RunBlogRun presents
Socialing the Distance
with Larry Eder
Featuring Julia Paternain,
Saucony sponsored athlete
& Bronze Medalist in the 2025 Tokyo World Championships
I was watching the Tokyo WC Marathon in the media room, as the battle between Julia Patternain and Susanna Sullivan developed, as the two athletes ran two of the smartest races in Tokyo. Julia finished in the bronze medal position, Susanna finished in 4th in the marathon!
The humidity and heat in Tokyo was oppressive and the marathon was held on a day that made it incredibly painful to move in the humidity.
Julia Paternain and her coach had prepared well, and ran way above her what her personal best had suggested.
Julia Paternain had competed for the UK as a junior. She liked races that were longer. She then ran at the University of Arkansas and was coached by Chris Johnson. Julia dealt with many injuries during her time in college. But Julia figured out tha the longer she went, the better she did!
Julia’s coach, Jack Polerecky built Julia’s training around her strengths and prepared her for the heat and humidty of Tokyo. Jack had brought Julia Paternain into the McKirdy Training Group. Julia Paternain trains in Flagstaff, Arizona.
In her first marathon Julia ran 2:27:09, a new Uruguayan national record in her first marathon! Polerecky built Julia’s Tokyo preparation to manage the heat and humidty of Tokyo. Julia did sauna sessions (3-4 times a week), focused Saturday runs of 20 plus miles, ending with hills, to simulate the Tokyo marathon course, and the plans to start very conservatively. Julia started around 30th, to 16th at halfway, and then, moved into medal contention.
Julia’s parents are Uruguayan, while Julia was raised in the UK, then, moved to the US. She speaks Spanish with her parents, and has Uruguayan citizenship! Julia’s bronze medal was the first medal in WC by Uruguay!