Finding The Fun: Jess McClain On Her American Record At The 2026 Boston Marathon, Incremental Gains & The Future Of Women’s Distance Running
Hurdle with Emily AbbateShow Notes
In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily sits down with professional runner Jess McClain fresh off her monumental performance as the top American finisher at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Recorded in London, where the duo got to run in the upcoming Brooks' upcoming Hyperion Elite 6 and cheer at the 2026 London Marathon, Jess unpacks the physical and mental evolution required to clock a personal best of 2:20:49 on one of the world's most challenging courses. From navigating the "what if" game to handling mid-race mishaps like dropping a fueling bottle, Jess shares a grounded, authentic perspective on what it means to find joy in professional sport. IN THIS EPISODE The Boston Breakthrough: Jess breaks down her strategy for the "Crest of Heartbreak Hill" and how her focus on downhill training and pace changes paid off in the final 10K.
Silencing the "What If" Game: A deep dive into the mental shift Jess made during training—moving away from obsessing over variables she couldn’t control and focusing on being 1% better incrementally.
Resilience Under Pressure: Jess reflects on the chaos of the Half Marathon Championships where she was directed the wrong way, and how that experience actually built her confidence for the high-stakes friction of Boston.
Life Beyond the Miles: An honest conversation about the "other things" that bring joy, including Jess's experience with egg freezing, her thoughts on family planning, and the importance of a supportive partner who sees her greatness.
The "My Way" Philosophy: Why Jess decided to stop trying to be a "robotic" athlete and instead leaned into her own unique rhythm, finding that her way is the best way for her.
QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I think it’s being okay where you’re at and doing the most that you can day-to-day, week-to-week, to just be 1% better incrementally and not put so much pressure on the big dream." "I spent so much time being told that I shouldn't do anything else... that I'm not dedicated enough. And it's just so not true. You can plan for your future and still have a really kick-ass time running and racing at a high level." "Running's not going to go well all the time. You should be able to tap into other things that bring you joy." "I’ve put my health and the 'fun meter' on the front burner. It feels good to be like, my way is the best way for me, instead of trying to fit myself into so many different molds." SOCIAL @jesstonn @emilyabbate @iheartwomenssports JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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