We had the good fortune of connecting with Theo Murdaugh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Theo, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I started ZFT Run Club Dallas in March of 2020. I was previously a part of the Houston chapter of ZFT Run Club for 3 years before my job relocated me to Dallas.

My main reason for starting the Dallas chapter of ZFT Run Club was the overall community I helped build down in Houston. Running is intimidating and there are not a lot of run groups that really cater to new runners. After being in Dallas for a few months and visiting a few other run groups I knew I had the opportunity to build something special with ZFT Dallas. As an avid runner myself, and then visiting other run groups in the city it showed me that there is a need to help new runners. Most of these other run groups are geared more towards the experienced runner. I saw an opportunity not only to cater to experienced runners but to build a group to develop new runners.


Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Outside of leading this run group I work for a large Automotive Retailer as a Regional Wholesale District Manager. Long story short I cover a large sales territory (Dallas, AR, LA, MS) and I help our dealerships sell automotive wholesale parts. My job is very sales focused and I compete in a space that is saturated and competitive. This means I need to find new ways for my dealerships to sell parts to the aftermarket. This has been and always will be a challenge.

I haven’t always been in high level sales like this. I have been in my industry for 12 years and have moved up through different automotive companies. My experiences with different organizations have taught me “you always have to start somewhere”. My somewhere was delivering parts to automotive shops not knowing a single thing about the industry, but I learned “the business” from that and it helped launch my career.

Those experiences set me apart because every time I had a setback in my career I always ended up in a better place. “Never give them a reason to lay you off”, my dad said this to me back in 2012 when I was laid off from my first ever job. That one bit of advice gave me a renewed spirit which has helped me excel in my career.


Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A lot of my favorite spots in the city include wine bars. I am a student of wine so a lot of my activities are geared towards where can I get a good glass of wine. So my recommendations are below:

Where to go to drink:
1. Nosh And Bottle (Las Colinas).
2. Veritas Wine Bar.
3. Harlowe.
4. Lower Greenville area (bar hop)

Where to Eat:
1. Pacific Table Las Colinas
2. Sixty Vines
3. Malai Kitchen
4. HG Supply Co.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would first like to thank my leadership team for everything that they do. They take a lot off my plate and have helped me grow this group to over 135 members. Each person on my leadership team has a special talent or skill they posses that helps this group grow. The plans they have put in place have been tremendous which have kept this group growing at a rapid pace.

I would also like to thank my ZFT Dallas family! They are a huge reason why this group is growing the way it is right now. They are not just numbers in a group but they are active participants who have inspired many others to either start their fitness journey or just join ZFT as a whole. They have truly been a blessing and I am forever grateful for them.

Lastly I would like to thank Kelvon Yancey, the owner and founder of Zonefitnesstraining. Without his vision for ZFT I would not have been able to start the group here in the DFW area. His vision inspired me to want to show another city (Dallas) how special ZFT is and how we could change lives for the better. The family culture he has created has really made this entire experience worth it.

Website: www.zonefitnesstraining.com

Instagram: @ZFTRunClub_Dallas @ZFTRunClub_Houston

Facebook: Zone Fitness Training

Other: Tiktok: @ZFTRunClub_Dallas @ZFTRunClub_Houston

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.