873. Jess McClain, Boston Marathon-Bound
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 2 April 2026
⏱️ 74 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"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 in December, and how Jess is feeling after this weekend's Sound Running 10K.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
- What's making Jess happy today (3:15)
- How Jess is feeling after running the 10K at the Sound Running meet this weekend (8:10)
- Jess sums up her 2026 Boston training block (16:25)
- How Jess handled the stress of the aftermath of the U.S. Half Marathon National Championships (21:45)
- How Jess feels about the resolution, and about being named to Team USA for World Championships in Copenhagen (30:00)
- What it was like unwittingly being at the center of a major running controversy (37:15)
- Jess recaps her day at the 2026 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, and talks about the moment when things went astray (41:00)
- Jess talks about her day as a celebrity pacer for the women's OTQ group at The Marathon Project (51:25)
- Jess's experience freezing her eggs, and why she made the decision to go through the process now (55:20)
- What it takes to run a personal best in Boston (1:02:40)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Allie on the Run show. |
| 0:06.4 | I'm your host, Allie Feller, and every week I talk with people who are doing exciting |
| 0:10.7 | things on the run and beyond. |
| 0:13.1 | From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner, |
| 0:18.3 | we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the run. |
| 0:22.7 | So whether you are running towards something big or away from something that has been holding you back, |
| 0:27.2 | I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. |
| 0:30.5 | My guest today is returning favorite Jess McLean. |
| 0:33.8 | Jess might just be the most loved marathoner in the country. |
| 0:37.0 | And right now, like so many of you, |
| 0:39.4 | she is getting ready to run the 2026 Boston Marathon. |
| 0:43.5 | Last year in Boston, Jess was the top American woman in the race, and she finished |
| 0:47.4 | seventh overall in a personal best time of two hours, 22 minutes, and 43 seconds. |
| 0:53.1 | She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband Connor, |
| 0:55.6 | and she is coached by David Roach. She also works full time. Jess has been in the news quite a bit lately. |
| 1:02.7 | She was leading the race at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta last month and now famously |
| 1:07.6 | follow the lead vehicles off course, ultimately losing out on the win and all that goes with it. |
| 1:14.0 | Jess handled the entire situation and its aftermath |
| 1:17.0 | with an amount of grace that is almost unfathomable. |
| 1:20.2 | I would have sworn way more, but classic Jess, |
| 1:24.1 | turning an unfortunate, life-changing experience |
| 1:26.8 | into lessons learned, all with her chin up |
... |
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