runDallas Marathon Champion Erin Woodward Shares Her Path from College Track to Marathon Success
In this engaging episode of DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel interviews Dr. Erin Woodward, fresh off her victory at the 2024 Dallas Marathon. The conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the journey of an emerging elite marathon runner who balances her athletic pursuits with a career as a physical therapist.
Woodward shares her evolution from a college track athlete at the University of Central Arkansas, where she focused on shorter distances and steeplechase, to becoming a marathon champion. With only two marathons under her belt - Houston and Dallas, both in 2024 - she has already achieved remarkable consistency, running 2:46:22 at Houston in January and winning the Dallas Marathon with a time of 2:46:51 in challenging, humid conditions.
The interview delves into Woodward's training approach under coach Sean Weirich of Arkansas Track Club. She discusses her preparation for Dallas, including three-hour training runs and specific workouts like double thresholds. Woodward also openly addresses the challenges she faces, particularly with nutrition due to gastroparesis, and how she manages these obstacles during races.
A particularly interesting segment covers her race-day experience at the Dallas Marathon, where she maintained a positive attitude through the first half, hitting the halfway mark at 1:22, and interacting with crowds and other runners. Despite facing difficulties after mile 18 and being unable to take nutrition after that point, she persevered to claim victory in challenging conditions with 98% humidity.
The conversation also touches on her future aspirations, including potential Olympic Trials qualifying attempts in both the marathon and steeplechase. Woodward discusses her immediate plans to return to track racing while balancing her upcoming wedding and her work at Gray Matter Human Performance, a comprehensive athlete care facility she co-founded.
Throughout the interview, Woodward comes across as both highly accomplished and remarkably humble, offering insights valuable to runners of all levels while sharing her inspiring journey from college track athlete to marathon champion.
Woodward shares her evolution from a college track athlete at the University of Central Arkansas, where she focused on shorter distances and steeplechase, to becoming a marathon champion. With only two marathons under her belt - Houston and Dallas, both in 2024 - she has already achieved remarkable consistency, running 2:46:22 at Houston in January and winning the Dallas Marathon with a time of 2:46:51 in challenging, humid conditions.
The interview delves into Woodward's training approach under coach Sean Weirich of Arkansas Track Club. She discusses her preparation for Dallas, including three-hour training runs and specific workouts like double thresholds. Woodward also openly addresses the challenges she faces, particularly with nutrition due to gastroparesis, and how she manages these obstacles during races.
A particularly interesting segment covers her race-day experience at the Dallas Marathon, where she maintained a positive attitude through the first half, hitting the halfway mark at 1:22, and interacting with crowds and other runners. Despite facing difficulties after mile 18 and being unable to take nutrition after that point, she persevered to claim victory in challenging conditions with 98% humidity.
The conversation also touches on her future aspirations, including potential Olympic Trials qualifying attempts in both the marathon and steeplechase. Woodward discusses her immediate plans to return to track racing while balancing her upcoming wedding and her work at Gray Matter Human Performance, a comprehensive athlete care facility she co-founded.
Throughout the interview, Woodward comes across as both highly accomplished and remarkably humble, offering insights valuable to runners of all levels while sharing her inspiring journey from college track athlete to marathon champion.
Creators and Guests
Host
Chris Detzel
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."
