Episodes

A marathon build doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. And that is the story of Rafael Aguilar's journey to the Houston Marathon this past January. He nearly got deported. He was broken up with by his girlfriend a week before race day. And through all of that adversity, he still pulled out a PR of 2:45:52 at the Houston Marathon in January. Adversity isn't something Rafa is new too, though. In high school, he found himself thrusted into the starting goalie position on his soccer team....

Brandy Hoffman had signed up for the Houston Marathon before. And every time, she found a reason not to start. This year, she finally said yes, and toed the line as a first-time marathoner. Brandy is a wellness coach with DLDNation, known for helping women do hard things and chase big goals. But this time, the work was personal. When the miles got heavy, she leaned on something unexpected: the voices of her family, sent through an app called Rally, reminding her why she started. And at the fi...

What if you didn’t start running until later in life — and still ran a 3:35 marathon? Well, this runner did just that. In Episode 3 of the Strides Through H-Town series on Through Their Stride, I’m joined by Krystle Hodge, Houston Marathon Ambassador and three-time Houston Marathon finisher. Krystle ran a huge PR of 3:35:29, all without a background in competitive sports. We talk about: Starting running later in life and pushing past the mental hurdles Battling imposter syndrome as a runner ...

From when she was a little girl, Adriana Rodriguez was told she'd never amount to much. Boy, were those doubters proven wrong. On January 11, Adriana took on the Houston Marathon as her first-ever marathon... and shattered her Boston Qualifying-time with a finish of 3:03:21. Incredible, sure. But that's not the only success she's had in life. At the age of 16, she was chosen to run cross country and track for St. Edward's University. She was only 17 in her first season, and she's thriving w...

In the first episode of Strides Through H-Town, I sit down with Taco (@tacoxrun), a Houston-based runner whose journey is rooted in patience, growth, and belief. Taco is a two-time marathoner, with his first marathon taking place at the Mexico City Marathon and his second right here on home turf at the Houston Marathon. In this conversation, we talk about how his approach to running has evolved step by step over the years — and how that same steady growth has shaped his life beyond the road. O...

In part 2 of my conversation with Kristian Warwick , he dives into his journey with running since hiring a coach, how taking the big, scary steps has led to The Marathon Podcast's success, and what he has planned for the podcast and for his training in 2026. Thank you so much to Kristian for coming to the podcast and sharing your story. And thank you all for your continued support of Through Their Stride. LISTEN to The Marathon Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5EYFxkoe1Fk1DlIptEvWo4 WATC...

​Kristian Warwick only recently started running marathons. But it didn't take long for him to fall in love with the sport. After qualifying for the Boston Marathon in his first race with a time of 2:52, this former speed skater knew this was something he wanted to invest his time in. And that, he has. But not only does he love chasing big goals for himself (he eventually wants to run a 2:25 marathon... or faster), he also enjoys sharing the experiences of runners — whether elite or your eve...

What starts as a single marathon can turn into something far bigger. In this episode of Through Their Stride, I sit down with Carrie Fromme—a Canadian-born runner now living in Texas—whose journey into running quickly grew into a mission of purpose. After discovering her love for endurance, Carrie set her sights on using running as a force for good. In 2025—and again in 2026—Carrie is taking on a 24-hour run as part of Hope Endures 24, raising money for children in Honduras. Last year, she ...

Some episodes stay with you long after you stop recording — and this is one of those. In this episode of Through Their Stride, I sit down with Faith Husmann and her dad, Cody Stewart, to talk about what it meant for them to run the Marine Corps Marathon together. Faith’s running journey began years earlier, inspired by watching her dad take on a 50K when she was younger. Cody had already been running for years before that, but the biggest impact he made wasn’t a finish time — it was the exa...

Running didn’t start as a shared passion for Taylor and Tate Mauldin — in fact, it didn’t even start as a passion at all. In this episode of Through Their Stride, Taylor shares how she first turned to running for wellness, structure, and mental clarity. Tate, admittedly reluctant at first, eventually joined her on the roads and trails… only to discover he was surprisingly good at it. What began as individual motivation quickly turned into a shared pursuit — and a deeper connection. Their journ...

Debuting in the new 910 Geist Ekiden Elite X racing shoes, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier and Illinois local Colin Mickow won the new San Antonio Marathon in a blazing 2:22:25. In this episode of Through Their Stride, Colin joins host Sam Sutton to break down his race-day execution, his unique, high-mileage training regimen, and the path that brought him back to elite competition after taking several years away from running following his collegiate career at the University of Illinois. From...

Kayla Straub is a 10-time ultramarathon winner and the champion of the Brazos Bend 100-mile race. In this episode of Through Their Stride, Kayla shares the full arc of her running journey — from how she first found running, to the confidence and strength the sport helped her build over time. This is an honest, deeply human conversation that goes far beyond race results. In this episode, Kayla talks about: - How running became an escape — and eventually a source of confidence - Winning 10 ultr...

