Jess Warner-Judd is preparing to run the London Marathon in 2026, a prospect she considers a ‘second chance’. The 31-year-old is approaching her debut with gratitude, particularly after facing a difficult period following her epilepsy diagnosis.
Warner-Judd does not remember much about a night in Rome, but her husband Rob witnessed the events at Stadio Olimpico alongside Warner-Judd’s father and coach, Mike, in June 2024.
Collapse in Rome Led to Diagnosis
Less than 10 months prior, Warner-Judd had placed eighth in the world over 10,000m. However, it became clear during the European Championship final that something was wrong. Her lack of coordination and veering across lanes became increasingly noticeable.
Rob recounts how he and Mike shouted at her to stop around the five or six kilometre mark. Warner-Judd continued until she collapsed with 600m remaining.
Following the incident, Jess Warner-Judd could not be cleared medically to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Seizures and Hospitalisation
Rob and Mike were eventually able to visit Warner-Judd late into the night. She apologised for not finishing the race, unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
She had suffered a seizure caused by undiagnosed epilepsy. Another seizure occurred after she was taken off the track, requiring sedation.
Rob said the events made him realise there are more important things than running, adding that he wouldn’t care if she never raced again, as long as she was OK.
The Road to Diagnosis
The first indication of a problem had emerged a few months earlier at a 10,000m race in California, where Warner-Judd failed to finish for the first time in her career.
She had experienced a similar seizure then, but initial medical tests were unable to identify the cause, as epilepsy can be difficult to diagnose.
This time, Warner-Judd was diagnosed with focal epilepsy, where seizures typically start in one side of the brain, causing unusual feelings, sensations or movements.
‘A Second Chance’
Warner-Judd describes the London Marathon as a ‘second chance’ after her diagnosis.
She recalls difficult discussions with doctors who suggested she might have to retire if she kept trying to restart her track season before therapy, as her body wouldn’t cope.
Her journey back has proven far from straightforward.
Warner-Judd tells BBC Sport: “I’m very lucky to have had sort of a second chance at running. It’s a second chance I just didn’t think I’d probably have.”