Marathon Handbook Podcast

Jess McClain is one of the most compelling figures in American distance running right now and this conversation is a perfect example of why.

Alex Cyr sits down with the Brooks-sponsored pro for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation that covers the full arc of Jess's career: the early promise, the painful burnout that led her to step away from the sport entirely, the unlikely comeback through a casual marathon in Arizona, and the extraordinary run of near-misses and controversies that have defined her return to elite competition.

Jess speaks publicly for the first time about being led off course during the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta — a moment that cost her a shot at the US World Championship team, prize money, rankings points, and potentially shoe contract bonuses. She walks us through exactly what happened on the course, how she handled the chaos in the moment, and what she thinks needs to change so athletes are never left in that position again.

She also revisits the Paris situation — being flown over as an Olympic alternate for the marathon, sitting on the bench all week, and being told the day before the race that she wouldn't be needed. And she talks with remarkable grace about finishing fourth at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials, just 15 seconds outside the team.

With Boston 2026 on the horizon and a World Championship bid still in play, Jess is as motivated as ever — and as level-headed as you'll find at this level of the sport.

Topics covered:

• Stepping away from pro running and losing the love for it
• The Mesa Marathon comeback and rediscovering joy in the sport
• 4th place at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials
• Being flown to Paris as an alternate — and not racing
• Signing with Brooks and taking ownership of her own career
• The self-coaching period and eventually linking up with David Roche
• Training structure: mileage, workouts, and effort-based running
• The Atlanta USATF Half Marathon Championships — being led off course
• The full financial and competitive cost of the incident
• Skepticism around elite marathon times and racing with integrity
• Boston 2026 goals and race strategy
• The evolution of women's marathon longevity
• Fast Money Round

Follow Jess McClain on Instagram: @jesstonn

Photo credit: Bryan Garcia Luna

Marathon Handbook: marathonhandbook.com