In our RT Snap Q&A series, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best runners, delving into their extraordinary journeys, celebrating their achievements, and exploring the unwavering dedication that defines their careers.
Jessica Stenson
- Born: August 15, 1987
- Nationality: Australian
- Long-distance runner
She’s one of Australia’s most accomplished marathon runners. She made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing 39th, followed by a strong 22nd-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Over her career, Stenson has consistently excelled in long-distance running, notably becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games marathon medals, including gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Her personal best marathon time of 2:24:01, set at the 2024 Daegu Marathon, demonstrated her enduring ability to compete at the highest level, even after returning from maternity leave.
Stenson’s career is marked by resilience and perseverance. After giving birth to her first child in 2019, she returned to competitive running, placing 13th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics marathon. She continued to demonstrate her strength by bouncing back from another maternity break after the birth of her second child in 2023. Just seven months later, Stenson delivered an impressive personal best in Daegu, cementing her qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In Paris, she finished 13th in the marathon, clocking a time of 2:26:45, further solidifying her status as one of Australia’s top marathoners.
Throughout her career, Jessica has balanced professional running with her work as a physiotherapist and the demands of motherhood. Her journey has inspired many, showcasing not only her elite athleticism but also her determination and ability to manage multiple roles. Jessica continues to represent Australia on the international stage, remaining a key figure in long-distance running.
Personal Bests
- Marathon – 2:24:01
- Half Marathon – 1:10:08
- 10 Miles Road – 54:14
- 3000 Metres – 9:22.45
- 1500 Metres – 4:26.95
- 10 Kilometres Road – 31:49
- 10,000 Metres – 32:17.67
- 5000 Metres – 15:52.71
- 5 Kilometres Road – 16:21
- 12 Kilometres Road – 38:43
RT: Throughout your career, you’ve faced several setbacks, including stress fractures and injuries before major championships. How do you stay motivated and mentally tough during those challenging periods?
Jess: My first significant running injury occurred in 2014 prior to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. It was the first time I had to deviate away from my original training program, take a number of weeks off running and utilise cross-training to prepare for a Marathon. I had a lot of self-doubt and found myself questioning whether I would ever be able to enjoy running again like I had previously known it. My younger brother Jack, who was in rehabilitation at the Melbourne Football Club for a significant foot injury, shared strategies with me to maintain focus and motivation. He encouraged me to spend less time thinking ahead to the Marathon and instead to set daily challenges and goals in my training that could provide positive feedback, satisfaction and a sense of progress. By the time I arrived at the starting line in Glasgow a few months later, I felt fit, strong and ready to compete. My preparation had been different but perhaps this had prepared me better than ever. The challenges I had faced in the lead-up to this championship made the bronze medal and personal best time (at that point in my career) particularly fulfilling. I could reflect on the experience positively and have been able to ride the ups and downs of injury with a stronger and more open mind since.
Every challenge I have faced in running has helped to develop my resilience on and off the running track/road. Strategies I use to help me through these moments include regular and open communication with people in my support network, listening to my body and prioritising “feel” over “doing more”, making quality sleep and smart fuelling a focus, setting daily or weekly goals and spending time with people who fill me with happiness and motivation.
RT: You’ve had the honor of representing Australia in multiple Olympics. What was the experience like competing in the Paris Olympics 2024?
Jess: In London 2012 I was very new to the sport of Marathon running and went in with the goal of learning as much as could from the race and soaking up the entire Games experience. I returned from London feeling overwhelmed and confused about what I wanted next. I had been working towards the race for so long (as had everyone around me) and it all seemed to be over in a flash. I worked with my coach and the team at SASI to find direction and renew my motivation. In the build-up to the Rio Olympics, I sustained my second bone stress injury and whilst it was challenging I was better able to manage my emotions and focus than in 2014. I was proud of the way I got the most out of myself on day given the circumstances.
The experience in Paris was a particularly special one. It was my first Olympics as a Mum and my entire family was able to travel over to watch. We had a strong and very cohesive Australian Athletics team and the support staff went over and above to make sure we were ready to perform. I loved racing on the challenging and iconic course in Paris. The atmosphere was unforgettable. Belief in my preparation, coupled with my strong desire to represent Australia and my team to the best of my ability gave me the courage to dream big. I was happy with the way I executed my plan and was able to draw upon different strategies throughout the race to get the most out of myself.
RT: You returned to top form just seven months after giving birth to your second child, Ellie, setting a personal best at the Daegu Marathon. How did you approach training during this period, and what adjustments did you make to come back so strongly? Can you walk us through a typical training week?
Jess: The support and belief from my family, coach, training partners and wider support team made my dream of returning to racing within 7 months of Ellie’s birth possible. Whilst I had set myself a goal of getting back into a level of training that would allow me to run a Marathon before the end of the Olympic qualifying period, I was well aware that a lot of factors would need to line up for this to be possible. I was comfortable with the idea that I may need to shift the goal posts if anyone involved wasn’t coping well with the routine or enjoying it.
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I approached training with a sense of excitement about what might be possible rather than a fear of failure. Any form of progress excited me and after about 12 weeks, running started to feel “normal” again. I valued the opportunity to head outdoors each morning to get some fresh air and challenge myself as much as I wanted to, either solo or with the company my team mates. As I commenced a Marathon-specific training block in February of 2024 it was important that I continued my strength, conditioning and mobility work via the forRunners App or at the gym – a lesson I learnt from injuries during my return to racing after Billy’s birth in 2019. I was waking multiple times during the night to feed my baby, Ellie so ensured that I went to bed early to achieve adequate rest.
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I was also consuming extra calories to account for my body’s higher energy demands. On session days I often replaced a double-run with an elliptical (cross-training) session to offer my body a different stimulus. My overall running volume was lower leading into the Daegu Marathon than it had been for most other Marathons, however the quality was higher. When I toed the line in South Korea I thought that a personal best should be achievable given my training and that it what I aimed for. It was very special to achieve that goal and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the amazing people who helped me to get there!
RT: You’ve set impressive personal bests and broken barriers in the marathon. What goals remain on your bucket list, and are there other distances or challenges you’d like to tackle in the future?
Jess: I still hope to get faster across all distances from 1500m to the Marathon. Continuing to progress in the Marathon is the goal that I feel most passionate about. There are a number of races around the world that I would love to take part in, including Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon and closer to home – the Sydney Marathon. Given my love for nature, perhaps one day I will also run an Ultra- or two!
RT: As someone who’s passionate about promoting women in sports, what do you think are the next steps to ensure continued growth in opportunities for female athletes?
Jess: Continued research into appropriate training methods and effective support systems for women in all stages of life, including teenage years, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. It is exciting to see growth in media coverage of female sports and athletes, along with greater financial opportunities and female representation across the board. I hope that this trend continues and am thankful to be a part of this special era for women in sports.
