Julia Paternain joins Elise to talk about the kind of year that changes everything. In 2025, Julia went from marathon debutant to World Championships bronze medallist, thanks to a stunning run in Tokyo where she surprised even herself. In doing so, Julia also became the first Uruguayan athlete to win a medal at a World Champs EVER!

In this episode, Julia takes us inside that extraordinary rise, from her debut 2:27 marathon to the chaos, disbelief and pure emotion of crossing the line for bronze in Tokyo. We hear how she handled the brutal conditions, why she focused so hard on running her own race, and what was actually going through her mind in those now-ICONIC finish line moments.

We get to know Julia’s love of naps, fizzy drink and flat roads. There’s also plenty on her fascinating international story – born in Mexico, raised in England, with Uruguayan roots and now representing Uruguay on the world stage. Julia shares why making the switch felt right, what that bronze medal meant for her family and country, and why returning to England for the London Marathon later this month feels especially full-circle.

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Julia Paternain is a distance runner who represents Uruguay and is sponsored by Saucony. She won a bronze medal in her second marathon ever at the World Championships Marathon in Tokyo in 2025. She holds the national record in the marathon for Uruguay (2:27:09), which she ran on debut. Julia grew up in the UK and moved to the United States in 2018 to study and run for Penn State University before transferring to University of Arkansas. She is now based in Flagstaff, Arizona with professional running group, McKirdy Trained. Julia is set to run London Marathon at the end of this month.

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer