873. Jess McClain, Boston Marathon-Bound
From Ali on the Run Show by Ali Feller
April 2, 2026 · 1h 14m · Season 1 · Episode 871
About this episode
Jess McClain discusses her recent experiences in marathon running, including being led off course during a championship race and her upcoming participation in the Boston Marathon.
"All I can do is move forward knowing that one day I'll have that moment." Jess McClain just might be the most-loved professional marathoner in the country. The Phoenix, AZ-based Brooks athlete made national headlines last month when she was leading the U.S. Half Marathon National Championships in Atlanta and was led off course by an official vehicle in the final mile of the race. That day, Jess lost out on a national title, a spot on Team USA, and a good amount of prize money. (Listen to Emma Grace Hurley's recap of the day here .) She handled the aftermath with grace, compassion, and optimism. In this conversation, Jess talks about the race, and about the moment she realized she'd been led off course and was no longer in the lead. She also talks about the just-announced resolution (she has a spot on Team USA, and will be competing at World Championships in Copenhagen later this year) and how she feels about it. Jess, who is coached by David Roche, talks about how she's feeling heading back to the Boston Marathon, where she ran a personal best (2:22:43) last year and was the top American woman in the race. Plus, reflections on egg freezing, being a pacer at The Marathon Project…
People in this episode
Host: Ali Feller
Guest: Jess McClain
Topics covered
- marathon
- running
- sports
- athlete experience
- competition
- personal growth
Keywords
- Jess McClain
- Boston Marathon
- U.S. Half Marathon
- David Roche
- New Balance
- marathon training
- Team USA
- running
- sports
Sponsors
New Balance
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Brooks
Places: Phoenix, AZ
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- 882. My 2026 Boston Marathon Weekend Recap · April 30, 2026 · 2h 22m
- 881. Chelsea Clinton's 2026 Boston Marathon Recap · April 28, 2026 · 1h 5m
- 880. LIVE from the 2026 Boston Marathon Expo with Annie Frisbie & Amanda Vestri · April 23, 2026 · 34 min
- 879. LIVE at The TRACK at New Balance with Aisha Praught Leer & Eric Jenkins · April 21, 2026 · 1h 9m
- 878. LIVE at WBUR CitySpace in Boston with Claire Holt · April 20, 2026 · 1h 18m
- 877. My Boston Marathon Pep Talk · April 16, 2026 · 34 min
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