Barely able to walk after a car crash. Now chasing a sub-three-hour marathon. This is a story about rebuilding, finding community, and giving the next starting line everything you have.

From living in a car in Los Angeles to a 3:25 Dallas Marathon debut, this journey has taken some unexpected turns—including accidentally running a half marathon and completing a 33-mile run from Dallas to Fort Worth.

We explore the lessons from hitting the wall at mile 23, how running friends help build consistency, and what’s different heading into the Indianapolis Marathon. The conversation closes with the crash that forced everything to stop—and the gratitude that followed.

CHAPTERS
00:00 The road to marathon number two
05:09 Living in a car and finding a new direction
10:05 Finding community through Dallas running clubs
15:11 A 3:25 marathon debut and lessons from the wall
24:23 Preparing for Indianapolis
26:15 A 33-mile Dallas-to-Fort Worth run
29:53 Chasing sub-three
31:05 The crash, recovery, and gratitude

Find free training plans, races, and running resources:
https://www.dfwrunningtalk.com

Get the Monday DFW Running Email:
https://dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

Looking for a 5k, 1/2 marathon or full marathon training plan?
https://dfwrunningtalk.com/training-plans

Find most races in all of Texas:
https://dfwrunningtalk.com/races

Follow DFW Running Talk and leave a rating if this story resonates with you.

Cheryl Haynes’s first run lasted five minutes. Her goal was to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. What followed was a journey through mountain summits, setbacks, a first marathon, and finding comfort in running after losing her mom.

In this episode of DFW Running Talk, Cheryl joins host Chris Detzel to share how she built endurance as a beginner in flat South Florida, prepared for Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc, and returned to summit Aconcagua after an unsuccessful first attempt.

We explore the mental side of endurance, the lessons that came from starting small, and how a welcoming DFW running club became something Cheryl looks forward to each week. It’s a story for anyone wondering whether they’re capable of more—even if a single mile feels far away.

What’s one running or adventure goal you once thought was out of reach?

Explore free training plans, races, running clubs, and coaches:
https://www.dfwrunningtalk.com

Get the Monday DFW Running Email:
https://dfwrunningtalk.substack.com

Follow DFW Running Talk for more real stories from the running community.

Burnout and injuries pushed her away from running. Years later, Jacquie Mannhard became the women’s Leadville 100 champion.

This is an honest conversation about rebuilding a relationship with running—and discovering that your best performances might still be ahead.

We explore the pressure of collegiate running, underfueling, returning to competition after children, and the confidence it takes to line up against elite ultrarunners. Hear how changes to fueling, cross-training, and mindset shaped her comeback and helped her win Leadville in 2023.

Then follow her return in 2026, when a battle through mile 95 produced a second-place finish she treasures even more than her victory.

Whether you’re recovering from a setback, considering your first ultramarathon, or trying to find joy in training again, this story will give you plenty to think about.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet a Leadville 100 champion
12:06 Collegiate running, underfueling, and burnout
19:53 Stepping away and rebuilding
31:52 Returning to running after children
41:47 Coaching and learning to believe
49:18 Injury recovery and rethinking fueling
55:23 Winning the Leadville 100
1:03:19 Masters running and the fight for second place

Follow DFW Running Talk on Spotify so you never miss an episode. Enjoyed the conversation? Leave a rating and tell us: What helped you find your way back to running?

Get the Monday DFW Running Email:
https://dfwrunningtalk.substack.com/

Explore training plans, races, running clubs, and coaches:
https://www.dfwrunningtalk.com/