When Summer Jowers started running, she quickly realized something was missing — a space where women in DFW could feel supported, encouraged, and connected through the sport. So she created it. Girls Who Run DFW began as a simple idea and has grown into a vibrant community built on showing up for each other, no matter the pace. In this episode, Summer shares the heart behind starting the group, the impact it’s had on the women who join, and how her own path — from making a life-changing decisio...

This week on Through Their Stride, I sit down with Lauren McGettrick, an elite coach and ultramarathon runner, to talk all things running, from marathon training to pushing your limits in ultra-distance races. In this episode, Lauren shares: - How ultra running can actually improve your marathon performance - Her experience training for and running ultra races - Tips on pacing, mental toughness, and enjoying the process - Insights from her military background that shaped her approach to runnin...

In this episode, I sit down with Jackie Mancuso — vineyard manager, marathoner, and a runner currently training for the California International Marathon after a few years away from the sport. Jackie opens up about her long struggle with negative self-talk around training: feeling like she wasn’t capable, feeling like a failure during hard workouts, and battling imposter syndrome despite being a Boston Qualifier with a PR from the New York City Marathon. This time around, she’s flipping the sc...

When Brian Vote took up running, it was purely just to help his mental health after his mother had passed away. His wife was a runner, and he felt like it could be something they could do together. He took on his first marathon in 2022, and suffered his way to a 4:30-plus time. But his running journey wouldn't end there. He qualified for Boston after coming second in Marathon2Marathon in 2023, and ended up running 2:58:22 at the Boston Marathon in 2024. In the fall of 2024, he won the Lubbock ...

Running across any state is no small feat, but running across Texas? That is a story worth telling. Chase Junell, a Fredericksburg native and a longtime runner, took up the challenge to run across the state of Texas from El Paso to Galveston in February of 2025. He and his dad loaded a van, hit the road, and traveled for just over 19-plus day adventure. Hear the highs, lows, and ways he prepared on this episode of Through Their Stride. This series combines sit-down interviews with real ru...

This is the hardest episode I’ve ever shared. My mom, Angela Grannan, has been living with cancer since 2013. She’s a two-time Boston Marathon finisher, Hotter’n Hell 100 cyclist, and one of the toughest people I’ve ever known. After years of remission, treatment, and relentless perseverance, she continues to face each day with the same strength that carried her through every mile. This is her story — her stride — and her legacy. This series combines sit-down interviews with real runnin...

When Victor Mills (formerly Victor Glenn) decided to run a half marathon with me, he wasn't much of a runner. He just knew he wanted a challenge. And generously, he wanted to help me get out of my funk after dislocating my knee. In this episode, Victor and I talk about what happens when you willingly step into discomfort: the discipline, the setbacks, the small victories that change who you are. From long runs to showing up on days when the "why" feels blurry, this conversation is about build...

From become a Houston Marathon Veteran, taking on multiple ultra marathons like the Rocky Raccoon 100, earning first place in the Masters division at his latest trail race, and inspiring the next generation of runners through coaching the Heritage School cross country team in Fredericksburg, Brett Davis' running story has it all. I've been following Brett on Strava for a while, and was glad he said yes to coming onto this podcast. Brett and I could have talked for hours and I know his story was...

It's not something everyone can relate to, but there's something about putting in the miles that clears the mind. It brings joy at times of distress. For most, running 100 miles seems like torture, but for Iain Turner, it brings peace.In episode 4 of Through Their Stride, Iain and I talk about the emotional benefit he gets from ultras, what he's experienced over multiple 100Ks and 100 mile races, and his goals of running all of the major 100- races.This series combines sit-down interviews wit...

In the third episode of Through Their Stride, I went on a run with Cody Carnett, and broke down the unquantifiable magic of running with others, the benefit of sometimes running with no watch or tracker, and ultramarathons.This series combines sit-down interviews with real running footage of each guest — filmed at their favorite spot. Drop a comment with your favorite moment or a Texas Hill Country runner you think should be featured next!Subscribe and join the journey — one stride at a time. M...

In Episode 2 of Through Their Stride, I run with Brent Burgess, a local runner and singer whose story proves just how life-changing running can be. After a painful divorce, Brent found purpose and healing through training for the 2023 Austin Marathon, a journey we shared together. He opens up about how running helped him rebuild, why it became a lifeline in one of his darkest seasons, and the surprising ways it continues to spark creativity in his music.Hear Brent Ryan's music here: https://open...

In the first episode of Through Their Stride, I tag along with Kaleb Dale — a Texas Hill Country runner who clocked a blazing 2:47:50 at the 2025 Boston Marathon. But Kaleb is more than just fast. He's a connector, a community builder in the running space, and follows just about everyone who runs in town on Strava (which he calls "the real social media"). We talk about: His Boston experience The evolution of his running journey Why running with people is so important, especially early on Th...