Beyond the Unicorn: DFW's Fastest Female Marathoners Take on Boston

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."

Jill Wolf is an accomplished marathon runner based in Dallas, Texas. Her running journey began in seventh grade with cross country, where she excelled as a varsity athlete throughout high school. After taking a complete break from running during college, Jill rediscovered her passion for the sport in her mid-twenties, initially signing up for a half marathon in 2015. Since then, Jill has transformed herself into an elite marathoner through consistent training and strategic racing. Her marathon progression is remarkable – from her first marathon time of 3:44 to breaking the 3-hour barrier with a 2:59 at Houston in 2022, and ultimately achieving a personal best of 2:48 at Houston in 2024. In December 2023, she captured the overall women's championship at the Dallas Marathon. Jill is an integral member of the Pegasus training group, which she helped establish with coach Fons around 2019. Beyond her impressive race results, she's known for her methodical approach to marathon racing, particularly her ability to negative split races by pacing conservatively early and finishing strong. When not running, Jill enjoys supporting her husband's various athletic pursuits and contributing to the Dallas running community.

Maddie Stier is an accomplished marathoner based in Allen, Texas who has balanced elite running with motherhood. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Maddie began running at an early age, influenced by her running-enthusiast mother and competitive siblings. Her remarkable journey includes completing 20 marathons, highlighted by a personal best of 2:50 at The Woodlands Marathon in 2021. Maddie qualified for the Boston Marathon in her very first marathon attempt, running a 3:26 at the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati in 2013. Among her notable achievements, Maddie won the women's ultramarathon at the 2022 Cowtown event with a time of 3:36:58 Running USA, and she also claimed victory at the 2020 Cowtown Marathon. Her most recent accomplishment includes finishing the 2023 Dallas Marathon in 3:01:01 while taking a moment during the race to kiss her young daughter. Maddie now trains with "Completely Slothed" (sometimes written as "Completely SLOTH'd"), an elite running group in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that includes other accomplished runners like Jennifer Pope, who qualified for the Olympic Trials DFW Running Talk. Previously, she trained with several local running groups including the Frisco Running Club and White Rock Co-op. She's known for her disciplined approach to training, incorporating high mileage weeks and strength training, even while raising three children under the age of two (including twins). Currently preparing for the Boston Marathon, Maddie continues to inspire the running community with her dedication to the sport and ability to balance family life with elite athletic performance.

Rebecca Roush is a Dallas-area marathon runner who transformed early setbacks into athletic success through smart training and resilience. After breaking her pelvis in high school cheerleading and requiring hip surgery with two screws, Rebecca discovered distance running and went on to compete at Dallas Baptist University. Following a college career marked by both achievements and injuries—including making the NCAA nationals team after ACL surgery—Rebecca found her stride in post-collegiate running. She learned that high-mileage training wasn't sustainable for her injury-prone body and developed a successful low-mileage approach centered around cross-training, strength work, and recovery. Rebecca has consistently improved her marathon times, progressing from a 3:16 debut at the 2019 Dallas Marathon to a personal best of 2:57 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. She's completed marathons at Indianapolis, Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, and Boston, while also representing Dallas in the prestigious Sendai International Half Marathon in Japan. A regular with Dallas running groups Train Pegasus and Completely Sloth, Rebecca trains primarily on four days per week, incorporating cycling and Peloton strength workouts to stay healthy. She's shown that sustainable training can lead to significant improvements, even while navigating major life changes. Currently living in Rockwall with her husband (also a competitive runner) and their son George, Rebecca continues to pursue marathon goals while balancing motherhood and demonstrating that smart training trumps high mileage. Her story resonates with runners seeking injury prevention strategies and parents learning to maintain athletic pursuits alongside family life. Key Achievements: 2:57 marathon PR (2023 Chicago Marathon) NCAA Division II nationals team member Dallas representative at Sendai International Half Marathon (Japan, 2023) Consistent marathon PRs across multiple races Successful postpartum running comeback