From Track Collapse to Marathon Glory: How Jess Warner Judd Reclaimed Her Running Dream

Elite athlete overcomes undiagnosed epilepsy to make London Marathon debut after life-changing seizure

Jess Warner Judd has little recollection of the night that changed everything. Yet the 31-year-old runner speaks with striking composure about the harrowing incident that has ultimately led to her preparing for her maiden London Marathon appearance in 2026.

"I'm very fortunate to have received a second chance at running—one I genuinely never anticipated I would get," Warner Judd told BBC Sport.

A Devastating Turn of Events in Rome

The catastrophic moment unfolded in June 2024 at the Stadio Olimpico during the European Athletics Championships. Warner Judd's husband Rob, along with her father and coach Mike, watched from the stands as something visibly went wrong during the 10,000 metres final.

Less than 10 months earlier, the British distance runner had achieved one of her career highlights by finishing eighth at the World Championships over the same distance. However, observers quickly noticed troubling signs: a loss of coordination, her body drifting across multiple lanes, and mounting distress etched across her face.

"Around the five or six kilometre mark, Mike and I got as close to the track as possible and started shouting at her to stop," Rob recalled.

With just 600 metres remaining, Warner Judd collapsed.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

The runner was transported on a stretcher and suffered a second, severe seizure that required sedation. It was only later that evening when family members were permitted to visit her in hospital. Unaware of the seriousness of her condition, Warner Judd apologised for failing to complete the race.

The diagnosis came back: focal epilepsy—an undiagnosed neurological condition causing seizures that typically originate from one side of the brain, producing unusual sensations or involuntary movements.

The seizure had not materialised without warning. Several months prior, during a low-key 10,000 metres competition in California, Warner Judd had experienced a similar mid-race collapse for the first time in her career. However, because epilepsy presents diagnostic challenges and seizures are often the sole symptom, medical examinations at that time failed to identify the underlying cause.

For Rob, the gravity of the situation crystallised during those traumatic hours. "It became clear that there are far more significant things in life than running. At that moment, I simply didn't care whether she ever competed again—I only cared that she would be okay," he said.

The Long Road Back

With the Paris Olympics approaching, Warner Judd attempted to resume training almost immediately. However, her body refused to cooperate. For an athlete whose 800 metres personal best sits below two minutes, completing a single mile took an devastating 12 minutes—a stark reminder of how far she had fallen.

Yet physical recovery proved less challenging than emotional healing. Even after medication brought her epilepsy under control and she regained her fitness, Warner Judd discovered she could not overcome her psychological trauma. The track—once her sanctuary—had become a source of terror.

"I felt like I was having a panic attack whenever I returned to the track," she explained. "Running had always been my safe space, where I could clear my mind and feel better. Then it became associated with having a seizure, and I became consumed with fear of it happening again."

A full year of professional therapy proved essential to processing her experience. During this period, her doctors delivered difficult advice: she would face forced retirement unless she addressed her mental wellbeing before attempting to resume her track career.

A New Perspective

Warner Judd and her husband Rob have relocated to Clitheroe in Lancashire, Rob's hometown, where they share their residence with two cocker spaniels named Bruce and Bernie, along with rabbits Bea and Bailey. Warner Judd completed her PhD in regenerative medicine at Loughborough before the move and now works part-time at a local supermarket.

Her return to competitive athletics has taken an unexpected direction: distance running rather than track events. At the New York Marathon in November, competing in only her inaugural marathon, Warner Judd delivered a stunning performance on a gruelling course, finishing in 2 hours 24 minutes and 45 seconds for seventh place—merely two seconds behind Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and within five minutes of winner Hellen Obiri.

Despite initially declaring she would never run another marathon, Warner Judd reversed course within 24 hours. The prospect of competing in London proved irresistible—the race will be held just over a marathon's distance from her Essex hometown of Canvey Island, creating a full-circle moment. At age 17, she won her fourth Mini London Marathon title 14 years ago.

Life on New Terms

Warner Judd's perspective on her sport has undergone a fundamental transformation.

"It has completely realigned my aims and perspective on life," she said. "Coming back to running, I simply wanted to do it for myself. If I perform well and achieve good things, that's wonderful. But that's very much a secondary consideration now. You never know when it might be taken away, so I want to savour it as much as possible."

As for a potential return to track racing, the door remains slightly ajar. However, it will only happen on her own terms and timeline, when she feels genuinely ready.

"I do genuinely want to go back," Warner Judd concluded. "But previously, I wanted to return to prove I could do it. That need has disappeared now. I want to return only if I'll enjoy it and feel capable of running well. I do sense there's unfinished business—it's not goodbye forever, just for now."