Sisters, Friends, and PRs: The Ladies of CIM's Sub-2:50 Journey

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."

Grace Chow is a United States Marine Corps officer, endurance athlete, and mother who has built her life around service, academic excellence, and athletic achievement. Currently serving as a communication strategy and operations officer with seven years in the Marine Corps, Grace was recognized as the TSC/SCI-2022 Female Marine Corps Athlete of the Year for her outstanding athletic performance while maintaining her military duties. Grace's academic background reflects her international perspective and commitment to excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and studied German language and culture, including time at Helmut Schmidt University (German Armed Forces School Hamburg, Germany). Her cross-cultural military experience extended to an internship at Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hamburg (Military Hospital Hamburg, Germany) in Maxillofacial Surgery, demonstrating her diverse interests and adaptability. She is a member of the Delta Phi Alpha Honor Society and has completed the Military SCRUM Master Course at the Centers for Adaptive Warfighting. As a collegiate athlete, Grace competed in NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track & Field, laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to distance running. Her running career began remarkably early—she completed her first marathon at age 14 and has since run 20 marathons while navigating military deployments, multiple relocations, and the demands of service. Grace has competed in marathons across Italy during deployment and continues to train seriously while balancing motherhood with her 1-year-old son Isaiah and her role as a Marine officer. Currently stationed in Northern Virginia with her husband, who is also a Marine, Grace represents the modern military athlete who refuses to let frequent relocations, demanding careers, or family responsibilities diminish her competitive drive. She recently began working with her first marathon coach through Hogan Performance as she trains for the California International Marathon, seeking to break her personal record of 2:57 while continuing to serve her country and raise her family.

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.

Melanie Lassen: Elite Runner & Mother of Two Melanie Lassen is an accomplished long-distance runner with over 20 years of competitive running experience. Originally from Tennessee, she began her running career in middle school, continuing through high school and into college where she competed at the Division I level for UNC Asheville. Throughout her impressive running career, Melanie has completed eight marathons with remarkable times, including a personal best of 2:51 at the 2023 Boston Marathon. She's a multiple marathon winner, having won the Nashville Marathon twice (2015 and 2016) and has maintained elite-level performances while navigating the demands of work and family life. Currently residing in Wiley, Texas with her husband (who works in medicine) and their two young children, Melanie exemplifies the dedication required to balance competitive athletics with motherhood. Despite the challenges of training around her husband's demanding schedule and caring for her children (including a 9-month-old who has never slept through the night), she continues to pursue ambitious running goals, including breaking 2:50 in the marathon and 1:20 in the half marathon. Known for her resilience and adaptability, Melanie's running journey has included dramatic race experiences, including a last-minute pivot to qualify for Boston when her original race was canceled due to weather. She trains primarily with the Completely Sloth running group when her schedule allows and is a respected member of the Dallas-Fort Worth running community, inspiring other mother-runners with her ability to maintain elite performance through different seasons of life.