Team Member Spotlight

For Dave Goodrich of Poolville, Texas, running is about much more than crossing finish lines. It’s about staying competitive, building friendships, serving others, and sharing a lifelong love of the sport. After 50 years of running, he’s still setting goals, signing up for races, and finding new adventures alongside his wife, Debby.

A retired educator and Methodist pastor, Dave brings a spirit of service to nearly everything he does. He and Debby run or walk together on a local trail two or three times a week and share many of their racing adventures. When he’s not logging miles, Dave stays busy with swimming, cycling, weightlifting, and a return to triathlons. He also enjoys disc golf just for fun.

His running résumé is impressive. Dave has completed 22 marathons and is working toward his goal of running a half marathon in every state, with 28 states checked off so far. This year alone, he has participated in 38 races. He has also qualified for the Texas team at four National Senior Games.

While he earned personal records of 18:16 in the 5K, 1:28 in the half marathon, and 3:18 in the marathon earlier in his running career, Dave is especially proud of what he continues to accomplish after turning 75. His recent bests include a 25:32 5K, a 56:12 10K, and a 1:58:52 half marathon. His one-mile time of 7:47 earned him fourth place at the National Senior Games.

His favorite distance? The half marathon. “It is a distance that is challenging but allows me to recover quickly,” he explains. That balance hasn’t stopped him from tackling ambitious challenges. Last year, he completed the Grand Quad, running both a 5K and half marathon at Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks over two weekends, earning 13 medals along the way.

Of course, the journey hasn’t always been smooth. Three knee surgeries, a ruptured Achilles tendon, and several falls resulting in broken fingers and thumbs have tested his determination. Through it all, his running community has helped him return to the sport he loves. He trains regularly with the Cowtown Trailblazers and also runs with the Santa Fe Striders and Quanah Hill Gang trail runners when he can.

For Dave, motivation comes from two places: staying competitive in his age division and helping others discover the joy of running. He even volunteers as a pace coach for the Cowtown Marathon Trailblazers training program. His advice for race day reflects a lesson learned over decades of experience: “If I was going to give you 10 pointers, I’d list the first nine as ‘Don’t go out too fast!’”

That same commitment to community carries into his work with the Texas Beef Team, where Dave has spent four years connecting with fellow runners and promoting beef as part of an active lifestyle. Some of his favorite memories include meeting teammates at the Beef Team retreats and also during the 12 races of the Cox Trinity 5000 Summer Series. Also, running the BMW Dallas Marathon Half and then working a water stop with the team has always been a great memory. 

A longtime beef enthusiast, Dave incorporates lean beef into his training meals about four times a week, with Tenderloin and Shoulder Roast among his favorite cuts. He also loves the Texas-Style Chili recipe featured on the BeefLovingTexans website. One particularly meaningful family memory came during Christmas week at the family’s New Mexico home, where he used tips learned in a Beef 101 class to grill burgers for everyone.

One of Dave’s more surprising credentials is that he has held licenses as a Master Electrician, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Licensed Local Pastor. He and Debby also own Double D Ranch, where they raise Registered Texas Longhorns and belong to the Southwest Cattle Raisers Association. Add his many community service commitments—including senior wellness initiatives and advisory committees—and it’s clear his dedication extends well beyond the finish line.

His reward for reaching a goal or having a great run is simple. “I sign-up for another race.” But, for Dave, the next finish line is never the end of the story. It’s simply another reason to keep moving, keep connecting, and keep doing what he loves.