RunBlogRun presents
Distance socialization
With Larry Eder
Featuring Julia Paternain,
Saucony’s sponsored athlete
Bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships
I was watching Tokyo WC Marathon in the media roombecause the battle Jdatternain and Susanna Sullivan thrived as the two athletes ran two of the smartest races in Tokyo. Julia finished bronze, Susanna 4th in the marathon.
The humidity and heat in Tokyo were oppressive, and the marathon was held on a day that made moving in the humidity incredibly painful.
Julia Paterne and his trainer had prepared well and ran well above what his personal best had suggested.
Julia Paternein competed for Great Britain as a junior. He liked longer races. Then he ran to University of Arkansas and trained Chris Johnson. During her college years, Julia suffered many injuries. But Julia realized that the longer she went, the better she did.
Julia’s trainer Jack Polerek built Julia’s training around her strengths and prepared her for the heat and humidity of Tokyo. Jack had brought it Julia Paterne in McKirdy Training Group. Julia Paterne trains Flagstaff, Arizona.
In her first marathon, Julia ran 2:27:09, a new national record for Uruguay in her first marathon. Polereki built Julia’s Tokyo preparation to manage the heat and humidity of Tokyo. Julia was doing sauna sessions (3-4 times a week), concentrated Saturday runs of 20 plus miles, finishing with hills, to simulate the Tokyo Marathon course, and planned to start very conservatively. Julia started around 30th, halfway through to 16th, then moved into medal contention.
Julia’s parents are Uruguayan, while Julia grew up in the UK and then moved to the US. He speaks Spanish with his parents and has Uruguayan citizenship. Julia’s bronze medal was her first at the WC Uruguay!
