The Luke's Locker Legend: 30 Years of Fitting Shoes and Why Duncan Cragg Stopped Racing to Find His True Running Purpose

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."

Duncan Cragg is a legendary figure in the Dallas-Fort Worth running community, serving as store manager at Luke's Locker for over 30 years. Originally from South Africa, Duncan discovered distance running in elementary school and went on to become a world-class steeplechase specialist, competing at the highest levels during the final years of apartheid. Recruited by SMU's track team in the early 1990s, Duncan brought his unique training philosophy shaped by integrated running groups that defied apartheid-era segregation laws. His athletic journey led him from the high-altitude training grounds of South Africa to American collegiate competition, where he specialized in the 3000-meter steeplechase. After graduating from SMU, Duncan channeled his passion for running into the specialty retail industry, becoming one of the pioneers in gait analysis and running shoe fitting. His expertise spans three decades of technological evolution in running footwear, from basic polyurethane models to today's carbon-plated super shoes. Beyond his professional role at Luke's Locker, Duncan has created an innovative family running program at White Rock Lake's Norbuck Park, bringing parents and children together for mindful, non-competitive outdoor exercise. His philosophy emphasizes the journey over performance, natural movement over structured training, and community building through shared athletic experiences. Duncan's contributions to the Dallas running community extend to organizing all-comers track meets featuring rare events like the steeplechase, continuing Luke's Locker's 40-year tradition of grassroots athletics. He advocates for "parkour-style" running that prioritizes play, exploration, and staying connected to the pure joy of movement.