3:25 to 2:50 in Three Marathons: Madeleine Rouse's Breakthrough Season
Description
In this refreshingly honest episode of DFW Running Talk, host Chris Detzel sits down with Madeleine Rouse, a runner whose story defies every typical running origin story you've ever heard.
Forget soccer. Madeleine's athletic background includes figure skating (where she admits she wasn't very good), horseback riding, swimming, and playing third-string field hockey while "running aimlessly up and down the field" to look busy. She never touched a soccer ball growing up and was "painfully uncoordinated in every area of my life."
Fast forward to adulthood, and Madeleine pulled off one of the most dramatic marathon progressions you'll hear: 3:25 to 3:19 to 2:50 in just three marathons. That's a 35-minute drop that she describes as her "magical season" - a breakthrough that seemed almost impossible.
But this isn't just another "I got really fast" story. Madeleine opens up about what comes after the breakthrough - the pressure, the expectations, and the reality of trying to maintain elite performance after having twins. She candidly discusses feeling like she's been "running into a brick wall," the temptation to retire after achieving her PR, and the slow process of rediscovering her motivation.
From choosing theater over track in middle school to training with "The Sloths" in Dallas, Madeleine's journey is equal parts inspiring and relatable. Whether you're chasing your first PR or struggling to recapture past glory, this conversation about resilience, self-compassion, and finding joy in running again will resonate deeply.
Tune in for an authentic discussion about the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
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