Jéssica Fazzio: Sub-3 Marathon, Choices, and Life Stages
Marathoner reflects on balancing high performance, a corporate career, and times when life calls for slowing down.
On the Girls Who Run podcast, Jéssica Fazzio breaks down her journey from treadmill jogs to breaking three hours at the Berlin Marathon. The amateur athlete reflects on the cost of high performance, race-day setbacks, and adapting sports to life's changing seasons.
In this episode of Girls Who Run, marathoner Jéssica Fazzio looks back on her journey through running and explores the challenge of balancing the drive to run fast with the demands of adult life, a marketing career, and delicate personal moments. Here is a summary of each topic covered in the conversation.
Who Jéssica is on and off the course
Jéssica describes herself as an intense person in everything she undertakes, both in her hobbies and in her nearly decade-long corporate marketing career at a multinational company. The marathoner reflects on her continuous drive to pursue her best version, recognizing that personal maturity means learning to make trade-offs and accepting that one cannot be at 100% across all areas at the same time.
Getting started and running her first half marathon
After swimming throughout childhood and stepping away from sports during her teenage years, Jéssica returned to physical activity at age 18 on a home treadmill to support her mental health. What began as an unpretentious habit of running while listening to music took a new turn in 2017 during a six-month exchange program in Boston, where living alongside collegiate runners inspired her to finish her first half marathon in São Paulo.
Joining a running group and debuting in Chicago
Upon deciding to take on the 26.2-mile distance, Jéssica joined coach Nelson's running team. She made her debut at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, pacing herself conservatively and focusing purely on the joy of the experience. She crossed the finish line in 3:48 without excessive pressure on pace, cementing her love for the distance.
Pandemic progress and the Barcelona Marathon
During pandemic lockdowns, accumulating mileage on the treadmill built a formidable aerobic base. Without the immediate pressure of races, Jéssica made significant strides and surprised herself at the 2021 Barcelona Marathon by clocking a steady 3:14 from start to finish.
The 2022 Chicago Marathon and pushing the limit
In her second appearance in Chicago, Jéssica chose to take a risk and run alongside the sub-3-hour pacing group. Feeling muscle fatigue in the final third of the race, she adjusted her pace to avoid hitting the wall and finished in 3:02, achieving a major personal best while learning not to let self-criticism overshadow the process.
Purpose and emotion at the Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon marked a deeply meaningful milestone, bringing full circle a personal transformation that had started years earlier in the city. Starting in the first corral with a red bib, Jéssica managed the demanding course and crossed the finish line in the rain, creating one of the most unforgettable moments of her running career.
Breaking the three-hour barrier in Berlin
With consistent preparation and structured training dialed in, Jéssica lined up for the 2023 Berlin Marathon determined to break the three-hour barrier. Running alongside the pacers and maintaining consistent splits across the entire distance, she completed the race in 2:59:41.
Life after sub-3 and the price of high performance
Reaching this milestone brought forward the emptiness that often follows major athletic achievements, sparking reflections on the sacrifices required by high performance. As managerial responsibilities increased at work alongside new personal priorities, Jéssica began questioning how long she could sustain such an uncompromising routine.
Frustration in Valencia and rediscovering joy
Trying to balance treadmill-heavy training with personal and family challenges, Jéssica faced a hot day and struggled at the Valencia Marathon, crossing the line in 3:06. The experience helped dismantle the expectation of always delivering flawless results, restoring a sense of joy and perspective to her running.
The California International Marathon and personal resilience
Amid a difficult family health situation, Jéssica traveled solo to compete in the California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento. Despite logging nearly all her mileage on the treadmill and battling foot pain in the closing miles, she finished in 3:08 with a smile, turning the race into a moment of self-care and personal celebration.
Embracing life stages and the New York dream
The discussion underscores the importance of accepting that running serves different purposes depending on the season of life. Jéssica shares her excitement for the New York City Marathon, approaching the race not as a quest for time, but as an opportunity to experience running to the fullest.
Rebuilding performance and self-confidence
Following two years of adapting her routine, the marathoner describes the process of returning to outdoor training and regaining trust in her fitness. Her focus centers on approaching workouts with curiosity and maturity, steering clear of unfair comparisons to past stages of her career.
Final sprint and advice on priorities
In the lightning round, Jéssica names Boston as her most unforgettable race, professes her love for easy recovery runs, and shares practical advice: let go of trying to do everything perfectly and learn to prioritize what truly matters in each stage of life.