Jess McClain has always been an athlete. From her humble beginnings as a soccer player who wanted to beat the boys in the PE mile, McClain’s competitive drive has brought her success on the track and beyond. We spoke with McClain prior to the Boston Marathon and got the inside scoop on her goals, training, and mindset leading up to the race.
McClain’s Journey
After becoming a 7x All American in track and cross country at Stanford University, McClain signed her first professional contract with Brooks Running in 2015. After a successful college tenure, multiple setbacks made McClain realize that pro running wasn’t the path that she wanted to continue on.
“I was so caught up in chasing times and hitting standards that I forgot how to race,” she says. This, paired with repetitive injury, made her step away from professional running after 3.5 years and pursue an exciting new full-time marketing career. McClain continued to train, but decided to take a two year racing break following the COVID-19 pandemic. She credits this time off for a lot of her future successes
Fast forward to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, the unsponsored McClain shocked a lot of the field by finishing in 4th, just shy of making the team. Soon after her breakthrough performance, McClain announced that she had signed yet another contract with Brooks. “I felt as though Brooks was the only brand I met with that met me where I was at and was excited to partner with me during this new chapter of my running career,” she says.
Sponsored once more, and with new eyes on her, McClain finished 4th yet again in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track Trials in the 10,000 meters. While many would feel dejected, McClain saw these performances as huge steps in the right direction towards her future goals. “I think that has brought me the most joy this past year, regardless of the outcome(s) in races, has been enjoying the journey to each start line,” she says.
Business in Boston
McClain knew that she had a lot of opportunity heading into this year's Boston Marathon, but the path to success was not going to be easy. The field was stacked on the American women's side alone, including: former American marathon and half marathon record holders Keira D’amato and Sara Hall, Boston marathon champion Des Linden, 12th place finisher at the Olympics Dakotah Pophen, and U.S. marathon Champion Emma Bates.
“What fuels my passion is running with a lot of joy and curiosity...I am having a lot of fun testing myself on this journey.”
But McClain had exciting goals that challenged her heading into this marathon build. “I think top ten is a non-negotiable for me at this point. I would really love to contend for the top American spot and keep my eyes on the top five.” To prepare, McClain raced an indoor 5k and got to do a 16 mile run on the challenging Newton Hills. “I definitely incorporated some of the intel that I learned on this trip into my training for the rest of the Boston build,” she says.
McClain also mentions that her priority in Boston was to trust her instincts, and have a very strong second half over the city’s many challenging hills. McClain capitalized on this, securing top American honors, a 7th place finish, and an over 3 minute personal best on a course that isn’t known for fast times.
More Than an Athlete
McClain isn’t like most professional marathon runners because of her pursuit of several passions besides running. She’s the executive director of the LoveUp Foundation, a group dedicated to spreading love and kindness throughout Arizona’s foster care system. She also works with the LovePup Foundation, which helps to rescue and rehouse dogs. She finds that this unique approach allows her to compartmentalize and manage her time efficiently.
“I find it so rewarding to invest in my family, friends, and career outside of running,” McClain says. “Running is still the best part of my day, but it is really great to be able to ‘turn it off’ by having things that help me feel fulfilled outside of the sport.”
Looking Towards The Future
McClain’s professional career is far from over. In fact, it's just getting started. Where she used to see pressure to compete for times, McClain now sees a window of opportunity. Already this year, she has qualified for the 2024 USA Track and Field Championships in the 10,000 meters, and has many exciting opportunities to race over the summer. “There are so many races left in my career, and I look at the fourth place finishes as a nod to my consistency and sign that I am on the right path,” she says.
McClain provides a refreshing and optimistic outlook on the sport, and her enthusiasm is going to propel her to success in the coming years. With 2025 and 2026 being World Championship years, McClain is looking to represent the U.S. on the world stage, and Boston was a huge step in the right direction.
