The Heart of DFW Running: Quin Jenson on Building Community Through Movement

DFW Running Talk

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.