanie moved to Casper, Wyoming, trained at 5,000 feet elevation, and struggled through nearly every workout—barely hitting a single target pace.

But when they reunited in Sacramento for a girls' weekend (no husbands, no kids, just chicken quesadillas and Zootopia), something magical happened. They ran their races separately but together, supporting each other from different parts of the course before meeting at the finish line for a core memory they'll never forget.

Finish times:

• Maddie Stier: 2:47:15 (6:24/mile)
• Melanie Lassen: 2:48:06 (6:25/mile)
• Grace Chow: 2:49:46 (6:29/mile)

This episode captures what makes running special: the power of community that transcends geography, the magic of shared goals, and what happens when you find your people—even when they live 1,500 miles apart. You'll hear about the Mile 20 declaration, the ultra-runner named Jesus who became their hype man for 22 miles, and why Maddie's brother's quote—"If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room"—drives everything they do.

This is the future of running. This is New Blood. And it's happening right now.

Welcome to The OGs: DFW's Running Pioneers - a series dedicated to the runners who built the DFW running community from nothing. These are the originals. The ones who ran when nobody cared, when the shoes were garbage, when there were no gels, barely any water, and definitely no fanfare. They did it because they loved it, and they created the foundation we're all standing on today.

Kerry Little launches the series with an incredible journey: growing up as a swimmer in Illinois, moving to Texas in the early '80s, and discovering she could run - really run. Her first marathon? A 3:15 that would still turn heads today. Multiple Boston qualifiers, Ironman Hawaii, coaching with Luke's training programs, and a current streak of over 3,700 consecutive days of running. Now working at Luke's Locker Dallas (Mockingbird/75) for 17 years, Kerry connects the past to the present, sharing what it really took to be a runner when running was still finding its identity.

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.

Pierce Showe is 24 years old and has already broken a world record, completed three 200-mile races in 90 days, and become the youngest person to finish the ultra marathon triple crown. But his journey started with struggling through a 5K in high school.

In this episode, Pierce shares the Navy SEAL mental strategy that kept him from quitting at mile 60 of his first 200-miler, the brutal moment on day 98 when a camera malfunction forced him to run a full marathon in one day, and why he believes consistency is harder than extreme distance.

We dive into his progression from first half marathon to 240-mile races, his approach to coaching athletes twice his age, the role of faith in his running journey, and his unconventional training philosophy that doesn't require 100-mile weeks.

Whether you're training for your first 5K or contemplating an ultra, Pierce's story proves that incremental progress and mental toughness can take you further than you ever imagined.

Guest: Pierce Showe - Ultra Marathon Runner, World Record Holder, Running Coach

Meet Grace Chow and Maddie Stier—two sisters whose competitive fire has fueled a lifelong running journey that spans from childhood ice hockey rinks in Cleveland to military bases across the globe. Grace, a 7-year Marine Corps veteran and mother of a 1-year-old, embodies the "do what Grace wants to do" mentality that led her to run her first marathon at just 14 years old. Maddie, a Dallas-based mother of three and Sloths running group regular, represents the Type-A planner who thrives on structure and strategic training.

What drives these sisters isn't just sibling rivalry—though Grace admits she originally started running the mile in track simply because Maddie did it first. It's their shared understanding that running is both a personal challenge and a way to maintain identity through life's major transitions. Grace has carried her running through multiple military relocations, deployments to Italy, a CrossFit phase, and new motherhood, always finding ways to adapt without losing the core drive that had her logging 16-mile runs as a teenager. Maddie channels her competitive nature into meticulous training, showing up to track workouts with faster runners and hanging on "for dear life" because she knows that discomfort leads to growth.

Both sisters are currently training for December's California International Marathon—each balancing motherhood with serious training goals. Grace, working with her first-ever coach, hopes to break her 2:57 PR while managing early morning runs around her 1-year-old's schedule. Maddie targets a sub-2:50 breakthrough while coordinating training around three children. Their approach couldn't be more different: Grace thrives on flying by the seat of her pants while learning structure for the first time, while Maddie lives by routine and strategic planning.

Whether it's Grace running cupless marathons in Hawaii while dealing with dehydration, or Maddie maximizing every minute of training time when leaving her husband with the kids, these sisters prove that the drive to run fast comes from embracing challenge, supporting each other across distances, and never losing sight of the competitive spark that started it all in middle school track. They demonstrate that motherhood doesn't diminish athletic ambition—it sharpens the focus and makes every training opportunity count.

