2:44 in His First Marathon at 24 — Nick Pencil's Wild Road to Boston

DFW Running Talk: Nick Pencil
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[00:00:00] All right. Welcome to another DFW Running Talk. I'm Chris Tetzel and today's special guest is Nick Pencil. Nick, how's it going? I'm good. How good. How are you Chris? Doing well, man. I appreciate you coming on. Thank you. So we're live from Park Plaza and in Boston the day before the Boston Marathon. A lot of people are coming up getting these interviews.

And Nick, I again, really appreciate you coming on. You have a wild story to me. It's wild. When did you start running, first of all, when? When did that happen? I think I started running back in like all the way back to fourth grade, I think is when I started. We had like a little, it was kind of almost like rec track.

Yeah. If that makes sense. So we had like mini track meets every once in a while and I would honestly do really well. And then one of the practices I was just like, one of the coaches was like, do a mile. Do another one. Yeah. And I just kept going and that's kind of why I think I first discovered I, I was both good at running and I liked it.

Yeah. Um, 'cause I was doing so well. Then I fell into soccer, which I really love soccer. You do a lot of running for soccer, you do a lot of [00:01:00] running. So there was, um, a massive pop pipeline from soccer to cross country in high school. So I was like, oh, cross country is a sport. I'm gonna join the cross country team and see how I do.

Okay. And so that went really well. So I started Did you do that in high school, cross country? I did. Okay. Yeah. So in high school you ran cross country and you were pretty good, or? Yeah, I was. Alright. So, um, my freshman year I was, I was middle of the pack, um Okay. Running like a 19 minute, five day as a freshman.

Yeah. But then sophomore year, junior year and senior year is where it really came to me and I was started running into 17 minute five today. Wow. Okay. Yeah. So, all right. Let's, you did some cross country and Yeah. And you know, we won't get deep into that. I do think that's important to know. Now, when did you get into marathon running?

When, when did that happen? Oh, so that, that happened when I, uh, first joined the group back in September of 2024. Which group is this? Pegasus. Okay. Train Pegasus. Got it. Joined train Pegasus. Yeah, so I actually [00:02:00] joined because. I was playing ultimate Frisbee at the time with some friends in Dallas. Yeah. And I'm like, man, I'm outta shape.

So I mean, this is running exactly in shape. And I realized, oh, this is a marathoning group. I under pressure sometimes has a bad connotation. Yeah. But in, in this sense, I think it was. A really good thing was like, this is a really positive group. They cheer you on in everything you do and you know, I'm gonna give the marathon a shot.

Why not? And how'd you find train Pegasus? Just online or something? Uh, yeah, just online. Yeah. And you're 24, right? I am 24. I think we're up. Alright, so you got into the training and mm-hmm. When did you run your first marathon? Which one was it? So I ran my first marathon in September of 25, so almost one year on the dot later.

Okay. That was just, I joined Pegasus about a year ago or less. Yeah, somewhere around there. I was supposed to do the caramel marathon in April of 24, but that got canceled due to storms. Got it. And so how'd you do on your first marathon? I did really good. I ran a, uh, tour marathon. Your first [00:03:00] marathon, you ran a 2 44?

Yeah, it was, it was really good. I was honestly really surprised, so I was like, I was telling myself going into it, 2 48 is the goal. Yeah. So you still wanted to run fast? I still run to run fairly fast. I come through the half and I look at my watch and I see 1 23 and I'm like, okay, maybe I can go shoot faster for.

2 48. What's your best half? My best half at that time was a one 19. Okay. At Dallas. Got it. 1 23 is pretty quick for, you know, a, uh, marathons. Yeah. All right. And then, you know, was just qualifying for Boston, was it just, Hey, you know, you obviously qualified because I think it's what, three hours for. 24 or, yeah, it was uh, 2 55.

Oh yeah. Yeah. And then you had the cutoff on top of it. That's right. So you easily hit it though, so that's pretty cool. Well, how you feeling now? Well, how's been training been going since you qualified for Boston? So back a week after Houston, so I think it was around January 21st, I actually injured my IT bands.

Oh. [00:04:00] So I had to stop running for about, I think five to six weeks of no training. So finally back in early March, I was cleared to start training again. Um, so it was a very quick ramp up for three weeks of intense ramp up and training. And then, yeah, I only had two weeks of taper, so, okay. So, you know, it's a kind of a, mm-hmm.

