Behind the Scenes: Dallas Marathon Leaders Marcus Grunewald & Jodi Jordan Reveal New McKinney Race + December Details

Chris Detzel is the passionate host and creator of "DFW Running Talk," the premier podcast dedicated to showcasing the vibrant running community across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Since launching the show in October 2024, Chris has established himself as a central voice in North Texas running culture, conducting in-depth conversations with elite athletes, coaches, race directors, and inspiring everyday runners who define the region's diverse running scene. As both interviewer and active participant in the DFW running community, Chris brings an authentic perspective shaped by years of personal running experience. While he describes himself as primarily a half marathon runner rather than a marathoner - citing the extensive training commitment and unpredictability of marathon race day - his deep knowledge of running culture spans the full spectrum from 5Ks to ultramarathons. His preference for half marathons stems from their balance of challenge and accessibility, allowing him to race monthly without the intensive training demands of longer distances. Chris's connection to elite running runs through his family - his wife Lea Ivy is an accomplished marathoner who has completed the Boston Marathon 12 times consecutively, achieving a personal best of 3:14 at age 45. This personal connection to high-level competition, combined with his own running journey, gives Chris unique insight into both the elite and recreational sides of the sport. He often travels to Boston to support Lea's racing and has become part of the broader running community that gathers around major events like the Boston Marathon. Through DFW Running Talk, Chris has created more than just a podcast - he's built a platform that celebrates the depth and diversity of North Texas running talent. His interviews reveal the stories behind local legends, from sub-3:00 marathoners to innovative coaches, from race directors creating memorable experiences to everyday runners achieving extraordinary personal transformations. The show has featured conversations with accomplished athletes like Shantel Cloud (sub-3:00 marathoner), Travis Dowd (Dallas Marathon winner), and Mimi Smith (Olympic Trials competitor), alongside community builders and running industry professionals. What sets Chris apart as a host is his ability to connect with guests on multiple levels - as a fellow runner who understands training cycles and race strategy, as a community member invested in the local running scene, and as a skilled interviewer who draws out both technical insights and personal stories. His approach prioritizes authentic conversation over surface-level inspiration, resulting in episodes that offer genuine value to runners of all levels. Based in the Dallas area, Chris continues to grow DFW Running Talk's reach across multiple platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube, while maintaining strong connections to local running organizations like Dallas Running Club and participating in the broader Texas running community. His work documents and celebrates a running culture that he believes is "way more badass than it has any right to be."

Jodi Jordan's running journey is proof that athletic ability isn't something you're born with — it's something you build.In high school, Jodi played field hockey and was a cheerleader, but she'll be the first to tell you she wasn't athletic. Her nickname on the field hockey team? "The Ref" — because she spent most of her time standing on the sidelines. Fast forward to today, and she's the Operations Director for one of Texas's most prestigious running events, the BMW Dallas Marathon.Jodi discovered running in her twenties as a way to get healthier after what she describes as being "quite the partier" during and after college. A friend convinced her to join the Riot (Running Institute of Texas) training group at Run-on, and she started with a half marathon — her first being the Allstate 13.1 that started at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. From there, she progressed to her first full marathon at the Oklahoma City Marathon.But Jodi didn't stop at marathons. She went on to complete multiple half Ironman triathlons, proving that the girl who once stood on the sidelines could compete at the highest levels of endurance sports.Now, as Operations Director for the Dallas White Rock Marathon Organization, Jodi brings her personal understanding of what runners need and want to one of the largest marathon organizations in Texas. She's part of the team that's not only maintaining the 54-year tradition of the BMW Dallas Marathon but also expanding with new events like the McKinney Historic Half Marathon in March 2026.Her transformation from non-athlete to endurance athlete to race operations leader embodies the spirit of the running community: anyone can start, everyone can improve, and with dedication, you can go further than you ever imagined.

Marcus Grunewald's relationship with running started with an insult and a beer gut. In college, Marcus went on one run with a running group and decided it was "for the birds." He didn't think about running again until after graduation when he moved to Dallas and his fraternity brother (and new roommate) looked at him and said, "You're getting fat." Marcus looked down and realized he'd developed a 10-pound beer gut. His roommate Rick, who had run all through college, got him into running — and it stuck. What started as a way to lose weight became a lifelong passion. Rick took Marcus to his first race — the Run to Reunion 5-miler back in the early 1980s — where Marcus made the rookie mistake of starting on the front line and sprinting like it was the 100-yard dash. He made it maybe 50 yards before he doubled over, unable to breathe. But that was the hook. For the next several months, Marcus ran a race every weekend, constantly improving, and eventually progressed from barely finishing a 5-miler to completing marathons, ultramarathons, and even a 50-mile race (Raccoon Mountain). In his thirties, nagging running injuries led Marcus to explore weightlifting and bodybuilding. During a bike ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI), he met someone who alternated different sports to stay healthy, which inspired Marcus's pivot. He dove into weightlifting with the same intensity he'd brought to running, going from his running weight of 165 pounds to 205 pounds — with actually less body fat. He maintained his bodybuilding focus for a decade until, at age 50, he walked into the YMCA, picked up the barbells once, put them down, and said goodbye to weightlifting. He returned to running and racing, and has been largely injury-free ever since. Today, as Executive Managing Director of the Dallas White Rock Marathon Organization, Marcus leads the team that produces the 54th annual BMW Dallas Marathon and has just announced the launch of the McKinney Historic Half Marathon. When he first took over as race director, he told the board his main job was simple: "maintain and or enhance the reputation of the race." Under his leadership, the organization has grown from a respected regional event to one of the premier marathons in Texas, complete with five full-time employees and a reputation for excellence. Marcus still runs regularly — you might see him on the trails at White Rock Lake or the Katy Trail — and brings his decades of personal running experience to every decision the organization makes. Whether it's understanding what runners need at mile 20 of a marathon or knowing how to design a course that showcases a community while challenging athletes, Marcus has literally run the distance himself. His philosophy is simple: focus on safety first, listen to runner feedback, and put on the kind of race that runners are excited to talk about — whether they see you at the lake or behind a computer. As he puts it, he'd rather "be out in the woods running around like a little boy than behind a computer for eight hours." And that's exactly the kind of person you want organizing your next race.