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 with the team. And on top of that, she's on pace to graduate at just 19 years old.

From overcoming dyslexia, to building a life for herself, a community of runners, and quite the running resume, we talk about everything she did to get to where she is today, all of the teammates and coaches she is thankful for, and her plans to potentially qualify for the Olympic Trials someday.

Thank you, Adriana, for sharing your story on Through Their Stride. If you like this story, please leave a comment, share, and subscribe!

PHOTO CREDIT: Adrian Gutierrez Photography (www.adriangutierrezphotography.com)

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.

One of the driving forces behind Taco’s pursuit of big goals is his desire to honor his parents’ decision to move from Mexico to Texas in hopes of giving him a better life. That gratitude fuels his mindset, his work ethic, and his willingness to chase dreams that once felt out of reach.

We also talk about self-doubt, starting before you feel ready, and how Taco uses his platform to encourage others to believe in what’s possible — even when they don’t yet believe in themselves. Looking ahead, he shares his goal of one day taking on an Ironman, not out of pressure, but out of curiosity and confidence built over time.

This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen all at once — it happens one step, one mile, and one decision at a time.

#marathonrunning #houstonmarathon #houston #texasrunners

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
WATCH The Marathon Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMarathonPodcast