Jason Schuchard, President of BMW Dallas Marathon, on Selling Out & Launching the McKinney Historic Half

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."

Jason Schuchard is the President of the BMW Dallas Marathon, one of Texas's most iconic and fastest-growing running events, and the driving force behind the newly launched McKinney Historic Half Marathon. A Dallas-area native who grew up in Plano, Jason's passion for running was sparked by his mother, a dedicated runner who competed at the Dallas Marathon and instilled a love of the sport in her family from an early age. Jason ran cross country at Plano Senior High before picking the sport back up after graduating from Texas Tech University. What followed was nearly a decade of serious competitive running — completing 8 to 10 marathons across the country including New York, CIM, and Miami, highlighted by a personal best of 3:23 — before leveling up to Ironman triathlons. During that chapter, Jason trained at the Cooper Aerobic Center in Dallas, one of the premier fitness and wellness institutions in the country. His deep roots in the DFW running community and his firsthand experience as a competitive endurance athlete have shaped his vision for the BMW Dallas Marathon, an event that has grown into an annual sellout and a cornerstone of the Dallas sports calendar over its 54-year history. Under his leadership, the organization expanded in 2025 with the launch of the McKinney Historic Half Marathon, a first-of-its-kind event winding through McKinney's historic square along a unique road and trail course, benefiting Scottish Rite for Children. When he's not building world-class race experiences for the DFW running community, Jason is chasing after his 6-year-old — which he'll tell you is plenty of cardio on its own.