How Jéssica Fazzio Broke the Sub-3 Hour Berlin Marathon
With controlled mileage and guidance from coach Nelson, the runner clocked 2:59 at the iconic German race in 2023.
Speaking on the Girls Who Run podcast, Jéssica Fazzio shared behind-the-scenes insights into her dream sub-3 marathon at Berlin 2023. The athlete reflected on a training block peaking at 60 miles per week, coaching support, and her finishing surge toward the Brandenburg Gate.
Breaking the three-hour barrier in the 42 km distance represents one of the most coveted milestones among high-performance amateur marathoners. For Jéssica Fazzio, that ambition became a reality at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. After returning from the Boston Marathon without an immediate target race on her schedule, an open bib created the ideal opportunity to pursue a sub-3 on German soil, backed by her longtime coach, Nelson.
A consistent training cycle without excessive mileage
Preparing for Berlin required fine-tuning the balance between intensity and volume, prioritizing consistency without overtraining. Jéssica explained that her peak weekly volume topped out at 95 to 96 km (around 60 miles). On the eve of the race, she found confidence during quiet moments at her hotel, inspired by a podcast episode featuring marathoner Molly Seidel discussing process and resilience.
Strategy, pacing, and race-day support
On race day, amid favorable weather and mild temperatures, Jéssica lined up alongside the pacers and her running teammates Pedro and Gabriel. Along the course, encouragement from coach Nelson at kilometer 30 and cheers from her mother at kilometer 40 confirmed that her splits were tracking right on target.
The final sprint through the Brandenburg Gate
In the final kilometers, worried that any dip in pace could jeopardize her goal, Jéssica pulled ahead of the pace group and accelerated before even catching sight of the Brandenburg Gate. Crossing the finish line in 2:59:41, the runner celebrated the culmination of a cycle built on discipline, joy, and years of dedication to the sport.