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Ali on the Run Show

801. Jess Sims, Boston Marathoner & Peloton Instructor (Rerun)

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Run, Health & Fitness, Women, Inspiration, Runner, Entrepreneur, Sports, Fitness, Health, Running

4.93.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 April 2025

⏱️ 85 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“She said, ‘This is how it was supposed to be. This is how it was supposed to feel.’ And at that moment, I realized the magnitude of what we gave to each other.”

Rerun alert! In honor of the 129th Boston Marathon in just a few days, we're throwing it back to 2022, when fan favorite and beloved Peloton instructor Jess Sims surprised the world by showing up at the start (and finish!) line of the Boston Marathon. And she had a good reason for keeping her marathon debut on the down-low. In this very special conversation, Jess talks about receiving a fateful message from Boston Marathon bombing survivor Michele Blackburn — a message that ultimately guided Jess every step of the way toward that finish line on Boylston Street. Jess talks about her training, about how she felt on the start line, and about why she still feels marathon imposter syndrome, even after earning that blue and yellow medal. (You’ll want tissues on hand 17 minutes into this one. You’ve been warned.)

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond.

0:12.9

From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner, we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the run.

0:24.0

Whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding you back,

0:28.9

I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace.

0:32.6

Today, we are throwing it back to Boston 2022.

0:37.3

That year, Peloton instructor Jess Sims sort of secretly ran the Boston Marathon,

0:43.4

her first marathon, with a pretty powerful reason for telling her to both the start and finish lines.

0:49.9

I was so fortunate to get to talk with Jess after her triumphant 26.2 mile journey from

0:55.6

Hopkinton to Boston.

0:57.2

And that recap episode is still one of the all-time most downloaded episodes of the Allie

1:02.8

On the Run show.

1:04.3

But 2022 was a while ago.

1:06.1

Three years, to be exact, I did the math.

1:08.5

So I thought it would be fun to bring this episode back in case you missed it the first time around,

1:13.1

or if you need a little extra nudge heading into your own race or run this weekend.

1:18.5

This conversation is filled with emotion.

1:21.4

Lots of emotions.

1:22.5

You're in the right place for that.

1:24.1

And I hope it gives you what you need, whatever that might be.

1:28.0

Here in the present, Jess had pretty serious knee surgery last year, and I hope it gives you what you need, whatever that might be. Here in the present, Jess had pretty serious knee surgery last year and has worked her way

1:32.8

back to health, and she is finally back to teaching at Peloton and running.

1:38.1

I know many of us are very excited about this return.

...

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