My guest for today’s episode is Jess McClain, who just wrapped up a heck of a year with an eighth-place finish at the New York City Marathon, running 2:27:19 and finishing as the second American.

It was Jess’s first World Marathon Major, and she showed incredible grit, moving steadily from 11th to 8th in the final miles and securing a spot among the top marathoners in the world.

As we’ve explored on this show with her in January, Jess’s journey to the marathon stage has been anything but typical. A former Stanford standout who took a hiatus from professional running, she’s reemerged with stunning results. Earlier this year, she finished fourth at the Olympic Marathon Trials, making her the alternate for Team USA and nearly earning a spot at the Paris Olympics. She’s since signed with Brooks and built a strong racing resume, including wins at the USATF Road 10K Championships and a second-place finish at the USATF 20K Championships.

We dive into her self-coached approach, her bold comeback, and what drives her heading into 2025.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Jess McClain | @jesstonn on Instagram

Episode highlights:

Reflections from racing the NYC Marathon:

“I'm feeling good. It's funny; I feel like there was so much going on in New York that I couldn't really process it or reflect while I was there. I was just soaking up the moment, enjoying time with family, friends, and New York Road Runners and everything else. I think once I got on the plane and got home, I was able to digest the race a little bit more. I'm definitely happy with my first showing on the major front. I think I fell a little short of the one goal I had in my mind: top American, going after that spot.

But I am proud of how I ran the race. I don't think I quite know the marathon yet. Once that decisive, bigger move is made around [mile] 16 to 18 or perhaps even 20, it's not that I don't trust myself, I just don't know how much I should be hurting up until that point to know whether to go or to stay back. I think as I run more and more and get more miles on my legs, I'll be able to hang with that lead pack later and later. But I stuck to my guns. I didn't really have a race plan going in other than taking the first few miles to feel it out. Then really just believing that I belonged in that lead pack for as long as I could hang with them.

Once that definitive move was made on 1st Ave, you have to make a call within a few seconds if you're going or not. It didn't feel right to go at that moment. Now seeing the back half of my race, having a negative split and feeling as good as I did going up 5th Ave and in [Central] Park, I probably could have hung with that move.

It's all good learning and I had such a great time figuring out how to navigate the emotions, obligations, and really fun commitments before a big marathon like that. It was just all a huge learning experience. To be honest, I hadn't really felt those nerves in a really long time. I learned a ton and had so much fun and the race was awesome. It's more than I could have asked for a marathon experience.”

Her mindset and perspective on competing heading into the race:

“The minute you start thinking about everybody else and how you want them to perceive your career, efforts, success, whatever, it's like, ‘Jess, that's not why we're doing this anymore. You're doing this because you love it and you want to be authentic about your journey.' I think part of being authentic is being an elite [while] being nervous and leaning into that. I'm not going to be one to not share that in a pre-race or post-race interview or anything like that. I think with a lot of people I've looked up to, it's that authentic and vulnerable insight.

New York isn't easy. You really can't fake it. It’s either I trained well and the way I'm doing this is great and I know what I'm doing, or it's like, ‘Oh my God, I totally swung and I missed.’ But I think the way to look at that is like, ‘It's okay to miss.’ I think at this level it's tough because you want to do well by your sponsor, all the people that got you to the start line, and now these amazing people that are invested in my journey.

I just have to bring myself back down because nerves are good. It definitely means you care… For me, a little bit of nerves is great. I think this was a really good step in learning how to compete on the international stage. I really haven't up until this point at a high caliber. I [raced at] NACAC five or six years ago, but this is the most I have competed on an international stage with other Olympians and marathon veterans. It was a really good weekend to learn a lot.”

Striking the balance between working and training:

“If I had a simple answer, I would totally give it. I think it took taking a step away. There's people who are like, ‘Oh my God, how did you just sit on the couch and then come back and run so well two years later?’ I wasn't just sitting on the couch and not running. I was running everyday just because I need it to be sane. But I think a lot of it was perspective. The first time I had a contract, I didn't know how to frame it or be excited about it in a way where I'm like, ‘Okay, I still get to do the sport.’ I didn't know how to handle the pressure…

You have to figure out how to fail well and learn from it. I was so scared to fail and I was also so scared to be successful. It was just weird. I guess having a job and that stability has been super great because now I don't have to rely on running to support myself. I'm not only training and racing with that in mind. I'm doing it because I love it. Once I stop loving it, you'll probably see me take another step back or try to figure out why that's happening. I think that perspective is really healthy. I don't think you have to announce that you're taking a step back or that you have to announce a soft retirement.

Do what you need to do to figure out what makes you happy and what your recipe for success and happiness is. It's going to look so different from one athlete or person to the next. It took a lot to get here. It was a rollercoaster and I went through a lot. It wasn't easy, but it's cool to be able to do the sport that I love at a high level again and have fun with it.”

Time stamps:

• 3:15 - Reflections on her 8th place finish at the NYC Marathon
• 5:58 - Rediscovering her love for racing
• 8:03 - Why she decided on racing NYC as her fall marathon
• 10:34 - Details on her training throughout her build
• 13:34 - Importance of being grounded outside of running
• 16:31 - How her training setup has evolved + what she wants to change next
• 19:39 - How she strikes the balance between working and training
• 24:01 - Nerves before the race
• 27:35 - Starting line + first few miles
• 29:37 - Story about accidentally reversing her bibs
• 35:49 - Thoughts when the big move was made during the race
• 43:07 - Feelings after crossing the finish line
• 45:38 - Looking ahead to future marathons
• 49:01 - Thoughts on racing a track 10K next year
• 51:16 - Overrated/underrated: training methods

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