915. Jess McClain's 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Recap
"It's a cool feeling, to feel like you belong somewhere. And I finally feel that way." At last weekend's TCS New York City Marathon, Jess McClain stormed to a second-place finish, overtaking defending champion Hellen Obiri in the final steps of the race. (A tangent-running queen!) In this conversation, the beloved Brooks-sponsored pro breaks down every part of race weekend, from the omakase, the press conference, and the elite athlete tech meeting, to how she nabbed her first podium finish at a World Marathon Major. Plus, takeaways from the banner day in NYC, the moments she'll remember most, and what it means to "Just be Jess." SPONSORS: Lagoon. My favorite pillows and pillowcases! Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order. Shokz! My favorite headphones! Use code ALI for $10 off your next Shokz purchase. (I love the Open Run Pro 2.) IN THIS EPISODE: Jess's snapshot moment from the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, and what's making her happy right now (2:10) What Jess is consuming and is into right now (6:00) What life has looked like since finishing the marathon (9:40) Jess's key takeaways from running the New York City Marathon in 2024 (12:15) On flat vs. hilly courses (18:35) Reflections on NYCM training (20:00) On keeping it fun — and working in addition to running (27:15) How Jess spent the days in New York leading up to the marathon (34:00) What it's like at the elite athlete press conference and technical meeting (42:00) How Jess was feeling on race morning, what the bus ride out to Staten Island was like, and an emotional interaction with Tracy Morgan at the start (52:20) "Just Be Jess" (59:50) Jess breaks down her New York City Marathon run, borough by borough (1:01:45) What happened after Jess finished second at the marathon (1:11:50) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Subscribe to the newsletter Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!