In this episode of DFW Running Talk's "New Blood" series, Chris sits down with Casey Novelo, the 22-year-old rising star who ran 2:24:43 to finish second overall at the 2024 Dallas Marathon.

Casey's running journey is anything but typical. Starting as one of the slowest runners on his high school cross country team—finishing second-to-last at districts with a 21+ minute 5K—he transformed himself through relentless work ethic and smart training. By his senior year, he had dropped to 16:20 for 5K and earned a walk-on spot at Texas A&M Commerce, eventually securing a scholarship.

Now working full-time while logging 100+ mile weeks, Casey has emerged as one of DFW's most promising young marathoners. He shares the full story of his Dallas Marathon experience, including the intense mile-by-mile battle with winner Steven Fahy, strategic race decisions, and that blistering 5:07 mile at mile 22 that nearly changed the outcome.

Looking ahead, Casey has his sights set on breaking 2:20 at the Jersey City Marathon in April 2026, and with 13 years until his marathon prime, he's just getting started. This conversation explores what it takes to compete at the elite level, the mental fortitude required to push through pain, and why the best marathoners in the world are still improving well into their 30s.

Whether you're chasing your own PR or just love hearing about the next generation of DFW running talent, Casey's story will inspire you to think bigger about what's possible.

Talon Smith owns FTX Hybrid Athletics in Fort Worth, where he's built one of the most successful Hyrox programs in America. In this conversation, he demystifies the sport for runners: 8 kilometers of running broken up by 8 functional fitness stations (ski erg, sled push, burpees, rowing, farmers carry, lunges, wall balls). Learn why Dallas Hyrox sold 12,000 tickets in hours, how to structure hybrid training without overtraining, and why Talon believes the sport favors endurance athletes. Perfect for runners looking to expand beyond road racing or add strength training that actually complements running performance.

In this special episode of New Blood: DFW's Young Gals Raising the Bar, Chris sits down with three remarkable athletes who proved that the best training partners are sometimes the ones you never actually train with.

Sisters Maddie Stier (32, Allen, TX) and Grace Chow (29, Washington, DC), along with their close friend Melanie Lassen (34, Casper, WY), came together at the California International Marathon to achieve something extraordinary—all three broke 2:50, finishing within minutes of each other after training separately in three different states.

Maddie stayed rooted in the DFW community, training with the Sloths Running Club by "chasing people faster than her" without a formal plan. Grace hired her first coach, Jordan Hogan (formerly Jordan Hassay), and navigated solo training in the cold, dark mornings of Washington, DC. Melanie moved to Casper, Wyoming, trained at 5,000 feet elevation, and struggled through nearly every workout—barely hitting a single target pace.

But when they reunited in Sacramento for a girls' weekend (no husbands, no kids, just chicken quesadillas and Zootopia), something magical happened. They ran their races separately but together, supporting each other from different parts of the course before meeting at the finish line for a core memory they'll never forget.

Finish times:

• Maddie Stier: 2:47:15 (6:24/mile)
• Melanie Lassen: 2:48:06 (6:25/mile)
• Grace Chow: 2:49:46 (6:29/mile)

This episode captures what makes running special: the power of community that transcends geography, the magic of shared goals, and what happens when you find your people—even when they live 1,500 miles apart. You'll hear about the Mile 20 declaration, the ultra-runner named Jesus who became their hype man for 22 miles, and why Maddie's brother's quote—"If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room"—drives everything they do.

This is the future of running. This is New Blood. And it's happening right now.

Welcome to The OGs: DFW's Running Pioneers - a series dedicated to the runners who built the DFW running community from nothing. These are the originals. The ones who ran when nobody cared, when the shoes were garbage, when there were no gels, barely any water, and definitely no fanfare. They did it because they loved it, and they created the foundation we're all standing on today.

Kerry Little launches the series with an incredible journey: growing up as a swimmer in Illinois, moving to Texas in the early '80s, and discovering she could run - really run. Her first marathon? A 3:15 that would still turn heads today. Multiple Boston qualifiers, Ironman Hawaii, coaching with Luke's training programs, and a current streak of over 3,700 consecutive days of running. Now working at Luke's Locker Dallas (Mockingbird/75) for 17 years, Kerry connects the past to the present, sharing what it really took to be a runner when running was still finding its identity.

New Blood: DFW's Young Guns Raising the Bar

The bar just got raised in Dallas.

Steven Fahy, a 29-year-old NCAA steeplechase champion and Brooks Running employee, just won the Dallas Marathon in his debut with a time of 2:23:28 - making him the fastest marathoner in DFW at this moment. But this isn't just a story about natural talent crushing a race. It's about rediscovering why you run in the first place.

