Sydney Marathon's Jess Stenson, Australian marathon ace and Olympic runner, reveals the crucial race-day items she never leaves behind

Australian Marathon Star Jess Stenson Gears Up for TCS Sydney Marathon

Jess Stenson, a renowned marathon runner from Adelaide, is preparing for one of the most anticipated races of her career – the TCS Sydney Marathon on August 31, 20XX.

Stenson, who is no stranger to the world of marathons, has already made history by winning the Australian Commonwealth Games marathon and setting her personal best time of 2:22:56 in Tokyo in March 2025.

The athlete's rigorous training regime is a testament to her dedication. On a typical Tuesday, she engages in interval training at marathon pace or faster in the morning, followed by a 30-minute light run or elliptical session in the afternoon. Wednesdays are reserved for a mid-week mid-long run, while Mondays consist of jogging in the morning, a shorter jog in the afternoon, and one Pilates session.

In the lead-up to the TCS Sydney Marathon, Stenson will wear the Split Shift Running Shoe ($249) for her race preparation and racing flats for the actual race. She also prefers lightweight, smooth, and breathable performance clothing for races, and intends to wear the lululemon Fast and Free Light Tank and Fast and Free 8" Shorts for the TCS Sydney Marathon.

Stenson's coach, Adam Didyk, is responsible for her preparation for the TCS Sydney Marathon. The pair meets regularly to discuss her race plan and will have a debrief after the race to map out her next plan.

As she prepares for the race, Stenson advises breaking the marathon into smaller sections to maintain focus. She also emphasises the importance of choosing nutrition products (energy gels, drink blends etc.) that have been tested out in training.

Stenson is no stranger to the city of Sydney, having grown up in Adelaide. She finds the TCS Sydney Marathon particularly exciting as it is the first World Marathon Major in Sydney. For the race, she recommends the Oakley Radar EV Path model of sunglasses, which she finds comfortable and suitable for marathons, and the lululemon Power Stride Socks for comfortable and supportive sports bras and blister-free running.

Stenson is aware of the importance of recovery and plans to take it easy for a couple of weeks in Adelaide before the race. After the TCS Sydney Marathon, she hopes to take on her personal best and is eager to face the challenge.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, Stenson encourages all runners to remind themselves that they have prepared to the best of their ability and find it a privilege to have the opportunity to race.

Sydney Marathon's Jess Stenson, Australian marathon ace and Olympic runner, reveals the crucial race-day items she never leaves behind