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Runner's Second Chance After Epilepsy Diagnosis
23 Apr
Summary
- Runner Jess Warner-Judd faced epilepsy, autism, and depression diagnoses.
- She is celebrating a 'second chance' at the London Marathon.
- Therapy and running helped her overcome subconscious trauma.
Jess Warner-Judd is preparing for the London Marathon, a race she considers a 'second chance' following a health crisis. In 2024, she experienced a seizure during the 10,000m final at the European Championships in Rome, which led to her epilepsy diagnosis. This period was further complicated by diagnoses of autism and depression during trauma therapy.
Despite these challenges, Warner-Judd completed her PhD in December 2024 and debuted in the New York Marathon last year, securing a surprising seventh place. She described the initial return to running as difficult, with a subconscious trauma response preventing her from racing freely.
Therapy involved confronting sensations from the difficult day, but Warner-Judd found solace in having clear diagnoses and a path forward. Marathon training has become a release, and she now feels hopeful about her athletic future.
She has relocated to rural Lancashire and works at Booths Supermarket, finding a supportive community there. Her sponsors, Hoka, encouraged her marathon aspirations, and her colleagues celebrated her New York success with a cheese platter ahead of the London event.
