Runner Spotlight: Jess Smith

In today’s issue of Roadkill Clubhouse, we’re honored to share the story of a powerhouse both on the road and in the Philadelphia community — Jess Smith, an elite runner with Liberty Track Club and a dedicated board member of Girls on the Run Philadelphia. 

The Starting Line

Jess's love for running began with family — a grandfather who picked up marathons in his 40s and aunts and uncles who loved casually racing 5Ks. When one of her uncles qualified for the Boston Marathon, that lit the spark: “It was a huge, mind-blowing thing. I still appreciate the pursuit of the Boston qualifier… so that started it all for me.”

Jess started running cross country in grade school (even when her school didn’t have a team) and in high school she competed in every event she could — high jump, long jump, and her favorite event at the time, the 800-meter. Despite her success and her passion for running, Jess didn’t pursue running at the collegiate level. Instead, she joined the club team at Penn State and balanced her running with her many other interests.

Marathoning: The Road Back

Like many runners, Jess took a small step back from running post-college to focus on a demanding career. While she always considered herself a runner, she “would mostly just sign up for half marathons and show up. It was ruining my legs, but …this was my thing.”

Then came a new challenge: the marathon. And with it, a wake-up call from her aunt: “You cannot skip a day of marathon training… That scared me enough to wake up every morning, run every day, and stick to my plan really diligently.” Jess still recalls the sense of responsibility that came with her training and that shifted everything. 

What followed was a period of transformation — not just in performance, but in mindset. “I started to see results from training and changes in my energy levels... and then I thought, maybe I can qualify for Boston.”

And in that first marathon, she did, but unfortunately missed the cut off by just ten seconds.

That only fueled Jess's fire. “Now [running is] my life,” she laughs, “even while I am simultaneously pursuing other things.” Jess chipped away at her goal until she crushed the time barrier and now has a marathon PR of 2:44:30. 

Despite her success, her journey wasn’t linear. “The first few years of marathoning, I didn’t even do speed work. I didn’t know the rules of running. At the time, I was just seeing what I could get away with, what more I could do.” Jess credits her performance leap to post-pandemic structured training and the support of her coach. “It felt like it turned my life upside down to have my whole week structured around certain moments where I was taxing myself and then recovering the rest of the week. But once I adapted, there was a drastic change.”

“I Didn’t Know There Was a Running Community”

Until recently, Jess trained almost exclusively alone. “I didn’t even know what it was like to train with buddies.” That changed when she met her coach — and then the community followed. “He introduced me to other people I could train with... and I started meeting friends at races.” Jess described befriending runners who crossed the finish line next to her after trying as hard as she possibly could to beat them. Many of these women are mothers, they are busy, and they are competitive. “They were willing to jump into my workouts or let me jump into theirs.”

From solo runs to joining Liberty Track Club, Jess's circle has grown: “The running community is special in a different way than other communities because you spend a lot of time together. You suffer with these people. You just become very close.”

Empowering the Next Generation with Girls on the Run

Jess's love of running has grown beyond the track and into purpose. As a board member for Girls on the Run Philadelphia, Jess is using her experience to uplift young girls across the city — many of whom face systemic barriers to participation. Jess learned that it actually has little to do with running, “it’s more about empowering girls.”

The mission of Girls on the Run is personal for Jess. “Running is physical, but it’s also emotional. It gives you confidence, strength, and the mental tools to get through life.” She sees that firsthand with her daughter, who recently told her, “I’m not the fastest in my class, but I love it.” Her advice? “Hold on to that. I hope every kid can capture that because that confidence is everything.”

Jess especially loves being involved with the Girls on the Run 5Ks, where so many young girls face this daunting challenge head on. One of the limiting factors to making this program more accessible to girls in Philadelphia is the availability of coaches, especially coaches from the communities in which the Girls on the Run teams exist. “We have schools that are raising their hands to be a site, so the challenge is having enough volunteers… I think if that were solved, more girls would join – one is kind of tied to the other.” Jess’s goal is to provide this opportunity for every girl in Philadelphia who wants to participate.

Sharing Wisdom

When asked what she would say to anyone feeling intimidated by starting their running journey or getting back into the sport, Jess shared how anxious she felt before track meets in high school. “I have never been so anxious… and I have done much bigger things in my life.”  She speculates that part of the reason she decided not to run in college was because she assumed this anxiety would worsen as the stakes were raised. “What I wish I could tell my younger self and what I will tell my daughter is that just because you're anxious doesn't mean it's bad. If you let your anxiety get in the way, you’ll never know what you are really capable of.”

Jess used to have the perception that running competitively stopped after high school and college. Now, as a member of Liberty Track Club, Jess is part of a team of post-collegiate runners elevating each other and striving towards crushing competitive running goals. 

Her advice is to take a slow, long-term approach to running. “You keep getting stronger the longer you do it. Not only do you get faster, but I feel like you tend to have more fun too.”

Final Strides

Whether she’s racing, recovering or acting as a running buddy at a Girls on the Run 5K, Jess's running story is a testament to what running can be: a journey toward strength, connection, inspiration and joy.

“I love that I’m running for me. Even while I’m chasing big goals, this is something I can always hold onto.”

This past weekend, Jess ran a 10,000m PR of 34:57 and placed 2nd at the Bucknell TFXC Bison Outdoor Classic. We love that Jess is running — and leading — with heart. We look forward to seeing what she will achieve next!

🦝 Next up for Jess: Penn Relays 5K — be sure to cheer her on with us!

💥 Interested in getting involved with Girls on the Run? Coach a team or volunteer at an event!