Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Theo Murdaugh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Theo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I started ZFT Run Club Dallas in March of 2020 after having moved to Dallas from Houston about 6 months prior. Originally when I moved, I had attempted to join other run clubs in the city but struggled to find one that I connected with the way that I had with my previous group. I wanted to keep the momentum we had going in Houston in which inspired me to start ZFT Run Club Dallas. I was excited to start this group because as I stated previously I saw a need to create a family style atmosphere that quite frankly was lacking in the running community here in Dallas. Not only creating a space where new runners feel welcomed but creating a space that promotes diversity and inclusion in the running community as well. I was inspired regardless of having to combating the COVD-19 pandemic at the time because I knew I had the formula no other run group in the city had. There was and still is market for new runners and people who are just looking for a sense of community to go along with their fitness journey. ZFT is the formula and it was time for me to capitalize on that.

Theo , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Professionally, I am a Regional Wholesale District Manager for a global automotive manufacturer. I specialize in OEM sales with dealerships across the central region, which basically means I’m a big sales guy. What sets me apart is my personality and my passion for what I do – I can talk to just about anyone and I love being in corporate sales.

Personally, I have been a run enthusiast for over 10 years now. I have ran over 10 half marathons, placed in numerous races, and I have a full marathon under my belt. I ran my first half marathon in Orlando, FL back in 2011 and it was awful. I had no training plan or focus, I ran purely off of youth and naturally athletic ability. Looking back at the moments where I was not intentional with my running nor having a plan to be a better runner has made it easier for me to help my group become better runners. Those prior experiences have given me the guide to be able to put together a training plan for whatever race our runners are looking to run. The beginning of my running experience was all trial by fire, and that prior experiences is what has helped ZFT grow as a group to make our members better runners.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

In just 2 years ZFT has gone from having 4 active members to now having 189 members. Retention is always a topic of conversation between myself and my leadership team, we are constantly finding ways to retain active members but also bring in new members. Our goal is to simply “keep things interesting” without compromising the main goal of the group and that is becoming better runners. The reason why we are seeing success is how we treat our new runners, and how welcomed they feel when they are at a run. Simply by creating our version of a soul train line and cheering in obviously runners, but joggers, and walkers as well. Especially cheering in walkers like they just ran their first half! What we have seen from that is those walkers are now inspired to actually run and run in upcoming races! The key is a to create a space where everyone feels welcomed and I honestly think no other run group in the city really focuses on that part of their business.

Any advice for managing a team?

In this process I have learned I am nothing without my fantastic leadership team. Just like I have to sell my vision to the members of ZFT, most importantly I have to sell my vision and myself to my team. My advice to anyone in leadership is to treat your team as they were your customers. If your team is not willing to help you sell your vision, or they don’t believe in you as a leader you are as good as nothing. Allow your leadership team to help you lead and allow them to maximize on the things they are better at than you. That’s the one thing I really had to learn is to let my team lead without my hands all over everything, and they have done a fantastic job in helping me lead once I took my hands out of every single thing. This is why we are on the trajectory we are on as a run club.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zonefitnesstraining.com
• Instagram: zftrunclub_dallas
• Other: Tiktok: zftrunclubdallas