In this powerful conversation, Chris Detzel sits down with Theo Murdaugh, founder of Run It Up Dallas, to explore how one man's vision transformed the running landscape for Black and brown communities in Dallas. Starting with just 30-40 runners in March 2023, Theo's movement exploded to 200-300 participants after a single viral video, forcing the group to navigate rapid growth while staying true to its mission.

Theo shares his journey from corporate automotive executive to nonprofit leader, explaining how traditional run clubs often felt intimidating and exclusive to newcomers. Run It Up breaks that mold with DJ music, group stretches, pace groups for every level (including walkers), and a welcoming atmosphere that feels more like a family reunion than a serious training session.

But this isn't just about running. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Run It Up tackles cardiovascular health disparities head-on, partnering with organizations like the Black Heart Association to provide free health screenings and education. With heart disease and hypertension disproportionately affecting Black communities, Theo's work extends far beyond fitness into life-saving health advocacy.

The conversation covers the practical challenges of scaling from a solo operation to a 15-person team, the importance of creating inclusive spaces in predominantly white running culture, and Theo's ambitious plans to take Run It Up to HBCU campuses nationwide. Whether you're interested in community building, health equity, or just want to understand how to make fitness accessible to everyone, this episode offers valuable insights into creating meaningful change through movement.

From beginner walkers to Boston Marathon qualifiers, Run It Up proves that running can be both serious training and joyful community celebration.

In this compelling episode of DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel sits down with Julie Rembold for an in-depth look at one of the most remarkable running journeys you'll ever hear. Julie's story begins at age 37 when she started marathon training with virtually no running background, quickly dropping from a 3:47 debut at Houston Marathon to a 2:51 Boston qualifier in just two years.

But this isn't just a story about fast times. Julie's journey takes a dramatic turn when mysterious health issues began affecting her performance and quality of life. Despite running impressive marathon times, she experienced symptoms ranging from severe fatigue and heart rate irregularities to neurological issues that made her leg feel "disconnected" during runs. For four years, she battled through these challenges while doctors struggled to provide answers.

What makes Julie's story truly extraordinary is how she took her health into her own hands. Using her engineering background and relentless research, she discovered that mineral imbalances—particularly copper and iron deficiency stemming from five pregnancies and breastfeeding—were at the root of her problems. Her recovery involved switching from synthetic supplements to natural nutrition sources, ultimately healing her body completely.

Julie opens up about the challenges of balancing marathon training with raising five children, the support system that made her running possible, and how her husband's leukemia diagnosis affected her first marathon. She also discusses her transition into health coaching, helping others who face similar struggles.

Now at 45, Julie has returned to form with recent marathons under 3 hours and ambitious goals ahead, including a 2:45 target at the Marathon Project in December. Her story is a testament to the power of listening to your body, advocating for your health, and never giving up on your goals.

This episode offers valuable insights for runners dealing with unexplained performance issues, parents trying to balance training with family life, and anyone interested in the connection between nutrition and athletic performance.

Meet Jim Dietz, a 65-year-old retired TI engineer who's been defying age-group expectations with sub-1:20 half marathon times and consistent sub-18-minute 5Ks. In this conversation, Jim takes us back to the golden era of corporate running in the 1980s, when Texas Instruments funded a legendary distance running program that attracted All-Americans and near-Olympic-level talent.

Jim's journey spans 45 years, from watching a New York City Marathon movie in college to becoming part of TI's powerhouse team that could take over entire races at Plano Pacers. He shares the untold story of corporate America's investment in employee wellness through competitive running, complete with national meets, sponsored travel, and workplace cultures that encouraged midday training sessions.

After a 12-year hiatus where he gained 60 pounds, Jim returned to running at 55 and rebuilt himself into one of the most competitive masters runners in the Dallas area. His unconventional training philosophy—running hard every other day at sub-7-minute pace for 50-65 miles per week—flies in the face of traditional coaching wisdom but continues to produce remarkable results.

Beyond the times and training, this episode explores the deep community connections that have sustained Dallas running for decades, from the consistency of Plano Pacers to the enduring friendships formed at White Rock Lake. Jim reflects on retirement, staying injury-free, and why he believes someone breaking the 2:30 marathon barrier locally could inspire a wave of similar achievements.

Whether you're curious about running's corporate history, seeking motivation for masters competition, or wondering how to maintain speed well into your 60s, Jim's story offers both inspiration and practical insights from someone who's truly lived the sport.