The Heart of DFW Running: Quin Jenson on Building Community Through Movement
Let me provide a detailed description of this podcast episode of DFW Running Talk:
Host Chris Detzel interviews Quin Jenson, a runner and former Brooks ambassador from the Dallas area. The conversation traces Jenson's journey from his football playing days to becoming an avid runner. In 2015, after returning from college and working a warehouse job, Jenson began running to lose weight. His running journey took a more serious turn when his girlfriend gifted him an entry to the Austin Half Marathon in 2019.
Throughout the discussion, several key themes emerge:
1. **Injury and Recovery**: Jenson shares his experience with two knee surgeries in the past two years. After running the 2021 Houston Marathon, he experienced significant knee problems that eventually led to surgery. He's currently at about 70-80% recovered and able to run 3-4 miles comfortably.
2. **Brand Ambassador Experience**: Jenson discusses his previous role as a Brooks ambassador and his continued work with various running brands, reviewing products and providing feedback. With over 9,000 Instagram followers, he's built a significant presence in the running community.
3. **Running Philosophy**: Unlike many competitive runners, Jenson emphasizes enjoying the journey rather than focusing on times. He views running as a way to stay healthy and build community rather than a competitive pursuit.
4. **Trail Running Experience**: He shares an entertaining story about running his first 50K trail race at North Shore trails, highlighting his lack of trail running experience and getting lost during the race.
5. **Community Focus**: Throughout the interview, Jenson repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the running community. He discusses his involvement with various running groups like Mind Over Ballot (which evolved into Run It Up) and ZFT, and how he uses his platform to give back to the community.
6. **Current Goals**: Looking ahead, Jenson plans to run the Houston Half Marathon in 2025, taking a relaxed approach to training while focusing on recovery and having fun.
7. **Family Life**: The conversation touches on how Jenson balances running with being a parent to a seven-year-old daughter, and how his girlfriend's CrossFit training has influenced his own recovery and training approach.
The conversation provides an authentic look at the running community in Dallas-Fort Worth while highlighting the importance of persistence, community, and finding joy in running regardless of speed or competition level. The tone is casual and conversational, making complex running topics accessible to listeners of all experience levels.
Host Chris Detzel interviews Quin Jenson, a runner and former Brooks ambassador from the Dallas area. The conversation traces Jenson's journey from his football playing days to becoming an avid runner. In 2015, after returning from college and working a warehouse job, Jenson began running to lose weight. His running journey took a more serious turn when his girlfriend gifted him an entry to the Austin Half Marathon in 2019.
Throughout the discussion, several key themes emerge:
1. **Injury and Recovery**: Jenson shares his experience with two knee surgeries in the past two years. After running the 2021 Houston Marathon, he experienced significant knee problems that eventually led to surgery. He's currently at about 70-80% recovered and able to run 3-4 miles comfortably.
2. **Brand Ambassador Experience**: Jenson discusses his previous role as a Brooks ambassador and his continued work with various running brands, reviewing products and providing feedback. With over 9,000 Instagram followers, he's built a significant presence in the running community.
3. **Running Philosophy**: Unlike many competitive runners, Jenson emphasizes enjoying the journey rather than focusing on times. He views running as a way to stay healthy and build community rather than a competitive pursuit.
4. **Trail Running Experience**: He shares an entertaining story about running his first 50K trail race at North Shore trails, highlighting his lack of trail running experience and getting lost during the race.
5. **Community Focus**: Throughout the interview, Jenson repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the running community. He discusses his involvement with various running groups like Mind Over Ballot (which evolved into Run It Up) and ZFT, and how he uses his platform to give back to the community.
6. **Current Goals**: Looking ahead, Jenson plans to run the Houston Half Marathon in 2025, taking a relaxed approach to training while focusing on recovery and having fun.
7. **Family Life**: The conversation touches on how Jenson balances running with being a parent to a seven-year-old daughter, and how his girlfriend's CrossFit training has influenced his own recovery and training approach.
The conversation provides an authentic look at the running community in Dallas-Fort Worth while highlighting the importance of persistence, community, and finding joy in running regardless of speed or competition level. The tone is casual and conversational, making complex running topics accessible to listeners of all experience levels.
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."