This episode kicks off New Blood, a special DFW Running Talk series spotlighting the next generation of elite runners who are redefining what's possible in North Texas. These aren't your average weekend warriors - they're 20-somethings running sub-2:25 marathons, breaking 3:05 on their debuts, and proving that the future of competitive running in DFW is already here.

After an accomplished collegiate career at Stanford (2019 NCAA steeplechase champion, five-time All-American, two-time Pac-12 champion), Steven moved to Dallas in 2023 and spent two years running solo. It wasn't until summer 2024 that he connected with the Sloths and local running community, transforming his training and reigniting his competitive fire.

Steven shares what it's like to win a marathon on the same routes you train daily, surrounded by the people who pushed you all season. He opens up about the mental shift from collegiate pressure to post-collegiate joy, why he's eyeing Eugene Marathon next, and what "bottle service for elites" really means.

This is the new generation of DFW running - fast, humble, and here to stay.

What You'll Learn:

• How a 2019 NCAA champion found his running community in Dallas
• The strategy behind winning your first marathon at 2:23
• Training alongside the Sloths, Train Pegasus, and DFW's best at Germany Park
• Why Steven almost thought Matt Campbell would beat him at the 1776 Mile
• The post-collegiate identity crisis every runner faces
• What's next: Eugene Marathon and the long-term marathon journey

Perfect for: Young competitive runners, post-collegiate athletes looking for direction, anyone curious about what elite-level marathon training looks like in DFW

Brent Woodle didn't run competitively in high school or college—he was too busy playing World of Warcraft. But after moving to Dallas at 25 with no friends and a bucket list goal to run a marathon, he joined every running club he could find. Fast forward to today, and Brent is one of the fastest masters runners in DFW, with a 2:28 marathon PR.

In this episode, recorded before the Dallas Marathon (where Brent would go on to run 2:39:05), we dive deep into what it takes to run at an elite level as a masters athlete. Fresh off running 2:28:26 at the Indianapolis Marathon, Brent shares his high-volume training philosophy—100-mile weeks, running twice a day six days per week, tempo-focused workouts over VO2 max intervals, and the importance of making running a daily habit. He opens up about the mental battles of goal-setting, recovering from burnout after Houston Marathon, and the sacrifices required—giving up alcohol during training cycles and prioritizing eight hours of sleep every night.

Whether you're chasing your own PR or curious about what separates good runners from great ones, Brent's story offers candid insights into the discipline, routine, and mental approach needed to compete at the highest level while balancing a 16-year career as a software engineer and raising two young kids.

Episode Highlights:

• How Brent went from casual runner to 2:28 marathoner without running in high school or college
• His high-volume training approach: doubles six days per week, prioritizing frequency over intensity
• Why running two 5-milers is better than one 10-miler for injury prevention and recovery
• Race fueling strategy: consuming 900+ calories during marathons with Maurten gels and mix
• The mental challenge of pacing and avoiding the trap of starting too fast
• Plans for Paris and Chicago marathons in 2026 at age 41
• The importance of running community and lifelong friendships built through the sport

Ruth Atkinson is helping runners of all levels achieve their own breakthroughs as a coach with McKirdy Trained.

In this episode, Ruth shares her unconventional path to running, starting with a spontaneous decision to go for a run instead of watching Grey's Anatomy one night in 2018. With a background in music education and drum corps, Ruth brings a unique perspective to coaching that emphasizes patience, curiosity, and building durable runners through strength training.

We dive deep into her coaching philosophy, including why new marathoners shouldn't set time goals for their first race, the critical importance of fueling (hint: one gel isn't enough), and why single-leg strength training is essential for injury prevention. Ruth also shares practical advice for runners at every level and her powerful message about not counting yourself out, no matter your pace or experience.

Whether you're a beginner contemplating your first 5K or an experienced runner chasing a PR, Ruth's insights will inspire you to stay curious and keep pushing your limits.

Connect with Ruth: McKirdy Trained

Subscribe to DFW Running Talk on your favorite podcast platform and https://dfwrunningtalk.substack.com/ for more content!

Paul Box is the embodiment of running as adventure. Starting his serious running journey at age 30 with a 3:29 marathon, Paul has become a 12-time Boston Marathon finisher, ultrarunning enthusiast, and two-time World Marathon Challenge finisher (7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days).

As a board member of the Dallas White Rock Marathon, Paul is helping elevate the race by bringing in approximately 150 NAIA Championship athletes and restarting the partnership with Sendai, Japan. He shares his passion for FKTs (Fastest Known Times), running from the Caribbean to the Pacific in Panama, organizing the Waxahatchee 50-miler for 500 runners, and why the 50-mile distance might be the perfect ultra.

Whether you're chasing a BQ, curious about ultras, or dreaming of your next running adventure, Paul's philosophy is simple: go out and find your adventure in this beautiful world.