So what's your goal then? What, what do you So my goal is, um, still to run like a 2 48 ish. Okay. Um, so I ran the Irving half back, 21st, I think. Okay. Yeah. And I, I ended with a one 17 there, which I, I was really impressed and happy with. Yeah. So I would say that that helps give me an idea of I felt like where I was.

Yeah. And gives me an idea of where I want to be at Boston. Something I didn't ask you is note. What do you think about Boston? What's kind of going into your first one? What's, what's the emotion? Like? How are you feeling? You know, all that kind of stuff. Yeah, so. I think I'm feeling very calm right now. I [00:05:00] was having lunch with my parents and just like a wave of nerves and anxiety just kind of hit me like, wow, I'm in Boston, I'm about to run.

Yeah. One of the biggest races in the world tomorrow. And so it's, it's a lot of walking. I'm not used to walking a lot. Yeah. So I like feel that a little bit, but I think it'll be fine. Everything will work out. And are you resting today? At least? I'm, yeah. I'm resting today. Okay. A lot. Just laying in bed, sitting, doing anything to stay off the legs.

Yeah. Smart. Are you stay, are you staying in the Park Plaza or what? I am staying in the Park Plaza. Okay. That works out. Tell me a little bit about, you know, what the running community has meant to you. Um, you know, through this process. Mm-hmm. It's, it's meant a lot in almost everything to me. I moved to Dallas, um, knowing nobody, uh, just with a job offer.

So thankfully I had a job when I moved to Dallas. From Indiana, when I found the group, I was like, who are these people? Okay, I'll just start running with 'em. Yeah. Um, seeing where it goes from there. And then it turns out they've become my greatest [00:06:00] friends in Dallas and I've spent a few other really close friends Yeah.

That I hang out consistently, not just on runs, but. Outside of runs just regularly on the weekends. That's pretty awesome, man. And, and just, just what you've built just from moving and getting into a running community and, and then running amazingly fast. So, so what is, you know, as, as you kind of go in here, what's your, your thinking for 2026 Boston Marathon, your first one?

Are you soaking it up? Are you enjoying it? Are you listening to others to kinda, you know, what, what are some things that you've been trying to think about? So, um, the biggest source of knowledge for me. Has been Jill Wolf. She is very knowledgeable. She's run a lot of Bostons, so I'm like, I'm listening to her on the things to do things not to do as well as just generic marathon advice that applies to all of 'em.

And then I'm also, I always try and go in the mindset with, there's always another race. This, this helps me calm down and not put. A lot of pressure on [00:07:00] any other race, although it is, it is Boston, and you're like, you're here. You're spending a decent chunk of money and effort to get here. There's, there's always pressure, especially on the, the marathon.

No matter what you're running, like if you've trained for it, there's always some pressure to perform. If you just keep in mind there's another race, I think it's a little easier and less over, and I think that's very good advice because, you know. Right now none of us are doing it professionally and we're not getting paid to do this.

And so, you know, my wife used to always say this all the time, be kind to yourself, you know, it's okay if you have good, bad or whatever race, you know, there's always a race tomorrow. And I think that that's, you know, something that you have to think about, you know, like what things happen in life and, you know, if we all have full-time jobs Exactly.

And we're doing other things, you know, and, and, and a marathon is we don't know what's gonna happen. You know, you could have your best, you best. You know, uh, cycle and, and things like that might, might be really any kind of advice kind of going into this that, you know, hey, [00:08:00] qualifying for Boston or, you know, running your first marathon or, I don't know, any kind of thoughts kind of going into that, you know, that maybe far on others.

Um, I think the biggest thought to me is just. Find people to run with. I think that's the biggest thing. I, I personally really hate running alone. Yeah. Almost to the point where if I'm not with someone, I will miss a run. Yeah. Um, so just finding people to run with and enjoy it. 'cause otherwise it's just gonna be super tedious at times.

Yeah. I said this one time I was. You know, when you're running those 20 miles, 22 miles, even 10 miles for me, you know, it's not really all that fun to do it by yourself. You know? Of course not, not for me. And most people, you know, I, I know some people will say, yeah, I only like to run alone. Well, you know, you're not the majority.

The majority is find some friends to run with and it help you get better, smarter, you know, and, and it, and it keeps you accountable, you know? Um, I think so. Totally. Well, Nick, this has been really good. Really appreciate you coming on. Thanks [00:09:00] for having me. And thank you all for tuning in to another DFW Running Talk.

Go to DFW running talk.substack.com, and let's subscribe to our newsletter. All right, thanks everyone. Thank you. That was awesome. And awesome. Thank you. Yeah.