Braden Keefer: From Smoking in College to a 2:47 Marathon

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."

Braden Keefer Bio Braden Keefer is a 30-year-old marathon runner from Dallas, Texas, and a proud member of Pegasus Running. Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, Braden's running journey has been anything but linear—marked by setbacks, reinvention, and a relentless drive to improve. Braden ran cross country and track at Edmond Memorial High School but never quite broke through, finishing his high school career without a single varsity state meet appearance. After hanging up his running shoes, he spent five years away from the sport during college, gaining weight, picking up unhealthy habits, and losing touch with the competitive fire that once drove him. In December 2019, a casual run with his girlfriend at a YMCA in Capelle, Texas sparked something. What started as a way to stay active slowly evolved into a renewed passion. By 2021, Braden was back racing, running his first marathon at Oklahoma City in 3:08—impressive for someone with no structured training plan. But it wasn't until 2023, when Braden started working with coach Jeff Cunningham, that everything clicked. He began building consistency, logging 60-80 mile weeks, and learning the discipline required to run at a high level. In June 2024, he joined Pegasus Running, where he found not just training partners, but a community that pushed him to new heights. At the 2024 Indy Monumental Marathon, Braden ran 2:47—a 10-minute PR and a performance that marked his arrival as a serious marathoner. Now, with the Boston Marathon in his sights, Braden is targeting sub-2:40 and proving that it's never too late to chase your potential. When he's not logging miles, Braden works full-time and remains committed to the idea that running should be done for yourself—not for times, accolades, or comparison to others. His message is simple: find your community, trust the process, and show up for yourself every single day.